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Regulating the industry is still a practitioner-led call as a solution to help raise standards of service to the public. As anyone can set-up overnight and call themselves a trainer or behaviourist, the industry remains divided and confusing to all searching for advice, whether an owner, learner, or provider. Sadly all continues to be held back by the lack of structure and any required registration through government legislation.

 The RCDTBP is a not-for-profit ‘Community Interest Company’ simply aiming to inclusively unite all practitioners and all related organisations as Signatories to the only single nationally-agreed professional code of practice (CAWC Code 2010).

The RCDTBP works on positivity, founded in 2010 to hold the registers of Signatories to the Code, in moving forward has incorporated a structured profiling system to identify all individuals for what they ‘put in’ to the industry. Together with a public feedback facility on services received, it aims to help ensure every practitioner meets, and continually develops to meet, the professional demands of the industry.

RCDTBP Update November 2023

Important Downloads

Canine Services

Individual Signatories

Related Organisations

Code of Practice

Policy Document

Purpose

1. The purpose of the Registration Council for Dog Training and Behaviour Practitioners is:

“To promote humane behaviour towards animals, and dogs in particular, by developing individual understanding of animal welfare, training, behaviour and the canine-human bond in the education of, and for the benefit of, the public through managing the UK Register of Signatories to the Companion Animal Welfare Council Code of Practice, which promotes industry agreed professional standards and best practice for practitioners, to advance canine welfare in particular but not exclusively”.

2. Activities to achieve the above, the Council will aim to:

a) advance canine welfare by

• raising public awareness on the standards expected of a professional practitioner by promoting those set by the CAWC Code of Practice through the Councils’ website and providing information and advice as required;
• maintaining and managing the Register of Signatories of those committed, through registration, to uphold the professional and humane standards set by CAWC Code of Practice, in relation to providing any level of Dog Training and Canine Behaviour Service in the UK;
• promoting appropriate training and behaviour protocols to prevent cruelty and relieve emotional and physical suffering caused through ignorance; and in doing so, promote responsible dog ownership in the education of the public, dog owners, handlers and family members.

b) benefit the public by

• providing a list of Practitioners and Providers with filtered information on the services offered in relation to choosing an appropriate individual / organisation for their particular needs;
• providing a system of accountability for professional and public use, inviting feedback on services received, and in doing so, manage the CAWC Code of Practice and investigate any complaints through the Council’s Support, Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures.

c) promote education and raise professional standards by

• accepting individual Practitioners who on registering, will provide details on any area of canine involvement and complete a personal profile of their knowledge and experience in support of their role(s) and any relevant services offered to the public;
• providing guidance to Practitioners around aspects of offering and delivering public services according to the CAWC Code of Practice and relevant National Occupational Standards, including advertising claims made by individuals (or related Service Providers) in relation to giving realistic and accurate information on their services;
• encouraging Signatories to increase personal teaching skills and knowledge through continual professional development (CPD) to advance understanding of welfare, training, behaviour and human / canine relationships;
• encouraging Signatories to gain formal peer recognition / qualifications / membership by one or more of the professional organisations set up to do so;
• being the accepted organisation to offer unbiased and impartial advice on the standards applied to all working aspects of dog training and behaviour modification, including career advice and options for active and prospective practitioners;
• working with and promoting industry related charities, educational and or membership bodies, which set standards for animal welfare and or acceptable standards for their respective members and or individual practitioners, and in doing so, helping regulate companion animal services in the UK in relation to the training and behaviour of dogs.