The Animal Behaviour and Training Council

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The Animal Behaviour and Training Council

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The ABTC sets and maintains the standards of knowledge and practical skills needed to be an animal trainer or animal behaviour therapist, and it maintains national registers of appropriately qualified animal trainers and animal behaviourists. The Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) sets the standards of professional competence and behaviour, and is the only organisation that assures the c

ompetence of those on the ABTC Register. ABTC represents the training and behaviour sector to the public and to governments, and is supported by DEFRA, the veterinary profession, major animal charities and practitioners alike.

02/09/2026

We’re extremely proud to collaborate with other astounding advocates for animal welfare. Because together, we make change happen.

Thank you to all the practitioners, practitioner organisations, assessing organisations, advisory members, supporting members and sponsors that work alongside us to champion improving the welfare of animals.

We believe there’s never any excuse for causing any animal pain or fear in a quest to motivate them to perform our desired behaviours. Because we know humane methods aren’t just kinder, they produce better long-term results.

We’re proud to work together to promote the use of science-led, compassionate and non-punitive methods in all training and behaviour work.

To listen to the full podcast with Companion Animal Psychology, Kristi Benson and Fiona representing the ABTC, check the comments for the link. Thank you to our patron Zazie Todd for all your support.

31/08/2026

90% of dog owners experienced at least one behavioural problem in the last year according to the Dogs Trust National Dog Survey in 2025.

But if you have a problem with your dog’s behaviour, do you know where to turn?

Or do you find yourself confused by social media influencers, disagreements on what’s best, and ultimately still left with a problem you need help addressing?

The UK Government's own Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs - issued by Defra under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 - names the Animal Behaviour & Training Council as a trusted source for finding help.

🤔 So why the ABTC?

Because every practitioner registered has passed rigorous assessments of their knowledge, understanding and practical skills.

Which means when you choose an ABTC practitioner, you can be confident you’re choosing a competent professional - who’s been independently assessed to meet the highest of standards in welfare and training.

To find an ABTC practitioner near you, just head to our website and use the directory. We'll pop the link in the comments 🙌

28/08/2026

We were delighted to talk to Zazie Todd from Companion Animal Psychology and Kristi Benson on their fabulous podcast The Pawsitive Post in Conversation.

It was a great discussion covering what the ABTC does, why it matters, and how anyone who cares for animals can get involved (and benefit).

We’re the only charity in the UK to support animal welfare in training and behaviour, for all species!

So whether you’re a guardian, a practitioner, an educator or a purposeful brand, there’s lots of ways to work with The ABTC for the good of all animals.

Give us a follow and don’t forget to give the full podcast a listen - just search ‘The Pawsitive Post’ wherever you get your podcasts.

A big thank you to Zazie and Kristi for giving us the opportunity to talk about our passions and our mission. And thank you to Fiona Cooke for representing the ABTC so wonderfully.

10/07/2026

We are delighted to announce the return of the European Turtle Alliance Conference for 2026, taking place on:
Save the Date: Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October 2026

Location: ARU Writtle University College, Essex, UK.

Held in association with Tortoise Welfare UK and the European Studbook Foundation, the conference will once again bring together leading voices from across the chelonian world for a weekend dedicated to tortoise and turtle conservation, husbandry, research, and veterinary practice.

Whether you are a veterinarian, veterinary nurse, zookeeper, researcher, student, private keeper, conservation enthusiast, or working in the trade, this event offers a unique opportunity to learn from international experts, exchange ideas, and connect with like-minded people from across the globe.

https://www.turtlesurvival.eu/european-turtle-alliance-conference-2026

09/07/2026

Survey request

I am an MSc Clinical Animal Behaviour student at the University of Lincoln investigating problem dog behaviour.

I would be very grateful if you could complete my short anonymous survey. The survey takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.

Survey Link - https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/lincoln/thesis-survey-3

Please feel free to share this survey with colleagues who may be eligible to participate. Thank you for your support.

25/05/2026

Dog owners needed! 🐶

Researchers at the University of York are studying dog social cognition (how dogs solve problems and respond to human communication) and trainability.

We hope this project will help assistance dog charities improve selection for breeding. We are inviting dog owners to complete a short (10-15 min) survey.

To participate, your dog needs to be at least 1 year old, have lived with you for 3 months and have no hearing or vision impairments. There is the chance to win a £50 Amazon voucher if you complete the survey 1 week later. Thank you!

Link to participate: https://lnkd.in/dtn9jbSQ

ALT text Study poster for the University of York’s social cognition and trainability questionnaire study including an image of a woman pointing to a tennis ball for a brown poodle and a man knelt down talking to a sighthound.

Bekki Kennedy of Bishop Burton University Centre (Rebecca_Kennedy@hotmail.co.uk)would like to recruit participants for ...

21/05/2026

Bekki Kennedy of Bishop Burton University Centre ([email protected])
would like to recruit participants for an MSc research survey.

“Hi everyone. I am currently completing an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Training and conducting research into the relationship between spaying and fear-related behaviour in female dogs.
I am looking for owners of female dogs, whether spayed or unspayed, to complete a short anonymous survey exploring fear-related responses to everyday stimuli.
The survey takes approximately 2-5 minutes to complete:�https://forms.gle/rESa3kz3nDpFwgUAA
Thank you for your support.”

Alt Text Description��The image shows a brindle mixed-breed dog with her tongue out. She is outdoors with a background of trees. Text on the right side reads: ‘Participants Needed for MSc Research’ and ‘Investigating the association between age at spay and fear-related behaviours.

09/05/2026

As well as welcoming thedogeniusinstitute as a Silver Sponsor of ABTC, we also welcome Hanne Grice Pet Training & Behaviour and Veterinary Behaviour Support as ABTC Sponsors.

Thank you so much for your support in promoting animal welfare in training and behaviour.

29/04/2026

We welcome thedogeniusinstitute as an ABTC Silver Sponsor.

Dogenius provides globally recognised online OFQUAL regulated qualifications and industry leading CPD courses and webinars.

We appreciate all support for our work in the animal behaviour and training world. If you would like to become a Sponsor, please check out the Sponsor page on our website
ABTC.org.uk/sponsors

07/04/2026

Lunch & Learn for ABTC Practitioners and Members

Topic: Management of Canine Osteoarthritis at home

When: Wednesday 15 April 2026
Time: 12.00pm – 1.00pm (including Q&A)
Where: online via Zoom

Speaker: Hannah Capon MA Vet MB MRCVS, Founder and Head Vet of Canine Arthritis Management

The Animal Behaviour and Training Council is pleased to announce the next event in our ‘Lunch & Learn’ CPD series: Management of Canine Osteoarthritis at home presented by ABTC guest speaker Hannah Capon MA Vet MB MRCVS

This presentation will help participants recognise canine osteoarthritis (OA) as a major welfare concern and the leading cause of chronic pain in dogs, explain why OA demands an early, proactive and structured approach to care, and apply a simple multimodal framework that combines pharmacologic, physical, environmental and behavioural strategies. It will also show, with practical examples, how targeted home modifications—such as changes to flooring, ramps, bedding and daily routines—reduce mechanical stress, prevent injury and significantly improve comfort and quality of life for dogs living with OA.

Hannah is the Founder and Head Vet of Canine Arthritis Management (CAM); through CAM she has played a key role in raising awareness and providing practical guidance on managing canine arthritis.

This one-hour session is free to attend for ABTC practitioners and staff/volunteers of member organisations. Please tell us your member organisation when you email.

Places are limited, so early booking is advised.
To register, please contact: [email protected]

ALT text - the ABTC logo in red hovers over info of the upcoming webinar by Hannah Capon with Canine Arthritis Management logo

Address

Taunton
TA12UH

Website

http://www.abtcouncil.org.uk/

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