About the APDT
The APDT C.I.C (Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Community Interest Company) is managed by an elected Board of Directors who volunteer their time and expertise to oversee its operations. It is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.
Specialised support teams comprised of members volunteer to work to help the Directors on particular projects.
An Office Manager, team of administrators and occasional paid contractors assist in the smooth running of day to day business matters.
What is the purpose of the APDT C.I.C.?
Our purpose is described as Objects within the Articles of Association:
-
To supply and promote progressive, science and evidence-based training methods for the benefit of dogs, their owners, veterinary practices, rehoming centres, and other organisations.
-
To assess dog training instructors in their knowledge and skills in order to maintain the highest dog training standards.
-
To keep a register of assessed dog training instructors (our members/stakeholders) so that dog owners can find accredited APDT CIC instructors to help them train their dog.
-
To further the understanding of progressive science and evidence-based dog training methods, via the provision and access to educational courses
Denise Armstrong
MAPDT 01215
Chair
Holds an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour, is an Academy of Dog Trainers graduate and is forever adding to her list of studies and qualifications. Once worked for Liberty of London, was a pattern cutter for a designer wedding company and is now a retired Air Traffic Controller. Obsessed with puzzles of any kind and has a serious fabric hoarding habit supporting her need to sew 'anything'.
Lorraine Smith
MAPDT 01451
Vice Chair
Holds an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour, working with dogs since 2015, and now is a Team Leader for Canine Partners' Puppy Department. Previously worked in agriculture with cattle, and virology research (co-authoring 43 papers). She is a committed bibliophile with her three German Shepherds being named after Arthurian legend characters and is all things Elvis mad.
Wendy Cummins
MAPDT 01414
Treasurer
Has over 30 years experience in veterinary care, dog training and behaviour. She is a member and treasurer of the BVBA, lectures widely to Veterinary staff and the public, with a special interest in promoting gold standard animal care. She loves horse riding, attending concerts and walking the North of England with her two dogs.
Chris Mancini
MAPDT 00515
Director of Education
With over 30 years' experience of training dogs, she holds a COAPE Diploma and apart from running her own dog training business in Cumbria is also a trainer for Dog Aid. She is always out and about taking stunning photos of her surrounding landscape and sunsets galore.
Emma Hendy
MAPDT 01487
Director of Education - Members
Has a PhD in physiology, offers kind, fun dog training utilising her many qualifications in ACE, ProDog Trainer, Advanced Canine Hoopers UK Instructor, Advanced Parkour Instructor and Assessor, and instructor for Barn Hunt International UK. Her full time job is running the family farm, and teaches science in what free time is left after running around after her young family.
Charis Vincent
MAPDT 01199
Director of Education - Community
Holds a Pg Dip in CABC, is a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist with the APBC and with over 15 years of experience in running puppy and group training classes and working with behaviour disorders from her training and behaviour centre alongside her pet shop specialising in raw food, natural treats and training aids in Wiltshire.
Marta Stec
MAPDT 01587
Director of Membership Benefits & Support
Holds a BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour and a PGC in Animal Behaviour, Welfare Ethics and Law. She works at her local vets as the Client Care Team Manager, runs their confidence clinics and recently started helping VetPartners with their social media content. She shares her home with a 6 year old Goldendoodle called Bruce who loves scentwork, mantrailing and hydrotherapy,
Eryn Martyn-Godfrey
MAPDT 01294
Director of Member Management
Holds a BA (Hons) Film studies, MA Public Relations, member of the IAABC Applied Behaviour Consultant, Fear Free Certified Trainer, ACE Trainer. Has been an estate agent, Architectural and Digital Office Manager as well as a Ballet Dancer before becoming a Dog Trainer at 24 years old, albeit having been a horse trainer first. Is a passionate vegan, homeschooling mum, designer, crafter of anything available and entrepreneur passionate about accessible learning.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OUR SUPPORT TEAM
Jodie Guildharry
(MAPDT 01570)
Education Administrator
Came to the industry after receiving support and veterinary guidance for the behavioural challenges her dog, Bear, was struggling with. She went on to become an accredited trainer and setting up her own training business named after her beloved Bear.
Rachel Cathorne
(MAPDT 01534)
Events
Having being involved in planning events as a career (now on an occasioanl basis) she was inspired by training her rescue dog Bertie, overcoming challenges together, to pursue her dog training career. A qualified trainer with many other organisations, is a DTC Instructor, and PPN member she teaches Hoopers and Agility on top of her standard classes. Loves travelling far and wide and camps for fun in the wind and rain fitting in wild swimming where she can.
Chris Wright
Contractor
Marketing Coordinator
Media has been a huge part of his life since he graduated in 1998 from his Electronic Imaging & Media, Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia course. As a a multi skilled freelancer Chris runs our social media, enhancing our brand and awareness, growing our community and driving leads and sales. He is a perfect fit for us at the APDT.
-
Which positions are vacant?Director of MEMBERSHIP - Assessments Officer CIC Grant Applications
-
What does it mean being a not for profit Association?The company is not established or conducted for private gain; any surplus or assets are used principally for the benefit of the community. Our Directors are all volunteers and not paid in their roles.
-
How to become a Director of the Board of the APDTAny full member of the APDT of not less than 12 months standing may submit an application of interest in becoming a Director. Applications need to be submitted via email to the office no later than 14 days before the Annual General Meeting (AGM), using the approved form below. Each application requires a proposer and seconder who are full members of the APDT. New Directors must serve not less than one year on the Board before being registered at Companies House. A term in office is defined as three years. The Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer of the APDT are nominated by the Board and ratified at an AGM, unless exceptional circumstances apply. The Chair and Vice-Chair shall serve no more than two consecutive terms in office before rotating from the position. An outgoing Chair or Vice-Chair shall not thereafter be eligible for re-nomination in those positions until a period of three years has elapsed from the expiration of their last term of office. All Directors shall retire and be eligible for re-election as a Director after serving a term.
-
What does being a C.I.C. mean?The APDT became a Community Interest Company in 2023 following a vote at the 2022 AGM. Becoming a C.I.C means that the APDT may seek out grants and funding in support of our mission, aims and values when seeking to serve the community rather than for private profit.
-
How do I join the APDT?All members are fully assessed to the ABTC - ATI criteria, whether or not they choose to be added to the ABTC register. To find how to join our Association please go to our 'Become a Member' page for more information.
-
How to become a Director of the Board of the APDTAny full member of the APDT of not less than 12 months standing may submit an application of interest in becoming a Director. Applications need to be submitted via email to the office no later than 14 days before the Annual General Meeting (AGM), using the approved form below. Each application requires a proposer and seconder who are full members of the APDT. New Directors must serve not less than one year on the Board before being registered at Companies House. A term in office is defined as three years. The Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer of the APDT are nominated by the Board and ratified at an AGM, unless exceptional circumstances apply. The Chair and Vice-Chair shall serve no more than two consecutive terms in office before rotating from the position. An outgoing Chair or Vice-Chair shall not thereafter be eligible for re-nomination in those positions until a period of three years has elapsed from the expiration of their last term of office. All Directors shall retire and be eligible for re-election as a Director after serving a term.
-
Which positions are vacant?Director of MEMBERSHIP - Assessments Officer CIC Grant Applications
-
What does being a C.I.C. mean?The APDT became a Community Interest Company in 2023 following a vote at the 2022 AGM. Becoming a C.I.C means that the APDT may seek out grants and funding in support of our mission, aims and values when seeking to serve the community rather than for private profit.
-
What does it mean to be a not-for-profit Association?The company is not established or conducted for private gain; any surplus or assets are used principally for the benefit of the community. Our Directors are all volunteers and not paid in their roles.
-
How can members contact us?Members can contact us by emailing info@apdt.co.uk or by filling out the contact form on our website.
-
Why do FAQs matter?FAQs are a great way to help site visitors find quick answers to common questions about your business and create a better navigation experience.
-
What is an FAQ section?An FAQ section can be used to quickly answer common questions about your business like "Where do you ship to?", "What are your opening hours?", or "How can I book a service?".
-
How do I add a new question & answer?To add a new FAQ follow these steps: 1. Manage FAQs from your site dashboard or in the Editor 2. Add a new question & answer 3. Assign your FAQ to a category 4. Save and publish. You can always come back and edit your FAQs.
-
How do I edit or remove the 'Frequently Asked Questions' title?You can edit the title from the FAQ 'Settings' tab in the Editor. To remove the title from your mobile app go to the 'Site & App' tab in your Owner's app and customize.
-
Can I insert an image, video, or GIF in my FAQ?Yes. To add media follow these steps: 1. Manage FAQs from your site dashboard or in the Editor 2. Create a new FAQ or edit an existing one 3. From the answer text box click on the video, image or GIF icon 4. Add media from your library and save.
-
Where can I add my FAQs?FAQs can be added to any page on your site or to your Wix mobile app, giving access to members on the go.
APDT Code of Practice
This code applies to members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Its purpose is to establish and maintain standards for the practice of dog training, to advise and inform veterinary surgeons and members of the public seeking dog training and to further the understanding and advancement of good practice among members.
-
Members shall practice with integrity and shall recognise their responsibility to clients, clients’ dogs and society in general. Their actions or advice should not knowingly cause psychological or physical distress or damage to any of these.
-
The welfare of clients and their dogs shall be paramount and shall not be made subordinate to commercial consideration.
-
Members shall maintain professional relationships with their clients. They shall not exploit such relationships for improper personal, professional or financial gain, nor seek inappropriately to impose their own values on clients.
-
Members shall not misrepresent their activities or make unrealistic claims to their clients or in their public statements. It should be made clear whenever they are expressing personal opinion and speculative theories should be stated as such.
-
Members shall respect the views and independence of others and shall not publicly denigrate their conduct or opinions.
-
Members shall not seek to attract business unfairly or unprofessionally or conduct their practice in any way which would discredit the reputation of the Association.
-
Members are responsible for continuing their personal and professional development by undertaking further training and study and acquiring knowledge of new theory and practice.
This code may be altered by the Board of the Association provided that the proposed alteration is notified to all members and their comments requested and duly considered by the Board.
Such equipment includes check/choke chains, prong or spike collars, electric shock devices in any form, and high frequency sound devices which are designed to startle. There can never be a definitive list of equipment and techniques that the Association of Pet Dog Trainers does not permit.
The following list gives examples of some of the equipment and training methods which are covered by the Code of Practice (‘Practice number 1’) not to be used in a dog training class.
-
Pet corrector – emits a hiss of cold air
-
Dog stop – emits a high pitched sound
-
Remote controlled spray collars
-
Automatically triggered spray collars
-
Anti-bark collar – emits spray directed onto dogs skin (including new product jet master)
-
Training discs
-
Liquid sprays
-
Loud noises e.g. rattle cans/bottles/Chains/keys
-
Throw stick/chain
-
Strong smelling substances e.g. smelling salts/ bite back
-
Pinching – ears/feet/toes
-
Hitting
-
Biting (of dog)
-
‘Alpha roll’
-
Any manhandling that causes pain or discomfort
The Association of Pet Dog Trainers website directory of members, is regularly updated. Veterinary personnel can rest assured that the names which appear can be referred to with confidence and every member is happy to work closely with the referring practice, in whichever way they are requested to do so.
-
Links to documents referenced and to be read in conjunction with;
APDT-articles-of-tie-limited-by-guarantee-large-membership.pdf
Continuous Professional Development.pdf
