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Having attended a consultation meeting on regulations on 27th Sept 2019, we are even more confident that the basics of everything that attendees referred to is already in place, and can easily be developed further. The CAWC Code seems widely acknowledged but the RCDTBP, founded in 2010 to hold the registers of Signatories to it, seems to have been a little lost in the ether.
In implementing the Code, the RCDTBP inclusively provides all individuals with a structured profile to register and build knowledge and experience, and together with the public feedback facility offered, it aims to help ensure every practitioner meets, and continually develops to meet, the professional demands of the industry.
The RCDTBP works on positivity, and our processes identify those for what they ‘put in’ to the industry, the profiling provides criteria to both recognise expertise and help all to develop.
RCDTBP Update November 2019
Important Downloads
Canine Services
Individual Signatories
Related Organisations
Code of Practice
Policy Document
The Registration Council has the responsibility to manage and hold the official register of Signatories to the CAWC Code of Practice
in regard to dogs. In doing so, it aims to unite all practitioners, service and course providers, related membership organisations
and charities; promote all efforts to advance animal welfare, and increase individual understanding of training, behaviour
and the canine-
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(Registered not-
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Registration Council for Dog Training and Behaviour Practitioners?
The Registration Council for Dog Training and Behaviour Practitioners is the UK's Independent Organisation, which was set up specifically to hold and manage the register of Organisations and Practitioners who wished to sign up to the Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) Code of Practice for Dog Behaviour and Training Practitioners (2010). It is managed by an Executive Committee (see 'About us'), who have been constantly seeking the views of many active Practitioners to update processes.
Why was it set up?
A CAWC report published in 2008 expressed concern that many people set themselves up as Dog Behaviourist/Trainers with no formal training or recognised national qualifications. This often resulted in the dog owning public receiving a very poor service and sometimes finding that they and their dogs are worse off as a result. Clearly this needed some form of regulation but in the absence of government legislation, a body was needed to continue the work of the Companion Animal and Welfare Council (CAWC), tasked to set up, maintain and be responsible for a Code of Practice in relation to dog training as well as to maintain a voluntary register of the Organisations and Individuals that were committed to abiding by that Code. (see 'About us')
What does it do?
The Registration Council manages applications for registration as a ‘Signatory’ to the CAWC Dog Behaviour and Training Code of Practice for Practitioners. and deals with any complaints about its Registered Signatories, instigating investigation and a grievance procedure if necessary. It provides links to its member Organisations and Individuals through its' various registers and profiles.
How does this help the dog owning public?
Registered Organisations and Individuals are available to offer unbiased and impartial advice on all aspects of dog training and the modification of behaviour. Any registered Practitioner who falls short of the Code of Practice in their service provision can be reported to the Council for consideration. The Council accepts feedback as constructive and offers guidance to all to ensure good practice.
What is the Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC)?
CAWC is an independent organisation, funded to carry out research into areas of concern over issues of animal welfare. With lack of further funding CAWC has been suspended and the website is not currently available, together with several reports and links to valuable research. This includes the report published in 2008 and Code of Practice 2010 referred to frequently. The CAWC website did however state: “The management of the CAWC Code of Practice, including the registration of Organisations and Individuals wishing to sign up to it, are the responsibility of 'The Registration Council for Dog Training and Behaviour Practitioners'. The RCDTBP was founded to manage the Code in respect to dog training and behaviour services, which will include the welfare of other animals in relation to dogs.
Who can join?
Registration is open to all dog trainers, dog training instructors, canine behaviour advisors, students and those training to become a Practitioner, dog training associations, associated canine course providers and other registration based interest groups whose prime function is focused on dog training and behaviour.
