Behavior Team of the Bay Area Champions Force-Free Training at Bark in the Park San Jose
The Californer/10358768

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Californer -- Set against the backdrop of Bark in the Park San Jose on September 19, 2026—widely recognized as the largest dog festival in the United States—the Behavior Team of the Bay Area engaged a wide community of pet owners at William Street Park, showcasing modern, humane alternatives to conventional animal training.

Throughout the day, the team's bustling booth drew steady crowds of dog guardians seeking guidance on positive-reinforcement training, behavioral support, and ethical pet care practices.

"I was deeply moved by the overwhelming public interest in force-free and fear-free training," said Erika Liljefelt, Team Leader of the Behavior Team of the Bay Area. "The continuous engagement at our booth made it clear that pet guardians are actively looking for compassionate alternatives to compliance-focused methods. Seeing so many people eager to partner with kind, empathetic professionals was truly invigorating for our team."

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As an initiative affiliated with the Pet Professional Guild (PPG), Behavior Teams supports pet owners across all species—including dogs, cats, birds, equines, reptiles, small mammals, and fish—advocating for care standards built on mutual trust rather than intimidation or pain.

To support this mission at the household level, PPG offers a complimentary Pet Owner Membership. The program provides pet guardians with:

• Free access to select educational webinars, alongside member discounts on advanced courses.
• Science-based reference materials, advocacy guides, and behavioral toolkits.
• A complimentary subscription to Pets & Their People, a digital publication covering humane animal care and welfare topics.

Behavior Teams now operates 11 regional divisions worldwide. Each division connects local communities with credentialed force-free trainers and behavior consultants while offering regional networking and peer support for ethical animal-care professionals.

To find a regional team or learn more about upcoming educational events, https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/programs/behavior-teams/