Please can someone with the knowledge do a thread listing the preferred affiliations and qualifications to look for in a Trainer and behaviourist (obviously it may differ for each). I don't think it is necessary to name specific people

As we have said in the other ongoing thread this is a minefield for the general public at the moment with franchises popping up all over the place so some general advice could prevent people going down the wrong path and wasting a load of money.

Please can this be merely informative and not a discussion

Then can we have it as a sticky please

(i don't ask for much do i )

__________________


"I am not perfect and i don't have to be, before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean" - Bob Marley

https://sites.google.com/site/blisschalet/

Some of the things to consider when choosing a Dog Trainer (whether that be for a puppy or an adult dog) should be:

Choosing a Dog Trainer - Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK

One of the the MOST important things is to GO ALONG AND WATCH A CLASS before signing up. I think this is so important!! And in fact, if this is your first training class, go to a few and compare before deciding.

As we have said in other threads, affiliations and qualifications are important, but not the only thing to look for - plus, as with anything, there are those that don't abide by the code of conduct/ethics of their affiliation, but they can be reported.

In the UK, a good place to start, would be a trainer registered as a member of the UK APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers). They do have a good code of ethics and conduct and will enforce it. If someone does not train by this code, they can be reported and struck off from the membership.

www.apdt.co.uk

You can see here what is required of members to gain membership: http://www.apdt.co.uk/dog_trainer_membership.asp
And here is their code of practice that all trainers must abide by: http://www.apdt.co.uk/about_APDT.asp

This is not to say that anyone not with the APDT is no good, but at least with the above you have some benchmark/come back as such...although still no guarantees, which is why it is very important, no matter what affiliation, that you check what methods they use and go along and watch a class.

For a behaviourist, I think that the criteria should be to a higher level - so will do a separate post on this.

__________________

It would also be useful to list those organizations that do not have an assessment or code of conduct, also those that have a system in place to report a trainer for misconduct

Yes good point...

The APDT definitely has a system in place for this...but will leave to others with more knowledge to confirm which other ones are good/which are not so good...

__________________

There's an excellent article written here on the APBC page that describes how to become a Pet Behaviour Councellor so I suppose it could also be used as a Guide as to what to look out for? Becoming a Pet Behaviour Counsellor The UKRCB also have a similar article linked on HERE

The UKRCB and APBC are the main two behaviour organisations which most serious, legitimate behaviourists would want to be affiliated to. Most vets will refer to a member of either of these organisations, particularly if the consultation is covered by the owners Insurance policy.

Remember that any individual can set up their own 'Guild' or 'Association' so it is better to stick to the well known ones.

USA behaviorist:

vet-behaviorist:
*Diplomates*|* American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
DVMs who go on to board-certify in behavior - can write scrips as well as B-Mod protocol; scarce on the ground, but many will do a long-distance consult, with the local-vet as hands-on for tests, exams, etc, and VIDEO of the dog behavior in Q.
not cheap but for rare or dangerous behavior, may be irreplaceable.

focal-seizures, OCDs, severe-aggro with damaging bites (not just a few punctures), and similar serious issues, i would say they are the FIRST not last, resort.



CAAB: Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
Directory of Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists — Animal Behavior Society: Applied Animal Behavior
since many CAABs partner with a local-vet for scrips, the fall-back for serious or intractable issues if there is no nearby vet-behaviorist, and U cannot get Your Personal Vet to agree to play-nice with a Vet-beh consult (some vets will not co-consult on behavior - a few do not regard it as a valid-specialty, others think they know as much, some just feel its a waste of their time, etc; they are not, thankfully, common).

IAABC: Intl Assoc Animal-Behavior Counselors
Int. Assoc. of Animal Behavior Consultants
* have screening + study requirements
* have ethics agreement
* have reporting system for violations
* cover more species - psittacines, equines, etc.
one step below CAAB; still not common, but easier to find
some specialties/species NOT covered by others, can be found here

__________________
terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007

Sit-Means-S*it - FRANCHISE
* anyone can buy in; attend their instruction + business opens
* uses shock to teach not proof behavior, whether pup or adult
* franchisees are limited to approved methods only


Bark Busters - FRANCHISE
* anyone can buy in; a few weeks instruction, open for business
* exclusive areas of coverage (non-compete within franchise)

* SPECIFICALLY do not want experienced trainers -
they want pet-owners, not trainers, as franchisees

* franchisees are limited to approved methods only -
if it is not covered by the book, they cannot wing it;
specialties include *shout BAH!*, throw water-balloons + toss bagged-chains
(corrections or aversives - not teaching but suppressing behaviors)


IACP - Intl Assoc of Canine Pros
* anyone can join; NO * LIMITS on methods or tools
* members are specifically FORBIDDEN to campaign against any method or tool
(helicoptering, shock-collars, hanging, etc)


Animal Behavior College - ABC grads
* long-distance learning via text + tests for theory
* a few weeks of hands-on practice + observation with a mentor
* quality varies; claim of positive-reinforcement not always born-out in practice
* some are very good; some mediocre; some are awful


PetsMart in-store training - store-brand
* some good, some very-good, some dreadful
* supposed to be pos-R but choke-chains, prongs, etc, are not uncommon
* observe a class at least 2x before signing-up, and get the INSTRUCTOR U observed -
some stores have 2 to 4 trainers, don;t just grab one - skills vary widely.


always feel free to OBJECT if something the trainer does makes U uncomfortable -
be an advocate for Ur dog; rough handling, harsh tools, impatience, etc, are not apropos.
SHY * DOGS or timid pups are special cases! they may need set-back from the class, calmatives, etc;
similarly REACTIVE * DOGS - visual-barriers to allow them to concentrate in a group-class, and other extras
to accommodate their lower-thresholds should be readily available.
calmatives can also be helpful to reactive-dogs.
some one-to-one training can help shy or reactive dogs, before attending a group-class.

__________________
terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007

Great topic and great resources mentioned thanks all!

Here is a nice list of various acronyms and letters associated with various organisations and certifications. A lot are very US-centric but many are universally relevant.

APBC etc. have been mentioned re behaviourists and I think that its really important that people understand the difference in standard of education and skill required in behaviourists. Thats why an individuals membership of groups with strict standards are so important for behaviourists.

Also COAPE and CAPBT behaviourists.

For trainers you are lucky in the UK to have APDT assessed trainers - super important org.

But these are only places to start - you still want to select from these lists based on other criteria. I have a blog post on choosing a trainer with lots of tips and resources.

There are lots of resources available when it comes to choosing a trainer/behaviourist to suit - the problem is we have to know where to look

__________________
Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

Pet Central site & blog
Join us on FaceBook & Follow us on twitter

"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

"If you don't want your dog to bite you, don't be an a**hole to him." ~ Dr. Ian Dunbar

this is by no means exhaustive - there are others.

CCPDT: a 3rd-party testing organization
Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
anyone can sit the exam; no organizational affiliation is required.


USA-apdt: Assoc of Pet-Dog Trainers Association of Pet Dog Trainers - Dog Training Resources
__________________________________________________ __
* unlike the UK, no assessment to join
* 'promotes' dog-friendly training - a considerable dilution from their original
* open to trainers of any persuasion -
many shock-trainers who use shock to teach / not proof,
many-more trainers who use traditional choke, jerk, prong methods + tools,
JOIN the USA-apdt as a sales tactic; they slap a logo on their website, and continue to train like 1945 drill-sergeants:
nothing has changed, its just window-dressing.
* they DO have standards-reporting -
however, getting a trainer expelled is not easy; conviction of animal cruelty or neglect is about It, really.
* 2 membership levels:
# professional: must sit + pass the CCPDT written exam [CPDT = Certified Pet Dog Trainer]
# full: voting member; has not sat the exam; may be novice to very experienced, full gamut.

* continuing education in the form of monthly newsletter (sadly gone from 3-punch paper to glossy full-color mag)
and an ANNUAL conference which is terrific - but often geographically impossible; the USA is a big area.

* members-only Yahoo-list has loads of members; few post
good for newbies to pick-up tips, tho... (shrug)

* trainers with a strong bias to pos-R * can * be found here.
just be sure of who and what U are getting - if they spout dominance + pack-theory, RUN.
if they tell U that shock-collars *tickle*, ask them to wear one while U control the remote -
be sure its operating first by trying it on Ur own forearm. collars can be turned-off at the receiver.
____________________________________________


IPDTA: Intl Positive Dog-Trainers Assoc.
International Positive Dog Training Association
a small Canadian organization that is (IMO) in the midst of growing-pains;
founded on the precept of using ONLY non-pain or low-aversive tools and techniques.
the membership voted on acceptability of tools - chokes, prongs and shock collars are out;
citronella collars with caution, only; etc.
* they are few in number, but generally highly-ethical
* they DO have stringent member-reporting + removal
* assessment-protocols are in development


TDF: Truly-Dog Friendly
Truly Dog Friendly » About Truly Dog Friendly
pretty self-explanatory; SHOCK is entirely off the menu, chokes + prongs are used by very few.
a very strong bias to pos-R and proactive teaching, vs pos-P or R-/aversives + suppression.
* Do have a reporting + removal system
* fairly well-distributed across the USA
* no membership fee


IACP certification: IACP - Certification
property of IACP; if for any reason U leave the organization, the certification is gone.
(excellent for assuring renewals for the future.) no outside assessors or 3rd-party testing; all in-house.
IMO? not a good telltale.


NADOI: Natl Assoc of Dog Obedience Instructors
National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors - NADOI | dog trainer | endorsed instructors | find trainers | educational resources
* do have assessment
* do have report + remove system
* stringent - video + in-person assessments may be required
i was on page-24 of my written application, to be copied IN TRIPLICATE and submitted by mail!, when i realized that
i had not gotten halfway, yet; i gave up. the prospect of writing an encyclopedia was too daunting.


CAPPDT: Canada
other than they exist, i know nothing about them -
Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers

__________________
terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007

* IAABC -
see USA list

* APDT-Aus: the Australian Assoc of Pet-Dog Trainers
http://tinyurl.com/y5tnjcm
* must be voted-in by membership
* must be attested by other members
* does have report + remove system
* does not ALLOW shock-collars or prong-collars -
and i doubt choke-chains will last much longer

* strong bias to pos-R + teaching vs pos-P/neg-R aversives + suppression
* annual conference in Australia
* members-only list on-line


there may be others - if so, i have not heard of them.

__________________
terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007