Accreditation

The APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), UK is a voluntary organisation established to improve the welfare of dogs and the competence of dog owners through the promotion of training skills and techniques based on up to date, researched, methods that apply the principles of kindness fairness and effectiveness and are in keeping with modern learning theory.

We provide education – via pet dog training classes and one-to-one lessons – to the dog owning public, promoting the use of Kind, Fair and Effective training.

• We carry out this mission through a system of membership accreditation;Adherence to a Code of Practice
• Continuous professional development
• Dissemination of advice and information – learned from trainers/instructors/behaviourists/researchers/observers who are knowledgeable about dogs using courses, workshops, the internet, books and magazines
• The rejection of invasive, coercive or punitive equipment or methods, which can cause mental and physical trauma to dogs

We will keep up to date on positive, effective training techniques that are based on the application of learning principles.

We find it sad and incomprehensible that some trainers are still using harmful and damaging equipment, such as prong, choke and electric collars, along with training techniques such as alpha rolls, lead jerks, kicks and other punishing methods.

The practice of using aversive methods or equipment on fearful and aggressive dogs is detrimental and dangerous.

Ideas, especially those about “dominance”, are completely disconnected from the sciences of ethology and animal learning.