PPG Podcast

Tune in as Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, Jenn Friedline, and Erika Liljefelt chat about pet shows and conformation. How ethical are they, and what needs to change?Recorded June 11, 2026.The Price of the Ribbon: While the public often sees the polished glamour of major conformation dog shows, there is also another side to the conversation - one that focuses on animal welfare, health, and quality of life. It is important to acknowledge that many exhibitors care deeply about their dogs, provide excellent care, and genuinely enjoy participating in shows with their canine companions. Many dogs also appear to enjoy aspects of the experience and are not subjected to all of the concerns discussed below. Nevertheless, critics of the conformation show world continue to raise important questions about how some dogs are housed, transported, handled, groomed, and judged. The following are ten of the most commonly cited welfare concerns associated with major conformation events:1. Extreme and Prolonged Confinement ("Warehousing")2. High-Stress Transport Logistics3. The "Exhibitor's Blind Spot" to Environmental Stress4. Cosmetic Invasiveness and Forced Grooming Restraint5. Intrusive and Forceful Ring Handling6. Intrusive Physical Exams by Strangers7. Suppression of Natural Behaviors and Emotional Regulation8. Deprivation of Social and Behavioral Enrichment9. Lack of Standardized Veterinary Oversight During Events10. Prioritizing Aesthetics Over Functional BiomechanicsThe Core Ethical Conflict: The future of conformation showing does not have to be a choice between celebrating breeds and protecting welfare. Many people within the show community are already advocating for healthier breed standards, improved welfare practices, and greater recognition of the emotional and physical well-being of the dogs involved.Meaningful progress is most likely to come through open discussion, ongoing research, thoughtful breeding practices, welfare-focused judging criteria, and a willingness to continually re-evaluate traditions in light of what we now know about canine health and behavior.Whether you agree with all, some, or none of the concerns discussed above, one principle should unite everyone involved: every dog deserves a life that prioritizes health, welfare, choice, enrichment, and quality of life alongside any competitive achievements.

In this episode Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline chat about behavior acquisition, training mechanics, and much more!

This episode is the February 2026 PPG Advocacy Panel discussion and the topic is: How do we, as pet professionals, make a kinder world for pets?Your host/moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠ Chair Don HansonYour panelists: Tasha Attwood, who runs Mutts and Mischief, Dayle Pierce, & PPG operations director, Rebekah KingRelax and enjoy the discussion!

In this episode, the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses how we, as pet guardians, can make a kinder world for our pets.Your host/moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠ Chair Don HansonYour panelists: Tasha Attwood, Dayle Pierce, Debbie Sheridan, Sam Wike, Kim Silver, Beth Adelman, and Michelle MartiyaRelax and enjoy the discussion!

Tune in as Niki Tudge chats with Dr. Zazie Todd and Dr. Eduardo Fernandez about research ethics and individual methodology.

Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Dr. Kristyn Vitale about comparing the interactions of dog and cat owners with their pets.

Join Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline as they discuss the myths and lies about positive-reinforcement and force-free training—and dispel them!Relax and enjoy the lively discussion!

In this episode, Niki Tudge, Dayle Pierce, and Jenn Friedline discuss PPG's Credential Matrix—what it is, how and why it was developed, and ways it can be useful to you.

Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Ingrid Johnson about cooperative care strategies for medicating cats.

Tune in and listen as the PPG Advocacy Panel sets the records straight about misunderstood facts about equids. Your moderator is Don Hanson and the panelists are PPG Equid Division Chair Michelle Martiya, Jessica Gonzalez, and Dayle Pierce.

Join Niki Tudge, Inclusivity Committee Chair Lorena Patti, Dayle Pierce, and Rebekah King in this special episode featuring Annie Phenix, founder of the Phenix Advocacy Center (PAC). Annie shares information about the PAC and how you can create a life you don't want to escape from as a canine professional (or a professional who works with any animal species).Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the lively discussion!

Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Joey Lusvardi of Class Act Cats about the Pet Professional Accreditation Board's exciting new feline credential.Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the lively discussion!

In this episode, panelists discuss what their Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB) credential means to them. Your host is PPG Advocacy Task Force Chair Don Hansen, and the panelists are Daniel Antolec and Kim Silver. Enjoy!To learn more about how to earn a PPAB credential, visit https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/about-ppab/.