International Positive Dog Training Association

Mandate

Vision Statement

Mission Statement

IPDTA Standards

IPDTA Code of Conduct

False Claims to IPDTA Membership

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Our Mandate

The International Positive Dog Training Association is for dog-related professionals, human companions and enthusiasts who wish to stand against abuse through their own behaviour by treating all living things with respect, and by learning and educating about;

tools and techniques for creating and changing canine behaviour to ensure that a dog’s learning and living experience is pleasant and effective
fair and realistic expectations in canine companionship and training
a dog’s physical, emotional and psychological well-being and basic needs
creating a strong human/canine bond based on mutual trust and respect

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Vision Statement

Our aim is to motivate people to base their human/canine relationships on positive reinforcement by teaching and shaping wanted behaviours instead of punishing unwanted ones.

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Mission Statement

Our goal is to educate people world-wide and help them strengthen their human/canine bond as well as offer alternatives to aversive tools and techniques through the teaching, learning and sharing of proven positive techniques, while continuously exploring and analyzing new methods.

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IPDTA Standards

The IPDTA and its members stand against abuse in the name of dog training and behaviour modification through personal example, research and education. Being a positive dog trainer is not a job description, it is a way of life. Because our member’s behaviours directly reflect on our association, and people who use our “Find a Trainer” webpage expect a positive dog trainer, IPDTA members are required to live up to a code of conduct that demonstrates our positive beliefs.

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IPDTA Code of Conduct

IPDTA members must treat all living things with respect, whether animal or human.

IPDTA members must refrain from all bashing or personal attacks including but not limited to other members and dog trainers, both on and off the IPDTA email group.

All IPDTA email group postings must be positive in nature, whether sharing, supporting, assisting or educating one another.

Any tool or technique that was designed as an aversive or to cause fear and/or pain for the dog is not to be used by IPDTA members, anyone training at the member's facility or training in any capacity under the member's business name.

If at any point a tool or technique causes fear, other alternatives must be investigated. We understand that when working with fearful dogs this may be unavoidable. Under these circumstances the environment must be controlled and rehabilitation sessions must be kept short in order to keep the dog’s distress to a minimum throughout rehabilitation.

Any interrupter must not be aversive in nature and should only serve to get the dog’s attention – or to interrupt an unwanted behaviour in order to re-direct and reinforce an alternative behaviour. Unless the dog is in danger, interrupters that startle the dog or cause fear are unacceptable.

IPDTA members are required to learn about canine body language and calming signals in order to understand how a dog is feeling at a glance. Without a good understanding of canine body language it is impossible to know whether or not a tool or technique falls within IPDTA guidelines for humane training.

Any tool or technique immediately becomes unacceptable if the subject dog shows any sign of pain, distress or increased anxiety.
Any tool or technique with a high risk of misuse, abuse and/or malfunction resulting in fear or pain for the dog is unacceptable.
The misuse and/or abuse of any tool or technique is unacceptable.
The IPDTA believes that although physical punishment in training may achieve short term results, punishment simply creates avoidance and does not address the root cause of the problem. Physical punishment comes with a high risk of damage to the dog’s temperament, physical, emotional and/or psychological well-being, and as result is unacceptable.

With numerous proven and effective alternatives, IPDTA members believe there is no need or excuse for the use of physical punishment in dog training.

The IPDTA accepts that a dog must learn to enjoy and accept reasonable handling and restraint in order to remain safe and receive proper care, but any such handling or restraint that causes un-necessary physical and/or emotional trauma to the dog is not acceptable. Dogs with an aversion to handling and/or restraint must be desensitized and counter-conditioned by a qualified, positive trainer.

IPDTA members must agree to conduct any and all training, behaviour modification and interactions between animals and people using only IPDTA-accepted methods and ideals.

Any member who violates the IPDTA code of conduct will immediately forfeit his or her membership with IPDTA as well as all related membership dues and/or fees. The Standing Chair maintains the right to revoke any membership at his or her discretion.

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False Claims to Membership

In order to maintain the integrity of our association; any member whose membership has been revoked, or has not renewed their membership by the due date has seven days from that date to remove any reference of IPDTA membership from their website and/or any and all advertising. If the Chair is informed of a person making false claim to IPDTA membership after this time, whether by voice, digital or hard copy, if the person has not requested and been granted a time extension to remove the claim, the person and/or business name will be listed on the "Find A Trainer" page of the IPDTA website making it clear that the person is in fact NOT a member unless or until the Chair has been contacted with proof that all claims have been discontinued. If the person has listed his/her membership in a forum that cannot be cancelled such as but not limited to yellow pages advertising, the person will remain on the list until the publication has expired unless a time extension has been granted. Once again, the person is required to contact the Chair to inform him/her when it has been removed.

Any person who has never been a member but is falsely claiming IPDTA membership will be notified if possible and immediately added to the aforementioned IPDTA webpage until the Chair has been contacted proving that all claims have been discontinued .