Registered Practitioners - The ABTC

The Animal Behaviour and Training Council will keep the national registers of animal trainers and animal behaviour therapists who meet the standards of knowledge and experience agreed by the members of Council.

Practitioners' entry onto the register will be by recommendation from membership organisations who can demonstrate that their members meet the standards required. The following practitioner roles will be recognised (according to the practitioner's species of expertise):

A. The training of animals

Animal Trainer: W orks with individual animals to ensure young animals learn to interact appropriately with other animals, people and environmental stimuli and with animals of all ages to develop obedient responses to a range of commands suited to the animal's role; tailors training to the individual aptitude of the animal.

B. The coaching of people training their animal

Animal Training Instructor: Provides group classes or individual coaching to owners/handlers, developing their skills and training ability to ensure young animals learn to interact appropriately with other animals, people and environmental stimuli and to ensure animals of all ages develop obedience to commands suited to the animal's role. Gives general advice on the animal's behaviour and the use of training methods. Tailors training to the individual aptitudes of the animal and owner/handler. Coaches owners/handlers in developing a good bond with their animal, providing for its physical and behavioural needs, and in the responsibilities and legal requirements of animal ownership.

Specialist Animal Training Instructor: Works with animals and owners/handlers to develop specialist behaviour or levels of performance that serve specific working roles. Coaches owners/handlers in the skills needed to work the animal, maintain its training and avoid the development of problems. Tailors training to the individual aptitudes of the animal and owner/handler. Coaches owners/handlers in developing a good bond with their animal, providing for its physical and behavioural needs, and in the responsibilities and legal requirements of animal ownership.

C. Therapy for animal behaviour problems

In the UK, the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 restricts diagnosis relating to animals to MRCVS vets, but has provision for behaviour problems to be excluded, and at present suitably qualified clinical animal behaviourists are recognised by the RCVS as able to diagnose behaviour disorders.

However, reality in the UK does not match this ideal, and there is huge variation in the knowledge and skills of people offering their services to owners with problem animals. This is a major concern for both animal welfare and handler safety. Individuals with little knowledge or skill in the area may inadvertently make the behavioural problem of the animal they are trying to help worse, increase the danger to humans and other animals, and undermine public confidence in those who work in this field.

The crux of the issue lies the breadth of knowledge and the problem solving skills needed to accurately diagnose the cause of problem behaviour, be it due to medical, developmental or temperament issues, or due to environmental influences or errors in training. Although there are some recognised clinical animal behaviourists with the required breadth of knowledge and skills, the majority of people currently offering services fall someway short of this ideal, and opportunities for continuing professional development to reach the full requirements are as yet limited. However, the majority of practitioners are members of organisations committed to introducing standards appropriate to the skills and knowledge demanded of the profession, and this provides a means for encouraging continuing professional development of practitioners towards the required standards.

Two behaviourists categories are therefore to be recognised:

• Clinical Animal Behaviourists who meet the full requirements of knowledge and experience;
• Accredited Animal Behaviourists who are recognised as having a number of the requirements of knowledge and experience needed and who are working towards full qualification as Clinical Animal Behaviourists.

The role of Accredited Animal Behaviourist will be open to current practitioners committed to continuing their professional development to achieve the breadth of knowledge and skills needed for Clinical Animal Behaviourist, normally within six years of registration. Registration will be open until March 2014 to allow time for education providers to develop appropriate courses and for professional organisations to develop suitable membership procedures. The AAB category will cease to exist by March 2020 when all registered practitioners will have achieved Clinical Animal Behaviourists status or retired. There will be no Student category of Accredited Animal Behaviourists and all new entrants to the profession will be directed towards the category of student Clinical Animal Behaviourist.

Clinical Animal Behaviourist:

Working alongside members of the veterinary profession, provides behavioural diagnosis to determine motivation and prescribe treatment plans for animals with behavioural disorders. Provides owners/handlers with coaching and follow-up to support implementation of treatment plan, and in the responsibilities and legal requirements of animal ownership. Veterinary surgeons with this qualification may specialise in the interaction between behavioural change and medical disease, and the use of adjunctive pharmaceutical agents to influence behaviour.

Accredited Animal Behaviourist:

Temporary category for current behaviour practitioners who meet a number of the requirements of knowledge and experience for clinical animal behaviourist, and who are working towards this goal. May practice within the limits of their knowledge and experience, seeking support and guidance or referring on for cases beyond their expertise.