• Login
    View Item 
    •   Research Bank Home
    • Unitec Institute of Technology
    • Study Areas
    • Natural Sciences
    • Natural Sciences Journal Articles
    • View Item
    •   Research Bank Home
    • Unitec Institute of Technology
    • Study Areas
    • Natural Sciences
    • Natural Sciences Journal Articles
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    The need for a national accreditation programme for professionals working in the field of animal training and behavioural modification in New Zealand

    Skyner, LJ.; Cameron, Kristie; Dale, A.; Walker, J. K.

    Thumbnail
    Share
    View fulltext online
    animals_10_01111_v2_2_.pdf (845.5Kb)
    Date
    2020-06-29
    Citation:
    Skyner, LJ., Cameron, KE., Dale, A., & Walker, JK. (2020). The Need for a National Accreditation Programme for Professionals Working in the Field of Animal Training and Behavioural Modification in New Zealand. Animals, 10 (7), 1111. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071111
    Permanent link to Research Bank record:
    https://hdl.handle.net/10652/4988
    Abstract
    SIMPLE SUMMARY: Companion animals play an important role in the lives of New Zealanders. Animals’ guardians often engage professional behaviour and training support to ensure their companion animal’s behaviour is compatible with their lifestyle and expectations. The methods these professionals use vary substantially and potentially subject animals to psychological (and physical) harm where outdated, incorrect or aversive methods of training or equipment are used. The national regulation of training methods or techniques would safeguard the welfare of the animal benefactors of these services. In the absence of such regulation, the development of a national accreditation body may act to protect animal welfare by certifying the experience, qualifications and training methods of the professionals offering these services. We investigated industry opinion and readiness for the establishment of an accreditation body via an online survey and found that accreditation, promoting the use of reward-based training and behavioural modification techniques, was generally supported. We conclude that the establishment of a national accreditation body would ensure that those seeking services source professionals who use best practice when it comes to training and behavioural modification, resulting in lasting benefits to animal welfare. ABSTRACT: Companion animals are at risk of psychological (and physical) harm if outdated, incorrect or aversive methods of training or equipment are used during training and behavioural modification. Companion animal guardians often engage professional animal behaviour and training services, yet this industry is not regulated in New Zealand. A voluntary national accreditation and registration programme could act to protect the welfare of animals by robustly evaluating the experience, qualifications and training methods of industry professionals. To investigate industry readiness for a national accreditation programme, we conducted an online survey and analysed the responses of 262 animal trainers, behavioural consultants, dog safety educators, veterinarians and veterinary nurses. A national accreditation programme, promoting the use of reward-based training and behavioural modification techniques, was generally supported, especially by individuals holding qualifications and membership of professional organisations. The implementation of such a programme would ensure that those seeking these services are able to source professionals that use best practice when it comes to training and behavioural modification, with lasting benefits to animal welfare.
    Keywords:
    New Zealand, animal professionals, standards, accreditation, animal welfare, welfare, behaviour modification, animal training, companion animals, companion animal training
    ANZSRC Field of Research:
    070203 Animal Management, 070207 Humane Animal Treatment
    Copyright Holder:
    © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

    Copyright Notice:
    his article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution(CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
    Available Online at:
    https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1111
    Rights:
    This digital work is protected by copyright. It may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use. These documents or images may be used for research or private study purposes. Whether they can be used for any other purpose depends upon the Copyright Notice above. You will recognise the author's and publishers rights and give due acknowledgement where appropriate.
    Metadata
    Show detailed record
    This item appears in
    • Natural Sciences Journal Articles [153]

    Te Pūkenga

    Research Bank is part of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

    • About Te Pūkenga
    • Privacy Notice

    Copyright ©2022 Te Pūkenga

    Usage

    Downloads, last 12 months
    24
     
     

    Usage Statistics

    For this itemFor the Research Bank

    Share

    About

    About Research BankContact us

    Help for authors  

    How to add research

    Register for updates  

    LoginRegister

    Browse Research Bank  

    EverywhereInstitutionsStudy AreaAuthorDateSubjectTitleType of researchSupervisorCollaboratorThis CollectionStudy AreaAuthorDateSubjectTitleType of researchSupervisorCollaborator

    Te Pūkenga

    Research Bank is part of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

    • About Te Pūkenga
    • Privacy Notice

    Copyright ©2022 Te Pūkenga