The Need for a National Accreditation Programme for Professionals Working in the Field of Animal Training and Behavioural Modification in New Zealand
Companion animals are at risk of psychological (and physical) harm if outdated, incorrect or aversive methods of training or equipment are used during training and behavioural modification. Companion animal guardians often engage professional animal behaviour and training services, yet this industry...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-06-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1111 |
| _version_ | 1797563912624799744 |
|---|---|
| author | Lindsay J. Skyner Kristie E. Cameron Arnja Dale Jessica K. Walker |
| author_facet | Lindsay J. Skyner Kristie E. Cameron Arnja Dale Jessica K. Walker |
| author_sort | Lindsay J. Skyner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Companion animals are at risk of psychological (and physical) harm if outdated, incorrect or aversive methods of training or equipment are used during training and behavioural modification. Companion animal guardians often engage professional animal behaviour and training services, yet this industry is not regulated in New Zealand. A voluntary national accreditation and registration programme could act to protect the welfare of animals by robustly evaluating the experience, qualifications and training methods of industry professionals. To investigate industry readiness for a national accreditation programme, we conducted an online survey and analysed the responses of 262 animal trainers, behavioural consultants, dog safety educators, veterinarians and veterinary nurses. A national accreditation programme, promoting the use of reward-based training and behavioural modification techniques, was generally supported, especially by individuals holding qualifications and membership of professional organisations. The implementation of such a programme would ensure that those seeking these services are able to source professionals that use best practice when it comes to training and behavioural modification, with lasting benefits to animal welfare. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:49:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f5784ae3b7114dea84ff3b02e7811f5d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:49:55Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-f5784ae3b7114dea84ff3b02e7811f5d2023-11-20T05:17:17ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-06-01107111110.3390/ani10071111The Need for a National Accreditation Programme for Professionals Working in the Field of Animal Training and Behavioural Modification in New ZealandLindsay J. Skyner0Kristie E. Cameron1Arnja Dale2Jessica K. Walker3Companion Animals New Zealand, Wellington 6141, New ZealandSchool of Environmental and Animal Sciences, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland 1142, New ZealandCompanion Animals New Zealand, Wellington 6141, New ZealandDepartment of Animal Welfare Science and Education, SPCA New Zealand, Auckland 0600, New ZealandCompanion animals are at risk of psychological (and physical) harm if outdated, incorrect or aversive methods of training or equipment are used during training and behavioural modification. Companion animal guardians often engage professional animal behaviour and training services, yet this industry is not regulated in New Zealand. A voluntary national accreditation and registration programme could act to protect the welfare of animals by robustly evaluating the experience, qualifications and training methods of industry professionals. To investigate industry readiness for a national accreditation programme, we conducted an online survey and analysed the responses of 262 animal trainers, behavioural consultants, dog safety educators, veterinarians and veterinary nurses. A national accreditation programme, promoting the use of reward-based training and behavioural modification techniques, was generally supported, especially by individuals holding qualifications and membership of professional organisations. The implementation of such a programme would ensure that those seeking these services are able to source professionals that use best practice when it comes to training and behavioural modification, with lasting benefits to animal welfare.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1111behaviouraversionreward-basedwelfarestandards |
| spellingShingle | Lindsay J. Skyner Kristie E. Cameron Arnja Dale Jessica K. Walker The Need for a National Accreditation Programme for Professionals Working in the Field of Animal Training and Behavioural Modification in New Zealand Animals behaviour aversion reward-based welfare standards |
| title | The Need for a National Accreditation Programme for Professionals Working in the Field of Animal Training and Behavioural Modification in New Zealand |
| title_full | The Need for a National Accreditation Programme for Professionals Working in the Field of Animal Training and Behavioural Modification in New Zealand |
| title_fullStr | The Need for a National Accreditation Programme for Professionals Working in the Field of Animal Training and Behavioural Modification in New Zealand |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Need for a National Accreditation Programme for Professionals Working in the Field of Animal Training and Behavioural Modification in New Zealand |
| title_short | The Need for a National Accreditation Programme for Professionals Working in the Field of Animal Training and Behavioural Modification in New Zealand |
| title_sort | need for a national accreditation programme for professionals working in the field of animal training and behavioural modification in new zealand |
| topic | behaviour aversion reward-based welfare standards |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1111 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lindsayjskyner theneedforanationalaccreditationprogrammeforprofessionalsworkinginthefieldofanimaltrainingandbehaviouralmodificationinnewzealand AT kristieecameron theneedforanationalaccreditationprogrammeforprofessionalsworkinginthefieldofanimaltrainingandbehaviouralmodificationinnewzealand AT arnjadale theneedforanationalaccreditationprogrammeforprofessionalsworkinginthefieldofanimaltrainingandbehaviouralmodificationinnewzealand AT jessicakwalker theneedforanationalaccreditationprogrammeforprofessionalsworkinginthefieldofanimaltrainingandbehaviouralmodificationinnewzealand AT lindsayjskyner needforanationalaccreditationprogrammeforprofessionalsworkinginthefieldofanimaltrainingandbehaviouralmodificationinnewzealand AT kristieecameron needforanationalaccreditationprogrammeforprofessionalsworkinginthefieldofanimaltrainingandbehaviouralmodificationinnewzealand AT arnjadale needforanationalaccreditationprogrammeforprofessionalsworkinginthefieldofanimaltrainingandbehaviouralmodificationinnewzealand AT jessicakwalker needforanationalaccreditationprogrammeforprofessionalsworkinginthefieldofanimaltrainingandbehaviouralmodificationinnewzealand |