Aligned position statements

Training and behaviour organisations

IAABC Foundation

Supports the Joint Standards of Practice and education in humane, evidence-based behaviour work.

Training and behaviour organisations

Association of Professional Dog Trainers International

“There are no training or behavior cases which justify the use of intentional aversive punishment-based interventions.”

States there are no training or behaviour cases that justify intentional aversive punishment-based interventions.

Training and behaviour organisations

APDT UK

“Members must not use, recommend, advertise or sell choke chains, prong collars or electric shock devices.”

Members must not use, recommend, advertise or sell choke chains, prong collars or electric shock devices.

Training and behaviour organisations

APDT Australia

“Actively reject the use of harsh, physical, psychological, coercive and aversive methods including electric shock collars, pinch or prong collars.”

Members reject harsh, coercive and aversive methods, including shock collars and prong collars.

Training and behaviour organisations

APDT New Zealand

“Treats electronic training collars as unnecessary and a form of cruelty. Full members must not use them.”

Treats electronic training collars as unnecessary and a form of cruelty. Full members must not use them.

Training and behaviour organisations

Pet Professional Guild

“Electric shock in the guise of training constitutes a form of abuse and should no longer be a part of the training toolbox.”

Regards electric shock used as training as a form of abuse and campaigns to remove these devices from the supply chain.

Training and behaviour organisations

Pet Professional Guild Australia

“Electrical stimulation has no part in ethical dog training and should be banned from sale for training use.”

Electrical stimulation has no part in ethical dog training and should be banned from sale for training use.

Training and behaviour organisations

Pet Professional Guild British Isles

PPG chapter whose members work to force-free standards and oppose shock and prong equipment.

Training and behaviour organisations

Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers

Supports reward-based training and opposes aversive tools that rely on pain or fear.

Training and behaviour organisations

Animal Behaviour and Training Council

“There is never a need to resort to methods that cause harm or distress in order to effectively train dogs. The sale and use of shock collars should be banned.”

Holds that goals claimed to justify aversive devices can be reached with positive reinforcement and supports a ban.

Training and behaviour organisations

Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors

“We are opposed to the use of electronic training devices and pinch collars, believing they are unacceptable and unnecessary.”

Signed the UK joint statement opposing electronic training devices and pinch collars.

Training and behaviour organisations

Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians

UK clinical behaviour body whose members work to evidence-based, welfare-centred practice without aversive tools.

Training and behaviour organisations

Karen Pryor Academy

Trains clicker and positive-reinforcement practitioners and endorses the Joint Standards of Practice.

Training and behaviour organisations

Academy for Dog Trainers

Teaches force-free behaviour work and rejects shock and prong as training tools.

Training and behaviour organisations

Victoria Stilwell Academy

Endorses the Joint Standards of Practice and trains force-free, science-based practitioners.

Training and behaviour organisations

Fear Free

Promotes handling and training that reduce fear, anxiety and stress rather than pain or intimidation.

Training and behaviour organisations

Institute of Modern Dog Trainers

Teaches force-free, evidence-based dog training and does not support aversive tools.

Training and behaviour organisations

International Pet Dog Trainers Association

Membership standards are built around force-free, reward-based dog training.

Training and behaviour organisations

Grisha Stewart Academy

Joint Standards of Practice partner teaching constructional, force-free behaviour change.

Training and behaviour organisations

Assistance Dogs International

Joint Standards of Practice partner expecting humane, evidence-based training of assistance dogs.