INVERNESS, Fla. - eTradeWire -- The Pet Professional Guild (PPG) has appointed Florida-based dog trainer Christina de Juan as chair of its Assistance Animal Division with immediate effect. As chair of the Assistance Animal Division, Christina also takes a seat on PPG's Steering Committee. Natasha Attwood, a dog trainer in the United Kingdom, has been appointed as vice chair, also with immediate effect.

PPG's Assistance Animal Division was formed in 2022 with the goal of bringing about awareness of the different functions and roles that animals play in assisting humans, with a special focus on the humane treatment and welfare of people and assistance animals. The division's membership represents a broad spectrum of pet professionals with a variety of skills and interests specific to assistance animals, and is committed to developing resources to support those who need and work with service animals, therapy animals and emotional support animals.

"A vital goal of the Pet Professional Guild is to provide education and advocacy resources to the industry," said Niki Tudge, president and founder of PPG. "The assistance animal sector encompasses professionals who work diligently to help prepare and support assistance animals and their partners. I am very confident that Christina and Natasha will enable us to develop more resources for pet professionals across the globe."

Christina de Juan is the owner of CreScent Service Dogs in Central Florida which helps people with disabilities train their service dogs for their individualized needs. She specializes in scent training for gluten and allergens, and also offers private lessons for scent detection dog sports. Christina is a professional canine trainer (accredited) through the Pet Professional Accreditation Board and a certified professional dog trainer–knowledge assessed through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. She is also certified in Low Stress Handling® (silver level), a licensed Pet Dog Ambassador assessor and instructor, an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen/Trick Dog evaluator, a certified U.K. College of Scent Dogs instructor, a certified trick dog instructor and an animal actors certified evaluator through Do More With Your Dog. She also holds a Ph.D. in computer science.

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"I am excited and honored to take on the role of chair of the PPG Assistance Animal Division," said Christina. "I am looking forward to helping educate assistance animal teams, trainers, the general public and businesses in understanding how the PPG's guiding principles can benefit everyone interacting with assistance animals, with the goal of overcoming many obstacles and challenges facing assistance animal teams."

Natasha Attwood is the owner of Miyagi's Dog Training and Behaviourist Services in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, through which she provides holistic dog-centered training and behavior modification services, and specializes in reactivity and aggression. Natasha holds diplomas in advanced canine behavior (Pet Behavior Council–level 4) and fun dog agility from the British College of Canine Studies. She is a certified canine behaviorist and trainer through INTO Dogs and a canine diploma practitioner (level 6) through the International School of Canine Psychology. She is also a canine dog trick instructor, canine conditioning fitness coach and stunt dog judge through Do More With Your Dog; a Canine Hoopers World instructor; and a certified dog trick instructor, fun scent work games instructor (levels 1 and 2), canine enrichment technician and cooperative care partner through DogNostics Career Center. She is a member of Dog Parkour United Kingdom and the Complimentary Medical Association.

"I'm really excited to take on the role of vice chair of the Assistance Animal Division," said Natasha. "I would really like to see the division help assistance teams and trainers alike, as well as educate the public for a more informed and knowledgeable society that includes assistance animal teams and prevents them from facing discrimination or challenges."

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The other members of PPG's Assistance Animal Division are Ariel Baber, Tracey Hagan, Rebekah King, Becki Klinger, Laura Nicholls, Kait Whistler Seyal, Colin Spence, Tamra Temple and Niki Tudge. All PPG members are eligible and welcome to join the Assistance Animal Division.

About the Pet Professional Guild

The Pet Professional Guild www.petprofessionalguild.com is a 501(c)6 member-based organization founded on the principles of force-free training and pet care. Its membership represents pet industry professionals who are committed to science-based, humane training and pet care philosophies, practices and methods. PPG members are professionals who are "Informed by Science, Guided by Empathy, Governed by Ethics^TM."