[Marina Darling Zeitler]

Yall are awesome! Thank you for all the input. Much appreciated.

[Marina Darling Zeitler]

Code of Conduct

Foundation-style trainers strive to increase the well-being of both handlers and K-9s in an ethical manner, through mutual exchange and implementation of Least Invasive Minimally Aversive (LIMA) strategies to foster better communication, competence, and collaboration between them.

Honesty

Honesty, truthfulness, and openness are paramount in business and character. No information should be withheld, such as bite history. Trainers should be appropriately qualified and fees should be consistent; nothing should be promised if it cannot be delivered.

Trustworthiness

I will pursue excellence in the dog training profession by continued education in a wide variety of dog training techniques, theories, and methods, and self-critique to improve my communication and effectiveness with clients.

Transparency

Trainers should be appropriately qualified and fees should be consistent; nothing should be promised if it cannot be delivered.

Trainers must possess the necessary qualifications, charge a consistent price, and only make promises they can keep.

Accountability

I promise to uphold the integrity and professionalism representative of a certified trainer.

I Promise to Keep Records of all training plans, lessons, and notes to refer back to at any time and keep clients on track.

I Promise to have have sufficient insurance for any case that requires it ready;.

Confidentiality

I will keep client personal information and other client-identifying factors confidential and not identify clients to others without written consent.

Loyalty

I am obligated to render “loyal and faithful” service to the client, to act with “good faith,” and not to compete with but rather to advance the client’s interests. I will not act in a way that benefits me when doing so would create a conflict of interest with the client.

Objectivity

I will maintain professional business practices, such as accurate contracts, pricing, and delivery of services, and disclose the cost for services clearly, accurately and fairly.

Respect

In providing ethical treatment of clients and their dogs, it is important to recognize the diversity of personalities and temperaments that come with each breed. Training should be customized to the individual, taking into consideration their speed of learning. It is also important to maintain honesty with clients about the achievability of their goals, transparency about training methods or incidents, confidentiality of information, and accountability in all aspects of care and advice. It is also the process of honoring someone by exhibiting care, concern, or consideration for their needs or feelings.

Competence

I acknowledge the limits of my knowledge, skills, and abilities, and should I not be proficient in skills or knowledge to assist the client, I will seek outside support or refer them to a qualified professional.

I will use only the tools, equipment, methods, and techniques that I am proficient enough to incorporate into the training practice in a humane way, ensuring that the preferred tools, equipment, method, or technique does not take precedence over their effectiveness should it be evident that the method or tool is not compatible or productive with the dog’s response, lack of response, or creating undue stress that is counterproductive to a learning environment.

Obedience to the law

I will treat all dogs and other animals in accordance with all federal laws as they pertain to animal welfare and the humane treatment of animals.

[Marina Darling Zeitler]

I’m still working on this. But really wanted to get something in because I was late on doing this part. I’ll update it once my final is done.

[Marina Darling Zeitler]

I love big think when it’s about dogs! Good stuff. 👍 Thanks for sharing.

[Marina Darling Zeitler]

“Teaching people is skill in itself, one requiring patience; the ability to break things down into small, manageable chunks, so clients come away feeling they’ve succeeded more than failed; the ability to criticize constructively, not trash. It also helps to be a good amateur psychologist, so you can quickly read the client and your reactions to the client. The more insight you have and the more flexible you are, the more clients you will have and keep, and the more they will recommend your services. A big mistake I made was to assume that new clients are as deeply interested in dogs as you are. Most aren’t. Some become enthusiasts. Others, not so much. Some you can turn into enthusiasts, others not so much.”

This. This is a whole other topic. I know Mike goes over it a couple times in how to interact and communicate with clients, so I look forward to him going over it in more death. I have pretty great people skills. Not to toot my own horn but I am a likable person. It’s just teaching that I’m unfamiliar with. So, people lose interest when I’m all over the place. I can know the material all day, but once it comes to teaching – especially when someone isn’t as into it as I am- It’s not coming easily.

I talk about dogs every single time the opportunity presents itself. They are my favorite subject but to the people around me, they lose interest pretty fast Haha. I’m sure the more I get through the course I will learn about how to convey the information for people to better follow & understand.

And no doubt the course is GOLD. I am doing course work every chance I get and listening to mikes lectures on different topics while i groom dogs. Trust when i say this is my free time <3 Loving every bit.

I can’t explain how much I appreciate yall’s support and answers to this. I’m definitely looking forward to more and more of this. The learning is never done here. Which is exciting in itself.

In other news! I got my very first client today. Ideal client with a 6 m/o pup that has great potential. Its only basic obedience so confident in that. Will be practicing keeping a raining log and implementing everything learned so far. She knows she’s my first client and is very excited for me as well. Overall, a great situation. Very exciting stuff.

[Marina Darling Zeitler]

Thank you incredibly for explaining your story. I started with ABC too and then was looking for further education because I didn’t feel confident with so many of my questions unanswered. so yes, this program is a blessing that I have stumbled upon. I think I got in my head too much about it after going through the “Ethics” portion of the course. I never would bad mouth anyone or start arguments. I guess i felt like if they asked if I should be honest that I would not be able to follow their guidelines and with that being the case, if I should cancel. But since I am not currently practicing with clients until I’m confident and competent it- you’re right- it really doesn’t matter right now. And yeah, I had to pay for it. Might as well let it be and use the resources they give to gain more knowledge. I have a tendency to overthink things, so I appreciate how supportive and honest all of these responses have been.

[Marina Darling Zeitler]

Also, really appreciate you complimenting my site. I worked really hard on it. I was up for weeks hahah. But it can always improve. I have to change a lot of content too. I’ve stopped sharing it too much until I learn more here and am more confident in my DT abilities. But, like this site is so interactive. I love that.

[Marina Darling Zeitler]

I want to start to start by saying thank you for your support. Mike does a great job reading peoples character to have all of y’all beautiful souls around.

I guess I’m Struggling because i got done with the Ethics portion of the course work. I don’t feel right sticking with them when i know they are wrong and i will not be following their twisted version of LIMA.

In the case I stick with them and get backlash for using training tools I could easily show them Steven Lindsays Exact words… Then I’d Possibly make a difference in how they present certain studies. However, I’m only one person. So…

I think I’ll Stick with them until to explore what they have to offer more and then make a final decision.

I’ve heard so many conflicts in the way APDT represent topics during going through this FSDT program, so I felt the need to address this and I’m glad I did.

And I very much agree! FSDT is the happiest I’ve been about Dog Training. I’ve always been Obsessed but never had access to information like this. It’s now what I’m doing every chance I get. Even while I work grooming haha . I’m so thankful & lucky to be a part of this community.

[Marina Darling Zeitler]

I like that ” changing career paths.” I’m just the type of person that want to tell people that they’re doing something wrong with dogs. I will hold my tongue when I talk to them and respect the people that just don’t know better.
Hey, I was there too. I just believe people should continue their education like all of us here.

[Marina Darling Zeitler]

Thank you. I was really struggling with this simple task, and you really did make me feel at ease. I’ll take the steps to cancel. And thank you. I’m feeling welcome more every day here💙

[Marina Darling Zeitler]

I would love to find some credible sites with dog studies and articles on dog behavior, culture, facts and such. if you know any good ones, please feel free to message them to me! I know Mike links just about everything <3 but it’d be cool to browse a site like that too. (:

[Marina Darling Zeitler]

Love how you added LIMA I am definitely going to remember that for my final Code of Conduct. Good work overall!