Code of Conduct

• Persons when applying are deemed to have agreed to the following minimum code of practice, which may be amended from time to time by the Board of Governors.
• Reference to ‘MEMBER’ also includes Affiliates and Associates of the Institute.
• Members will be expected to act at all time within the law. Any member breaking the law should not expect to receive any support from the Institute.
• The handling of dogs can be, under some circumstances, a dangerous occupation. Members have a duty to ensure that the general public are not put at risk as a result of their activities. Members should be adequately insured in case of an accident.
• Every member should at all times act in good faith towards their employer or client.
• Members should not act in any way, which might be detrimental to relationships with other professions.
• Members must act in good faith towards fellow members and to the Institute.
• Treatment of dogs being trained, handled or cared for by members must always be in line with accepted standards of good practice. Treatment must be humane and consistent with breed, type and temperament of the dog. It is impossible to lay down strict rules concerning equipment or methods of training, much will depend on circumstances. The Institute does not condone the use of pinch or electric collars. What may be acceptable in controlling an aggressive adult dog would totally be unacceptable in the training of a puppy.
• The ‘Ethics Committee’, a sub committee of the Board of Governors, meets at the discretion of the General Secretary. Its purpose is to assess any revision of the above code and to investigate complaints of unprofessional conduct. These will be put before the Board who will decide on any revisions or if disciplinary action is to be taken against a member.