My Top 10/My Code of Ethics (much is reordered or combined pulled from APDT)

1. Shall provide professional assistance to persons without discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, gender, health status, religion, political beliefs, national origin, or sexual orientation. Shall obtain informed consent from clients before videotaping, audio recording, or permitting third-party observation. Shall obtain signed waivers, contracts or agreements prior to the start of services. Shall not share confidential information that could reasonably lead to the identification of a client, or prospective client, research participant, or other person with whom they have a confidential relationship, unless they have obtained the prior written consent of the client, research participant, or other person with whom they have a confidential relationship. Shall clearly disclose and explain to clients all financial arrangements and fees related to professional services prior to entering into a professional relationship
2. Shall ensure and oversee the safety of clients, animals, and the public in implementing training and behavior programs, shall work to eliminate the use of aversive stimuli and maximize the effective use of positive reinforcement to modify animal behavior. and shall keep accurate and complete records of all clients, their animals, services provided, and the conclusion of the services provided. Shall maintain adequate professional liability insurance coverage. Shall maintain competence in training and behavior through continuing education in all training methods and not discriminate equipment or method based on tool, history, personal opinion or possible uses or potential for misuse by a nonprofessional.
3. Shall provide referring veterinarians with professional feedback on services provided and training and/or behavior plans to improve continuity of care and ensure the collaborative relationship between health and training and/or behavior professionals. Shall seek help and education when confronted with complex or difficult cases, and refrain from taking cases beyond their professional experience.
4. Shall provide truthful advertising and representation concerning their qualifications, certifications, experience, performance, and pricing of services. Shall refrain from providing guarantees regarding the specific outcome of training and behavior plans. Shall work within their professional education and individual expertise. Shall not represent themselves as providing specialized services unless they have the appropriate education, training, or experience. Shall correct, wherever possible, false, misleading, or inaccurate information and representations made by others concerning their qualifications, services, or products. Shall refrain from making misrepresentations regarding marketing and logos for which they are no longer eligible and remove logos and claims of certification when no longer maintained. Shall agree to use the most current logos and follow recommended usage of said marketing materials. Shall not commit business fraud, plagiarism, copyright infringement, misuse or misappropriation of logos or trademarks, theft of intellectual property, slander, or libel.
5. Shall not advise on problems outside their recognized professional education and certifications and shall not provide advice or recommendations in areas of veterinary medicine or family counseling unless licensed and qualified to do so. Shall accurately represent their competencies, education, training, and experience relevant to their practice of training and/or behavior modification. Shall not use titles that could mislead the public concerning the identity, responsibility, source, and status of those practicing under that name.
6. Shall exercise care when stating their professional recommendations and opinions through public statements. Shall be respectful of colleagues and other professionals and shall not condemn the character of their professional acts, nor engage in public commentary, including commentary in public presentations, written media or on websites, internet discussion forums, or social media, that is disrespectful, derisive or inflammatory. This includes cyberbullying, that is the use of electronic media for deliberate, repeated and hostile behavior against colleages.
7. Shall not engage in nor be convicted of cruelty, abuse, or neglect of animals or humans, crimes against humanity, or of violence against animals or humans. Shall not engage in gross misconduct directly related to the responsible party’s professional qualifications.
8. Shall cooperate at all times from the inception of an ethical complaint through the completion of all proceedings regarding that complaint.
9. Shall not threaten or retaliate against any parties or witnesses to a good faith ethics complaint in which the [name of the accounntable party] is involved, both during the course of the complaint and after the completion of all proceedings.
10. Strive to instruct and coach clients in tactful ways that they individually understand and resonate with, that is kind, warm teaching, patient instruction, respectful and empathetic, without teasing, judgement or belittlement, and not acted on in frustration. Seek to determine their learning style and adapt teaching styles and relatable examples and encouraging stories to maximize comprehension and motivation for compliance for outcome success. Learn about different teaching methods, human learning styles, communication methods and tools, factors in perceptions, and act in genuine authenticity with motivation from the heart only to help families through helping their dogs.