Leadership at the Pet Professional GuildThe Pet Professional Guild (PPG) is guided by a dedicated leadership team and supported by a panel of highly respected Special Counsel. Together, they provide strategic direction, uphold ethical standards, and ensure that PPG’s work remains firmly rooted in science-based, force-free principles.
PPG’s leadership reflects a broad range of expertise across dog training, animal behaviour science, veterinary medicine, education, and professional ethics. This depth of knowledge helps the Guild support pet professionals worldwide while continuing to raise standards across the industry. |
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The Guild Special Counsel
PG’s Special Counsel members are internationally recognised leaders in their fields, offering expert guidance to support the Guild’s mission.
Jean Donaldson
Jean Donaldson is a leading educator, author, and dog trainer with a background in Comparative Psychology. She holds a degree in the field and is the founder of The Academy for Dog Trainers, one of the most respected professional education programmes in force-free dog training. She has written several influential books that have helped shape modern, evidence-based training practices, and her work has played a significant role in advancing ethical standards within the profession.
Dr. Karen L. Overall
Dr. Overall is a board-certified veterinary behaviourist with a DVM and PhD, and decades of experience in both clinical practice and academia. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and is a leading authority on canine and feline behavioural medicine. Her work has been instrumental in advancing understanding of stress, emotional health, and neurobiology in animals, bridging scientific research with practical application.
Victoria Stilwell
Victoria Stilwell is a globally recognised advocate for positive reinforcement training. She is a professional dog trainer, author, and educator, best known for bringing humane, force-free training methods to a worldwide audience. She holds professional trainer certifications and has founded international education programmes to promote ethical, science-based dog training.
Dr. Lynn R. Honeckman
Dr. Honeckman is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with extensive experience in behaviour medicine, shelter medicine, and general veterinary practice. She has worked closely with leaders in veterinary behaviour and is deeply committed to reducing behaviour-related relinquishment through early intervention, education, and force-free approaches.
James O’Heare
James O’Heare is a behaviourologist, educator, and author specialising in the scientific study of behaviour. He holds advanced academic qualifications in behaviour science and has developed professional education programmes focused on ethical, evidence-based behaviour modification for companion animals. His work contributes a strong theoretical and academic perspective to the Guild.
Dr. Robert King
Dr. King holds a doctorate in business-related studies and brings expertise in business ethics, marketing, and professional communications. His academic and commercial background supports PPG’s strategic direction, ethical branding, and long-term sustainability, helping ensure the Guild remains effective and accessible to professionals worldwide.
Helen Phillips
Helen Phillips is the owner of the Clicker Gundog Training Center in the UK. She combines decades of practical field experience with formal teaching credentials and extensive professional training in reward-based gundog education. She teaches at Warwickshire College, runs workshops internationally, and is widely respected for promoting partnership-based learning in working dogs.
Pat Miller
Pat Miller is a Certified Behaviour Consultant, author, and former President of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (US). She founded Peaceable Paws and has written numerous influential books on positive dog training. Recognised as one of “45 people who have changed the dog world,” she is also a long-standing educator and contributor to professional publications.
Robert Hewings
Robert Hewings is a highly experienced canine trainer from the UK who served 30 years with the Metropolitan Police, specialising in scent detection and operational dog training. He holds instructional and assessment qualifications gained during his police service and later focused on academic teaching and assistance dog training, bringing a rare blend of operational and behavioural expertise.
Chirag Patel
Chirag Patel is the founder of Domesticated Manners and a UK-based behaviour consultant with a strong academic background in behaviour science. He holds professional behaviour and training qualifications, lectures internationally, works with organisations such as Guide Dogs, and continues advanced study in Applied Behaviour Analysis.
Karen Wild
Karen Wild is a certified clinical animal behaviourist, trainer, and author. She leads the Pawprint behaviour practice in England and holds recognised professional qualifications in animal behaviour. She also lectures in behaviour and training, writes for major pet publications, and has authored several books focused on improving human–dog relationships.
Jean Donaldson
Jean Donaldson is a leading educator, author, and dog trainer with a background in Comparative Psychology. She holds a degree in the field and is the founder of The Academy for Dog Trainers, one of the most respected professional education programmes in force-free dog training. She has written several influential books that have helped shape modern, evidence-based training practices, and her work has played a significant role in advancing ethical standards within the profession.
Dr. Karen L. Overall
Dr. Overall is a board-certified veterinary behaviourist with a DVM and PhD, and decades of experience in both clinical practice and academia. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and is a leading authority on canine and feline behavioural medicine. Her work has been instrumental in advancing understanding of stress, emotional health, and neurobiology in animals, bridging scientific research with practical application.
Victoria Stilwell
Victoria Stilwell is a globally recognised advocate for positive reinforcement training. She is a professional dog trainer, author, and educator, best known for bringing humane, force-free training methods to a worldwide audience. She holds professional trainer certifications and has founded international education programmes to promote ethical, science-based dog training.
Dr. Lynn R. Honeckman
Dr. Honeckman is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with extensive experience in behaviour medicine, shelter medicine, and general veterinary practice. She has worked closely with leaders in veterinary behaviour and is deeply committed to reducing behaviour-related relinquishment through early intervention, education, and force-free approaches.
James O’Heare
James O’Heare is a behaviourologist, educator, and author specialising in the scientific study of behaviour. He holds advanced academic qualifications in behaviour science and has developed professional education programmes focused on ethical, evidence-based behaviour modification for companion animals. His work contributes a strong theoretical and academic perspective to the Guild.
Dr. Robert King
Dr. King holds a doctorate in business-related studies and brings expertise in business ethics, marketing, and professional communications. His academic and commercial background supports PPG’s strategic direction, ethical branding, and long-term sustainability, helping ensure the Guild remains effective and accessible to professionals worldwide.
Helen Phillips
Helen Phillips is the owner of the Clicker Gundog Training Center in the UK. She combines decades of practical field experience with formal teaching credentials and extensive professional training in reward-based gundog education. She teaches at Warwickshire College, runs workshops internationally, and is widely respected for promoting partnership-based learning in working dogs.
Pat Miller
Pat Miller is a Certified Behaviour Consultant, author, and former President of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (US). She founded Peaceable Paws and has written numerous influential books on positive dog training. Recognised as one of “45 people who have changed the dog world,” she is also a long-standing educator and contributor to professional publications.
Robert Hewings
Robert Hewings is a highly experienced canine trainer from the UK who served 30 years with the Metropolitan Police, specialising in scent detection and operational dog training. He holds instructional and assessment qualifications gained during his police service and later focused on academic teaching and assistance dog training, bringing a rare blend of operational and behavioural expertise.
Chirag Patel
Chirag Patel is the founder of Domesticated Manners and a UK-based behaviour consultant with a strong academic background in behaviour science. He holds professional behaviour and training qualifications, lectures internationally, works with organisations such as Guide Dogs, and continues advanced study in Applied Behaviour Analysis.
Karen Wild
Karen Wild is a certified clinical animal behaviourist, trainer, and author. She leads the Pawprint behaviour practice in England and holds recognised professional qualifications in animal behaviour. She also lectures in behaviour and training, writes for major pet publications, and has authored several books focused on improving human–dog relationships.
A Strong Foundation for Humane Practice
The combined experience of PPG’s leadership and Special Counsel ensures that the organisation remains guided by science, compassion, and professional integrity. Their collective expertise supports PPG members in delivering high-quality, force-free training and care while promoting improved welfare standards for pets everywhere.
