UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter

Working together to help the nation’s dogs and their people

A new future for dogs, their guardians and professionals.

At its heart, the UK Dog Behaviour & Training Charter™ is a code of conduct, ethics and methodology. More than that however, the Charter is a collaboration of many of the UK’s leading behaviour and training membership organisations who for the first time have come together cooperatively under the Charter umbrella to work in unison for the benefit of dogs, dog owners and guardians, and the wider profession.

In an unregulated industry, dog owners can often struggle to find a suitably accredited professional to help them and their dog. While there are many excellent professionals working nationwide, there are also many who continue to use outdated and aversive methods without any oversight or accountability.

Methodology

The UK Dog Behaviour & Training Charter’s aim is to reassure dog owners that its signatory organisations and their members will adhere to the most modern, scientifically-proven, positive methodology.

Accountability

Charter organisations pledge to take full accountability for their accredited members with transparent working practices, codes of conduct and robust complaints procedures. A new future for dogs, their guardians and professionals.

Oversight

Uniquely, the Charter also has an Oversight Committee who provide an extra degree of accountability for the protection of dogs, their owners and any referring professionals.

Trust

Charter members ensure that the professionals they accredit – whether as trainers or behaviourists – are trained and educated to a high standard in order to ensure they are able to help owners and their dogs who will be at varying life stages and with whatever issues they may encounter.

The organisations will also ensure that professionals keep their knowledge up to date and understand the limitations of that knowledge. This means that canine guardians can trust UK Dog Charter professionals with their beloved dog, and other industry stakeholders, such as vets, can refer to Charter members with confidence.

Oversight Committee

Our Aims

The UK Dog Behaviour & Training Charter’s aim is to ensure dog owners that its signatory organisations and their members will adhere to the most modern, scientifically-proven, positive methodology.

Professional Standards

The UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter aims to make a clear statement regarding the future direction of the dog behaviour and training industry in relation to professional standards, tools and methodologies. The welfare of the dogs lies at the heart of its mandate, making clear representation as to what is, and isn’t acceptable in a modern, progressive profession.

Trust & Transparency

As well as supporting the highest standards of methodology and ethics, the UK Dog Charter seeks to provide assurance to the public, other professional bodies, and government agencies that signatory organisations are committed to open, transparent and robust complaints and grievances procedures. These can, in the case of appeals, be supported by the Charter’s independent Oversight Committee.

Assurance & Accountability

The UK Dog Charter will give assurance and assure accountability to the public and other relevant bodies. Displaying the Charter logo will show that a behaviour or training professional is a member of a Charter organisation, and has aligned themselves to the ethical, welfare and conduct obligations that are at the heart of the Charter.

Read The Charter

Our Supporters

These are companies or organisations who support the training and behaviour professions – or support dogs and their guardians – and who back the UK Dog Charter’s aims and ethos. They have also committed to not using, supplying or promoting aversive equipment and methodology.