New Animal Behaviour and Training Council
This regulatory council will set the standards of education and training for people who are professionally engaged in the behaviour modification of animals.
The Council is made up of major professional organisations from the veterinary, re-homing, behaviour therapy, and animal training sectors of the industry and they are currently finalising standards for the knowledge and skills required for those wishing to be recognised as professional animal trainers and animal behaviour therapists.
Colleges, universities and accredited private providers of courses that cater for the training of students have contributed to this process and a dialogue with these learning providers is already under way. The agreed skills competencies are also being used to develop National Occupational Standards with Lantra for the assessment of fitness to practice.
The agreed standards will form the benchmark for membership organisations to assess the competence of practitioners seeking entry onto the Council’s national registers of animal trainers and behaviour therapists. This initiative is seen as the beginning of the end of bad practice brought about by poorly trained individuals and will ultimately have a direct affect on improving animal welfare.
Individuals seeking recognition will need to belong to a professional body that has been approved by ABTC. They will have the procedures in place for assessing training and education or offering guidance and support to those working towards achieving the required standard. For those current practitioners who are unable to fulfil the requirements that are currently under consultation a ‘grandfather scheme’ is being devised whereby knowledge can be evidenced by a more flexible approach than production of formal certification.
The Council’s chairman, David Montgomery said: “The regulation of this sector is long overdue on animal welfare grounds and the formation of the Council has been met with widespread enthusiasm and support from the majority of professional organisations in the UK and even abroad.”
Dr Rachel Casey, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Bristol and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine added: "The ABTC is a very important step forward in raising standards in animal training and behaviour. There is currently a plethora of organisations and individuals with different experience, qualifications and post-nominals, which makes it difficult for animal owners to differentiate individuals with the right skills for the needs of their animals. The distinct practitioner types recognised by the ABTC will enable the public to identify a suitable person for their needs, but also guide those interested in a career in animal training or behaviour to seek courses and training at a suitable level. By defining the level of course accreditation and ensuring that content is up-to-date and welfare compatible, the standards of practice in training and behaviour will continue to rise.
This is also great news for the veterinary profession. The recognition of particular organisations as working to suitable standards will make it easier for vets to identify suitable practitioners for referral of animals with behaviour problems, and give them peace of mind as to their level of expertise."
The Council has followed the Companion Animal Welfare Council’s lead and will initially focus on animal behaviour therapists and trainers working with dogs. However those involved with other species are to be included and organisations representing their interests are currently joining the Council.
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