Dog Training World › Forums › Community Conduct › Member's Create Our Code of Conduct Here › Reply To: Member's Create Our Code of Conduct Here
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After reviewing the codes of both organizations, I would like to present some of my principles in a slightly less formal manner, which I follow when training dogs and solving their behavior problems.
1. When working with dogs, I don’t follow any ideology or current trends, but rely on knowledge based on scientific research.
2. I keep in mind the well-being of the dog, the client, myself, and the entire community involved in working with dogs, without causing harm to any of them.
3. I always treat both people and animals with respect during my work.
4. I prioritize the safety of the client, myself, the dog, and any other individuals or animals which may inadvertently be present in the environment.
5. If I am not competent in a specific aspect of working with or living with dogs, I inform the client and make an effort to help him find a suitable specialist.
6. If necessary, I consult my diagnosis and work plan with another expert.
7. Before starting any work, I gather all relevant information that may impact the process or contribute to the dog’s behavior issues.
8. I always remember that a health problem can have an impact on changes in a dog’s behavior, especially when they occur suddenly.
9. I inform the client that working with a dog is a process that requires time and commitment on their part, and that I do not employ quick fixes, magical solutions, or training hacks as they can cause unwanted side effects and are not sustainable.
10. If necessary, I make the client’s expectations towards the dog and the effects that we are able to achieve real.
11. By understanding the limitations of the dog and the owner, I create a work plan that is realistic and achievable for them.
12. Throughout the entire duration of working with a client, I am able to flexibly adjust and modify the work plan based on the specific situation. I am not afraid to admit when a previously devised plan needs to be changed.
13. I start working with each dog from the foundations, not skipping any important elements that precede training. I also do not skip the stages of the training itself.
14. The training plans I create should be understandable for the client, and I make an effort to explain in detail what we are doing and why. I also provide additional materials that explain the fundamentals of living with a dog.
15. I ensure that the client understands the relationship between their everyday life with the dog, housebreaking rules, leadership, and what happens in training or when behavior issues arise. I do not begin the actual training process until these aspects are clearly understood and properly implemented.
16. I am always honest when working with clients.
17. I work with every client according to the same principles, regardless of their social status or other factors such as gender, religion, sexual orientation, professional competence in working with dogs, financial capabilities etc. I never succumb to pressure to skip any stage in the dog training process, and I never prioritize more affluent or influential clients over others. I always verify the implementation of my recommendations equally and diligently.
18. I do not involve myself in family matters or household conflicts that are unrelated to the work with their dog.
19. I resign from working with a client who grossly does not comply with my recommendations or notoriously lies in connection with their observance or the performance of tasks assigned between meetings.
20. I do not disclose any client’s personal information without their consent, protecting their image in accordance with the law.
21. When recording work with a dog, I do so only with the client’s consent and use it as a supplement to the recommendations. Any use of recordings for other purposes, such as education, always requires the client’s consent.
22. I never mislead the client, providing honest information about the price, the expected number of sessions, my competencies, experience, knowledge, training methods, training tools, etc. This ensures that the decision to work together is fully informed and not based on any misconceptions or unrealistic expectations the client may have regarding working with me.
23. I do not criticize the actions of my client and other trainers working with the dog before. However, I inform clients about the potential significance of those actions and provide an explanation of my approach.
24. I use training tools that I am knowledgeable about and proficient in using, ensuring their ethical and effective use. I select tools based on the specific needs of each dog and case, never the other way around. When using training tools and creating training plans, I always keep LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) principles in mind.
25. I continuously educate myself and enhance my skills to become better in my work.
- I have divided my thoughts into two parts: the one above about working with a dog and client, and the one below about being a member of the Dog Training World community.
1. Be polite in conversations with others.
2. Treat others with respect.
3. Be patient.
4. Be tolerant.
5. Be honest and speak the truth, even if it is difficult.
6. Be understanding.
7. Do not judge others hastily.
8. Try to help others when you have the opportunity or when they ask you for it.
- 9. Do not be ashamed to ask for help from others.
10. Share your knowledge and experience with other members of this community, just as they do for you.
11. Be constructively critical in order to help others improve, providing professional assessments of their work and assisting in avoiding mistakes in the future.
12. Do not criticize in a contemptuous, disrespectful or provocative manner, on other websites or social media also.
13. Do not build your reputation on criticizing others, but rather on your own accomplishments.
Additionally, I appreciate the clarity of the code of conduct presented in the APDT. The categorization and the option to expand on each category allows for maintaining order, especially when there are many sub points. When I initially wrote my points, I thought there would be a few of them. Now, I would like to add several sub points to each point. Therefore, the format of the code of conduct presented in the APDT seems like a sensible solution to me.