As chairman of the Pet Education, Training and Behaviour Council (PETbc) I was invited to make a presentation to the quarterly meeting of the All Party Group for the Welfare of Animals last week which had as its primary subject Establishing Standards for Behaviourists and Trainers and Improving Responsible Dog Ownership. The other speakers were Robert Alleyne (who made many of the same points as I did), Rosie Barclay, and David Montgomery.
David Cavill FRSA - Founded the Animal Care College in 1980 where courses include understanding canine, feline and equine psychology and animal behaviour. He is a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer.
Ladies and Gentleman
The most serious concern facing our community is, I believe, a lack of understanding of what constitutes ‘competency’ among too many organisations which purport to recognise dog trainers and canine behaviourists. The varied standards being applied inevitably mean the public is confused. To appreciate some idea of the size of the problem if you google ‘I Train Dogs’ you will find over 40 organisations listed which are of sufficient size to be credible and which suggest they meet occupational standards - although I’m afraid this is all too often not the case. People learn something about training dogs in a training class or through one of the many colleges or workshops where too many do not provide information or knowledge which is meaningful or accurate.
In 2008 the Companion Animal Welfare Council (CWAC) published a very detailed report that described the sector as ‘chaotic’ (it is available at http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/request_doc?eprintid=54855&_action_null=Request+a+copy).
Shortly afterwards, CAWC attempted to bring some semblance of order to the sector by hosting three meetings: they were well attended but they were hard work and only served to demonstrate the difficulties the sector faced. One positive thing result was an agreed Code of Practice which, although some felt did not provide enough detail, all could at least sign up to. It also meant a dialogue began between some groups which continues today and I hope will enable further progress to be made. For instance, although it was difficult to persuade everyone to agree, Occupational Standards for the sector have now been established and have been accepted and published by the Skills Council.
After the first of the CAWC meetings, a group of established training and canine behavioural organisations formed The Pet Education, Training and Behaviour Council (PETbc) in 2009 and this was followed by the establishment of the Animal Behaviour and Training Council the following year. The key difference is that although the ABTC appears to have many organisations attached to it most (RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross and veterinary organisations) are not directly involved with dog training and behavioural modification. Either way, PETbc and ABTC still only represent a small fraction of the total number of organisations and individuals which are out there providing what they assure the public is the ‘best’ training services and behavioural modification to the public.
The PETBbc perspective is that dog training and most behaviourist work is not rocket science. Of course, those involved need knowledge and understanding but crucially they need experience. Every circumstance is slightly different but a lot of good dog training does not need a graduate or, as demanded by some groups, a post-graduate qualification although there have to be acceptable and realistic standards as described in the various ‘Roles’ on the PETbc website. There is no ‘one size fits all’ criteria and to ‘straitjacket’ organisations and their members will not improve dog behaviour in society.
Our real worry is that many involved in the sector is moving away from the idea that dogs and other animals need to understand the boundaries of acceptable behaviour: we appear to have abandoned the idea that rules should be applied. For instance, if you see a puppy chewing an electrical cable you clearly have to stop it. Too many trainers and behaviourists will tell you that you do not say, ‘No’. They think that what you should do is to distract it with something it finds more interesting. But think about it: if you distract it with something pleasurable that ‘something’ is a ‘reward’ and what you are doing is, in fact, encouraging the puppy to return to nibble at the cable because it results in a ‘reward’. That said, there is no doubt that positive reinforcement has to be the best way to train puppies and dogs to do things but it is wrong to think that there should never be any negative reinforcement because this is the only way in which you can train them not to do things. Negative reinforcement does not have to be cruel or unkind: a sharp ‘No’, a deep growl or a clap of the hands draws a line but does not ‘reward’. We need to raise awareness that animals need to behave in a particular way within society and they need to have a structure and framework of behaviour just as we adults and, of course, children.
A key element of this is proper socialisation from the nest ongoing throughout puppy hood. It is essential that internal conflicts within different parts of the sector should not distract from this vital socialisation process.
I do not think there is the distance between organisations that some would have you believe. PETbc is happy to work with anybody working to the same standards and we are not miles apart. Our problem is that there are so many thousands of people dabbling in dog training who are not involved in any organisations at all or are unaware of the the Occupational Standards which would at least provide a basis for their development.
Despite all this speculation we really have no idea of the size of the problem. It is therefore our view that APGAW should take on board the recommendation currently in Defra’s hands that they implement a requirement for all of those professionally involved in caring of animals to be registered. This first step would not require the applicant to achieve any specific standards (unlike a licensing scheme or an accreditation process) so it would be inexpensive and easy to administer. But if all trainers, groomers, home boarders, dog walkers and others professionally involved with caring for dogs were registered with their local authority and the information forwarded on a regular basis to Defra it would enable us to have the data we need to develop a strategy which is practical and workable. |
