About Us
What is the APDT?
So often in the past choosing a class has been pot luck. Damage has been done to an unsuspecting pet and owner before they can spot the danger or realise the discomfort it causes their pet. The Association of Pet Dog Trainers was set up in 1995 in order to offer pet owners a guarantee of quality when looking for a training class or a puppy class in their area. All members of the APDT have been assessed according to a Code of Practice (details below).
Training dogs has changed a great deal in the last few years. It is no longer necessary, or acceptable, to use harsh methods in training, and the use of gentle, motivational methods are as successful as they are enjoyable to use.
Of course, all trainers use slightly different techniques when teaching pet owners to train their own dogs, but all APDT members use methods that are kind, fair and effective.
Veterinary personnel can rest assured that all APDT members are happy to work closely with the referring practice, in whichever way they are requested. APDT members carry their own insurance, thus protecting the owner and accepting accountability, resulting in veterinary surgeons being able to refer clients to APDT members with confidence.
All trainers outside the UK would be subject to local regulations relating to insurance.
Dog owners looking for local trainers can check their local area listing on this website. Alternatively they can write, enclosing a SAE, to the admin office, who will be happy to send them a county printout of APDT trainers in their area.
There are various APDT's around the world and membership criteria is not the same for them as it is for the APDT UK.
APDT UK only recommends trainers who have passed the APDT UK criteria and agree to abide by our Code of Practice.
Only those trainers currently listed on the APDT website have been assessed and approved by the APDT UK.
Click for Policy on half check collars
Code of Practice 31 May 2008
This code applies to members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). Its purpose is to establish and maintain standards for the practice of dog training, to advise and inform veterinary surgeons and members of the public seeking dog training and to further the understanding and advancement of good practice among members.
Principles
Members shall practice with integrity and shall recognise their responsibility to clients, clients' dogs and society in general. Their actions or advice should not knowingly cause psychological or physical distress or damage to any of these.
The welfare of clients and their dogs shall be paramount and shall not be made subordinate to commercial consideration.
Members shall maintain professional relationships with their clients. They shall not exploit such relationships for improper personal, professional or financial gain, nor seek inappropriately to impose their own values on clients.
Members shall not misrepresent their activities or make unrealistic claims to their clients or in their public statements. It should be made clear whenever they are expressing personal opinion and speculative theories should be stated as such.
Members shall respect the views and independence of others and shall not publicly denigrate their conduct or opinions.
Members shall not seek to attract business unfairly or unprofessionally or conduct their practice in any way which would discredit the reputation of the Association.
Members are responsible for continuing their personal and professional development by undertaking further training and study and acquiring knowledge of new theory and practice.
Practice
The training methods employed and advised by members shall be consistent with the principles of kindness and fairness to both clients and dogs. For this reason, the use of coercive or punitive techniques and equipment should not be used. (Appendix 1).
The training techniques employed and advised by members are assumed to be the application of scientifically-based research and knowledge and to result from practical experience of the use of non-compulsive methods. Where techniques are experimental, the client and, if applicable, the referring veterinary surgeon must be so informed, Members shall keep clients fully informed about the nature of and reasons for their actions and any possible risk or drawback that might arise from them. They shall not lead their clients to form unrealistic expectations of the outcome of any action or intervention.
Members shall conduct themselves in such a way as not to undermine public confidence in their profession or the Association and shall not practise when physically or psychologically unfit to do so.
Members may accept clients from a variety of referral sources or through direct advertising. Where such advertising refers to clubs or societies it should not assert or imply endorsement by the Association other than to state, where applicable, that all instructors are members. Members may use the letters MAPDT (membership no.) after their name. Members must ensure that their name and membership number appear in all advertising. The logo may not be used except in conjunction with the member's full details.
Members who work with assistants who are not members are responsible for ensuring that such assistants act responsibly towards clients and are willing to conform to the spirit of this code.
Obligations
Members are required:
- To agree to accept and abide by this code and to supply the Association with a signed statement to that effect.
- To abide by and observe the rules, regulations and pronouncements of the Association.
- To acknowledge that membership of the Association is solely for individuals and shall not be used to endorse the activities of any club, society or Organisation to which they may belong.
- To carry public liability insurance.
- Where acceptance of clients by direct referral from veterinary surgeons shall be part of their practice, to secure and maintain full professional indemnity insurance and to supply referring veterinary surgeons with proof of such insurance, should they request it.
- To be careful not to make any misleading claims or statements in advertising or otherwise.
- In their endorsement or commercialisation of any product, not to use their membership to suggest that they are speaking on behalf of the Association.
- Not to disclose any information about any client which comes to their notice as a result of their professional relationship with the client, or to make public any record, in any form, of their dealings with a client, except where required to do so by rule of law or where the client has consented to the nature and extent of the disclosure
- To agree to be spot checked at any time without prior notification
Adjudication
The committee of the Association shall advise and give directions on all matters of principle and of conduct of members and any complaint or dispute arising there from shall be dealt with by reference to the Constitution of the Association.
Alteration
This code may be altered by the committee of the Association provided that the proposed alteration is notified to all members and their comments requested and duly considered by the committee.
Such equipment includes check/choke chains, prong or spike collars, electric shock devices in any form, and high frequency sound devices which are designed to startle. There can never be a definitive list of equipment and techniques that the APDT does not permit. The following list gives examples of some of the equipment and training methods which are covered by the Code of Practice (‘Practice number 1’) not to be used in a dog training class.
Pet corrector – emits a hiss of cold air
Dog stop – emits a high pitched sound
Remote controlled spray collars
Automatically triggered spray collars
Antibark collar – emits spray directed onto dogs skin (including new product jet master)
Training discs
Liquid sprays
Loud noises e.g. rattle cans/bottles/Chains/keys
Throw stick/chain
Strong smelling substances e.g. smelling salts/ bite back
Punitive methods not to be used in a dog training class
Pinching – ears/feet/toes
Hitting
Biting (of dog)
‘Alpha roll’
Any manhandling that causes pain or discomfort
The APDT website directory of members, is regularly updated. Veterinary personnel can rest assured that the names which appear can be referred to with confidence and every member is happy to work closely with the referring practice, in whichever way they are requested to do so.