Code of Practice
This Code of Practice sets forth those standards that Endorsed Trainers are required to follow to gain and maintain Endorsed Trainer status.
Definitions
“APDTNZ” – Association of Pet Dog Trainers New Zealand Incorporated.
“Full Member” – a current financial member of the APDTNZ that has, on joining the APDTNZ, committed to complying with the current Code of Ethics.
“Endorsed Trainer” – a current Full Member that has been granted Endorsed Trainer status by the APDTNZ.
1. Expectations of Service
Endorsed Trainers will use the most people and animal-friendly, least intrusive, effective methods when approaching a training or behaviour problem irrespective of the dog’s breed or behaviour. This applies to any training situation, whether training a group or an individual. Endorsed Trainers will deliver services using the highest levels of integrity, honesty, humanely and professionally in all their dealings and at no time will bring the APDTNZ into disrepute by their actions or comments.
When designing training and behavioural programs, Endorsed Trainers shall take into account the physical and psychological well-being of the individual dogs, the needs of the client (and their family) and relevant environmental factors.
Endorsed Trainers shall strive to incorporate all aspects of responsible dog ownership into their training programs.
2. Effect on the animal
Endorsed Trainers will ensure that any animal will not experience unnecessary or undue stress, pain, discomfort, fear, sustained psychological pressure, fatigue or distress of any kind during the implementation of their techniques or recommendations. Notwithstanding the above, it is acknowledged that in order to address behaviour initiated by the presence of stressors, exposure of the animal to a mild level of stress may be necessary.
3. Clients
Endorsed Trainers shall treat all clients in a responsible, considerate, and professional manner, regardless of owner’s ability or circumstances.
Endorsed Trainers will identify and advise clients on the appropriate maximum level of stress required to change the dog’s behaviour, the risks and any possible resulting long-term effects and include stress reduction and recovery strategies in all case treatment and training plans.
Endorsed Trainers will preserve the relationship between the dog and the client (and their family) and provide advice on enhancing and protecting that relationship.
a. Termination of relationship with a client.
Where an Endorsed Trainer’s recommendations are not being followed by a client and:
failure by the client to do so could result in harm to the dog, the client, their family or a member of the public, or
the client intends or insists on the use of aversive methods that contravene the APDTNZ’s Code of Ethics and cannot be convinced otherwise,
then the Endorsed Trainer shall terminate that training or behaviour consulting relationship and provide an indemnity statement to the client.
b. Privacy.
Endorsed Trainers will respect the client’s privacy and views and shall not disclose or make public any information pertaining to the client and/or their dog without the client’s permission. If law requires disclosure of information, the client must be consulted as to the nature and extent of the disclosure.
4. Education of others
Endorsed Trainers will encourage and teach others to use positive reinforcement methods and promote interactions with dogs that encourage behavioural wellbeing, animal welfare, social stability, and responsible guardianship.
Endorsed Trainers who work with assistants who are not APDTNZ members are responsible for ensuring that such assistants act responsibly towards clients and are willing to conform to the spirit of the APDTNZ Code of Ethics.
5. Referral of cases
Endorsed Trainers will recognise their own professional limitations and where necessary will refer clients to, or team up with, more experienced and qualified trainers, behaviour consultants, behaviourists or vets.
6. Dangerous dogs
If an Endorsed Member observes a dog displaying potentially dangerous behaviour, they shall inform the client and take all reasonable actions necessary to provide the client with a short-term management strategy until a referral, peer consultation or behaviour plan can be arranged and implemented.
7. Equipment
The equipment advised, used, or sold by Endorsed Trainers shall be consistent with the principles of kindness and fairness to both clients and dogs. For this reason, coercive or aversive equipment must not be used, recommended, advertised or sold.
8. Continuing Education
Endorsed Trainers are required to further their own knowledge across the fields of dog training, education and behaviour. Endorsed Trainers are also encouraged to give back to the wider industry via their involvement in the education of their peers or through other industry related activities.
To maintain Endorsed Trainer status, Endorsed Trainers must:
Accumulate and record CEA points over the course of their 3-year endorsement period.
Earn a minimum of 30 CEA points to be eligible to renew their Endorsed Trainer status towards the end of the endorsement period.
Endorsed Trainers who do not meet the minimum criteria will be removed from the “Endorsed Trainer” directory when the 3-year endorsement period expires.
9. Insurance
The Endorsed Trainer shall hold a suitable level of Public Indemnity cover to reflect the level and nature of the services that they provide.
10. Legal requirements
Endorsed Trainers shall always act within all local and New Zealand laws.
Endorsed Trainers that are consulting with clients in other countries shall ensure that they are familiar with the laws of that country and that their advice is not contrary to those laws.
11. Advertising of Endorsed status
Endorsed Trainers may advertise themselves as an Endorsed Trainer of the APDTNZ and use the APDTNZ logo to identify their Endorsed Trainer status.
12. Removal of Endorsed status
Endorsement may be revoked by the APDTNZ Committee at any time for any of the following reasons:
Falsification of any part of an application.
Criminal convictions that occur during the certification period.
Violation of the APDTNZ Code of Ethics.
Violation of the APDTNZ Code of Practice.