Dog Training Industry Regulation: Why Standards Matter for Welfare

The unregulated dog training industry allows anyone to call themselves a trainer, with some using aversive methods that cause welfare harm without evidence of superior effectiveness.

Key Facts

Dog training is unregulated in most countries — no qualifications are required to work as a trainer
Aversive training methods including shock collars, prong collars and alpha rolling cause welfare harm
Evidence shows positive reinforcement training achieves equivalent or superior outcomes without welfare costs
Several professional bodies including APDT, IAABC and CCPDT promote evidence-based certification
Wales and England banned shock collars in 2010 and 2024 respectively — wider bans are proposed elsewhere
Poorly trained dogs are more likely to be relinquished to shelters, creating population welfare consequences

Welfare Considerations

The absence of training industry regulation means dog owners cannot distinguish qualified, welfare-conscious trainers from those using harmful methods. Dogs trained using aversive methods experience fear, anxiety and learned helplessness that impairs their quality of life beyond the training context. Establishing minimum qualifications requirements, banning welfare-harmful tools and requiring positive reinforcement competency would protect dogs from trainers whose methods cause unnecessary suffering. Welfare-conscious consumers seeking certified trainers drive the market signal for industry improvement.

What You Can Do

Choose trainers certified by recognised bodies including CCPDT, IAABC or equivalent
Avoid any trainer who uses or recommends shock collars, prong collars or physical punishment
Advocate for dog training industry regulation requiring minimum qualifications and welfare standards
Support campaigns for shock collar bans in countries without existing restrictions
Report trainers using illegal or harmful methods to professional bodies and consumer protection authorities