CCPDT humane hierarchy.docx

**CCPDT certification council for professional dog trainers standards of practice and code of ethics policy** **Standards of practice** The standards of practice provide a framework of principles to convey a collective principle of professionalism skills and values as members or certificates colle...

**CCPDT certification council for professional dog trainers standards of practice and code of ethics policy** **Standards of practice** The standards of practice provide a framework of principles to convey a collective principle of professionalism skills and values as members or certificates collectively referred to as members each individual member will undertake the following - To understand and promote least intrusive minimally aversive or Lima training and behavior work - To continue professional development by reading relevant material attending conferences workshops and seminars and pursuing other educational opportunities - To review an understand source material and academic texts for information - To abstain from representing training and behavioral information as scientific unless the information is derived from peer reviewed and published research - To always maintain personal professionalism through Providing your services honestly Treating animals and clients respectfully Valuing Anne preserving the privacy of clients Maintaining professionalism with colleagues and other professionals **Professional code of ethics** The professional code of ethics was created to set forth guidelines for members any member is subject to termination of membership revocation of certification and or other disciplinary actions if they - Are convicted of a felony that involves violence against people or animals - Engage in conduct which could lead to conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor related to their qualifications or functions - Engage in cruelty abuse or neglect of animals or humans crimes against humanity or of violence against animals or humans - Fail to cooperate with the organization at any point from the inception of an ethical complaint through the completion of all proceedings regarding that complaint any member or member applicant who wishes to appeal determination may do so in accordance with the complaints process [Principle I: responsibility to clients] 1. trainers\\ behavior consultants provide professional assistance to persons without discrimination on the basis of race age ethnicity socioeconomic status disability gender health status religion political beliefs national origin or sexual orientation 2. Trainers/ behavior consultants are aware of and comply with applicable laws regarding the reporting of animal bites and suspected abuse or neglect 3. Trainers/ behavior consultants respect the right of clients to make decisions regarding their pets management training and care trainers/ behavior consultants are responsible for helping clients understand the potential consequences of those decisions 4. No trainers/ behavior consultants obtain informed consent from clients before videotaping audio recording or permitting third party observation 5. Trainers/ behavior consultants obtain signed waivers contracts or agreements prior to the start of services 6. Trainers/ behavior consultants ensure an oversea the safety of clients animals and the public in implementing training and behavior programs [Principle II: Confidentiality] 2.1 trainers/ behavior consultants do not share confidential information that could reasonably lead to the identification of a client or perspective client research participant or other person with whom they have had a confidential relationship unless they have obtained the prior written consent of the client research participant or other person with whom they have a confidential relationship 2.2 trainers/ behavior consultants keep accurate and complete records of all clients their animals, services provided and the conclusion of the services provided. 2.3 trainers/ behavior consultants provide refering veterinarians with professional feedback on services provided and training or behavior plans to improve continuity of care an ensure the collaborative relationship between health and behavior professionals. [Principle I I I: professional competence and integrity] 3.1 trainers/ behavior consultants work to minimize the use of aversive stimuli an maximize the effective use of positive reinforcement to modify animal behavior through a least intrusive minimally aversive Lima based approach 3.2 trainers/ behavior consultants maintain competence in training and behavior through continuing education 3.3 trainers/ behavior consultants maintain adequate knowledge of and adhere to applicable laws ethics and professional standards 3.4 trainers/ behavior consultants provide truthful advertising and representation concerning their qualifications certifications experience performance and pricing of services 3.5 trainers/ behavior consultants refrained from providing guarantees regarding the specific outcome of training and behavior plans 3.6 trainers/ behavior consultants provide Full disclosure of potential conflicts of interest to clients and other professionals 3.7 trainers/ behavior consultants work within their professional education an individual expertise 3.8 trainers were slash behavior consultants seek help and education when confronted with complex or difficult cases an refrain from taking cases beyond their professional experience 3.9 trainers/ behavior consultants do not advise on problems outside the recognized professional education and certifications and do not provide advice or recommendations in areas of veterinary medicine or family counseling and less licensed and qualified to do so 3.10 trainers/ behavior consultants do not permit employees subcontractors or supervisee's to perform or to hold themselves out as competent to perform professional services beyond their training level of experience and competence based on certification an education 3.11 trainers/ behavior consultants exercise care when stating their professional recommendations and opinions through public statements [Principle IV: responsibility to the profession] 4.1 trainers/ behavior consultants are respectful of colleagues and other professionals and do not condemn the character of their professional acts nor engage in public commentary including commentary in public presentations written media or on websites Internet discussions lists or social media that is disrespectful derisive or inflammatory this includes cyber bullying that is the use of electronic media for deliberate repeated and hostile behavior against colleagues 4.2 professional trainers/ behavior consultants maintain adequate professional liability insurance coverage [Principle V: financial arrangements and truthful representation of services] 5.1 prior to entering into professional relationship trainers/ behavior consultants clearly disclose and explained to clients all financial arrangements and fees related to professional services 5.2 trainers/ behavior consultants represent facts truthfully to clients third party payers and students regarding services rendered [Principle VI: advertising] 6.1 trainers/ behavior consultants accurately represent their competency's education training and experience relevant to their practice of training and behavior 6.2 trainers/ behavior consultants do not use titles that could mislead the public concerning the identity responsibility source and status of those practicing under that name 6.3 trainers/ behavior consultants correct wherever possible false misleading or inaccurate information an representations made by others concerning the consultants qualifications services or products 6.4 trainers/ behavior consultants do not represent themselves as providing specialized services unless they have the appropriate education training or experience 6.5 trainers a/ behavior consultants refrain from making misrepresentations regarding marketing and logos for which the practitioner is no longer eligible and remove logos and claims of certification when no longer maintained by the practitioner 6.6 trainers/ behavior consultants agree to use the most current logos an follow recommended usage of said marketing materials 6.7 trainers/ behavior consultants shall not commit business fraud plagiarism or copyright infringement misuse or misappropriation of logos trademarks theft of intellectual property slander or libel **Least intrusive minimally aversive effective behavior intervention policy Lima** **What is Lima?** Lima is an acronym for the phrase least intrusive minimally aversive Lima describes a trainer or behavior consultant who uses the least intrusive minimally aversive strategy out of a set of humane and effective tactics likely to succeed in achieving a training or behavior change objective Lima adherence also requires consultants to be adequately educated and skilled in order to ensure that the least intrusive and aversive procedure is used Lima does not justify the use of punishment in lieu of other effective interventions and strategies in the vast majority of cases desired behavior change can be affected by focusing on the animals environment physical well-being and operant and classical interventions such as differential reinforcement of an alternative behaviour desensitisation and counter conditioning **Lima is competence based** Lima requires trainers/ consultants to work to increase the use of positive reinforcement and eliminate the use of punishment when working with animal and human clients in order to ensure best practices consultants should pursue and maintain competence in animal behavior consulting and training through continuing education and hands-on experience consultants should not advise on problems outside the recognized boundaries of their competences and experience **Positive reinforcement and understanding the learner** Positive reinforcement should be the first line of teaching training an behavior change program considered and should be applied consistently positive reinforcement is associated with the lowest incidence of aggression attention seeking avoidance and fear in learners Only the learner determines what may be reinforcing it is crucial that the consultant understands and has the ability to appropriately apply this principle this fact may mean that the consultant assesses any handling petting food tool and environment each time the learner experiences them consultant bias must not determine the learners experience the measure of each stimulus is whether the learner's target behavior is strengthening or weakening not the consultants intent or preference **Systematic problem solving and strategies** The trainer/ consultant is responsible for ensuring learner success through a consistent systematic approach that identifies a specific target behavior the purpose of that behavior and the consequences that maintain the behavior A variety of learning and behavior change strategies may come into play during a case ethical use of this variety always depends on the trainer/ consultants ability to adequately problem solve and to understand the impact of each action on the learner as well as sensitivity towards the learners experience **Preventing abuse** We seek to prevent the abuses and potential repercussions of inappropriate poorly applied and inhumane use of punishment and of overly restrictive management and confinement strategies. The potential effects of punishment can include aggression or counter aggression; Suppressed behavior preventing the consultant from adequately reading the animal; Increased anxiety and fear; Physical harm; a negative association with the owner or handler; increased unwanted behavior; and new unwanted behaviors **Choice and control for the learner** Lima guidelines require that trainer/ consultants always offer the learner as much control and choice as possible trainer/ consultants must treat each individual of any species with respect and awareness of the learners individual nature, preferences, abilities, and needs **What do you want the animal to do?** We focus on reinforcing desired behaviors and always ask the question what do you want the animal to do? Relying on punishment in training does not answer this question and therefore offers no acceptable behavior for the animal to learn to replace the unwanted behavior these Lima guidelines do not justify the use of aversive methods and tools including but not limited to the use of electronic, choke or prong collars in lieu of other effective positive reinforcement interventions and strategies When making training and behavior modification decisions trainers/ consultants should understand and follow The humane hierarchy of behavior change - procedures for humane and effective practices outlined in the diagram For these reasons we strongly support the humane an thoughtful application of Lima protocols and we applaud those individuals and organisations working with animals and humans within Lima guidelines **Humane hierarchy** [Purpose] The humane hierarchy serves to guide professionals in their decision making process during training and behavior modification additionally it assists owners and animal care professionals in understanding the standard of care to be applied in determining training practices and methodologies an the order of implementation for applying those training practices and methodologies [Hierarchy of procedures for humane and effective practice] - Health nutritional and physical factors: ensure that any indicators for possible medical nutritional or health factors are addressed by a licensed veterinarian the consultant should also address potential factors in the physical environment - Antecedents: redesign setting and events change motivations and add or remove discriminative stimuli (cues) for the problem behavior - Positive reinforcement: employee approaches that contingently deliver a consequense to increase the probability that the desired behavior will occur - Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior: reinforce an acceptable replacement behavior an remove the maintaining reinforcer for the problem behavior - Negative punishment negative reinforcement or extinction -- these are not listed in any order of preference: 6\. positive punishment: contingently deliver an aversive consequense to reduce the probability that the problem behavior will occur **Hierarchy of behavior change procedures most positive, least intrusive effective intervention** - Wellness: nutritional, physical - Antecedent arrangements - Positive reinforcement - Differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors - Extinction negative reinforcement and negative punishment - Positive punishment 1. **Health nutritional and physical factors:** the certificant ensures that any indicators for possible medical nutritional or health factors are addressed by a licensed veterinarian the certificant also ensures that factors in the physical environment that have a potential to impact the dogs health nutrition and physical condition are addressed 2. **antecedents :** the certificant Implements environmental management strategies to prevent the behavior from occurring 3. **Positive reinforcement classical conditioning - not listed in order of preference** - **positive reinforcement:** the certificant ensures that reinforcement is delivered for the desirable alternative behavior and that such reinforcement is of higher value to the dog then the reinforcement the dog has received in the past for the unwanted behavior - **Classical conditioning:** the certificant Changes the dogs association with an aversive stimulus while presenting the aversive stimulus at a sub threshold intensity 4. **live with or manage the behavior negative punishment negative reinforcement extinction consult another professional -- not listed in order of preference:** - **Live with or manage the behavior:** certificant elects to cease modification techniques and implement a management plan elects to cease modification techniques and implement a management plan - **Consult another professional:** at times it may be beneficial for the certificant to consult another professional such as a dog trainer veterinarian or behaviorist for additional advice consulting with other professionals can be beneficial particularly when a problem behavior does not resolve with the previously mentioned interventions - **Negative punishment:** the ccertificant withdraws a positive reinforcer When the undesirable behavior occurs to reduce the probability that the behavior will occur in the future - **Extinction:** the certificant withholds Reinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior with the goal of extinguishing the behavior - **Negative reinforcement:** the certificant Withdraws an aversive stimulus when the desired behavior occurs in order to increase the probability that the behavior will occur in the future 5. **positive punishment:** the certificant Delivers an aversive consequences in response to the undesirable behavior in order to reduce the probability that the behavior will occur in the future - Physical factors, environmental factors, and antecedents - Positive reinforcement, classical conditioning - Negative punishment, negative reinforcement - Positive punishment