Finding a dog trainer. Choosing a vet. Wading through links on Google that tell you how to get your dog to stop peeing on the rug. These tasks are infinitely more difficult than they should be due to the glut of contradictory (mis)information in the animal behavior and care fields.
If the so-called professionals can’t even agree what’s best, how are you supposed to figure it out? Or at least that’s how the popular handwringing goes. But that statement in and of itself is part of the misinformation. All self-styled professionals may not agree but the experts and research based best practices in the field do.
Ethics in Animal Care seeks to explore the relationship between what we know to be true about the science of animal behavior and care with its real world applications and to connect people to professional local service providers whose practices support the kind of relationship they want with their companion animals. We strive to know better, to do better, and to build a more ethically coherent world in which to work, train, shelter, rescue, and share our lives with species other than our own.
When we choose to put ourselves in the position of pet owner or animal care professional of any kind, we are bound to educate ourselves on best practices and ensure our competency to be good stewards of the well-being of the animals in our care.
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POSITION STATEMENTS FROM THE EXPERTS
American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior
American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
Association of Professional Dog Trainers
American Animal Hospital Association
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
British Small Animal Veterinary Association
European Society for Veterinary Clinical Ethology
FURTHER READING
Dog Training Research Resources – Companion Animal Psychology
Dog Training Literature Review – BC SPCA
What is Positive Reinforcement in Dog Training? – Companion Animal Psychology
What is Positive Punishment in Dog Training? – Companion Animal Psychology
Fallout From the Use of Aversives – Eileen and Dogs
Information About Shock Collars – Eileen and Dogs
Why “Red Zone Dogs” Need Positive Reinforcement – Eileen and Dogs
ON THE FENCE
What Are Some Common Myths About Dog Training? – The Association of Professional Dog Trainers
Positives of Negatives & Negatives of Positives – Patricia McConnell, PhD.
More Than Fancy Words – Dog Educated
Hey, Have You Heard the One About Climate Change and Dog Training? – Unexamined Dog
Dog Training is Broken – Kindred Companions
Why I Train Dogs the Way I Train Dogs – Robin Bennett
Dogs Aren’t the Only Ones Who Suffer From Aversive Training – Dogminded
Ethics in Animal Care 