Occupational Licensing For Pet Trainers and Behavior Consultants

How To Implement Accountability That Considers Consumer Transparency and Protection for Pets & Their People.

Overview


In 2019, we published a book titled Pet Training and Behavior Consulting: A Model for Raising the Bar to Protect Professionals, Pets, and Their People. This is version two, updated in March 2025 and contributed to by Niki Tudge, Debra Millikan, and Louise Stapleton-Frappell.

Differing levels of professionals populate the pet training industry. First, some individuals lack credentials, formal education, knowledge, and skills and certainly lack an ethical compass and empathy toward pets. Second, don’t be fooled; thousands of “educated” practitioners seek fast results driven by financial or egotistical goals that show no empathy or interest in the pets' welfare or well-being. They aim to get the job done. Combined with those who have remained disinterested in attaining an education or any certification in pet training, these practitioners are working nationwide with full responsibility for the well-being and welfare of their unknowing clients’ precious pets. Third, there is a set of professionals who have ensured they are educated both in skills and knowledge and have committed to an independent credential. This shows that their skills and knowledge meet the barometer of experts and the level needed to practice in the industry.

This book emphasizes the lack of consumer protection and transparency in many pet services-related businesses' marketing and operations platforms. We also address the inherent challenges of legally classifying pets and the lack of reported and enforced animal cruelty laws. These issues mean there is insufficient protection for pets and their owners when holding professionals accountable for their methodology, approach, and philosophy.

The book is a comprehensive exploration of several topics that, when combined, establish the conditions for ensuring ethical and honest practices across the pet industry. It also delves into examples of fraudulent marketing and illegal practices from pet industry players, comparing these to other industries where legal action has been sought and won. This comparison prevents statements and unfounded guarantees that deceive pet owners and set up dangerous procedures for the four-legged clients.

“Scientific research in animal behavior and canine ethology indicate how to humanely train dogs, but nothing in the law requires that dog trainers apply these proven methods in practice. Dog trainers may use training techniques that bring harm to dogs and deceive consumers as to its efficacy. The onus is on consumers to educate themselves to these dangers when selecting a 'qualified’ dog trainer." Foubert (2016)

“Knowledge is power. Your understanding of ethics in marketing and consumer transparency and protection will help you further educate prospective clients and guide them to the appropriate service providers” Niki Tudge, 2024.


Your Authors

Niki Tudge MBA PCBC-A CDBC CDT

Niki Tudge is the founder of The Pet Professional Guild, DogNostics Education and The DogSmith. She is equipped with a unique combination of business experience, pet training and pet behavior expertise, a background in exceptional customer service, certification as a trainer of trainers, and many years consulting to pet rescue groups. She is also a certified project manager and Six Sigma Black Belt.

Debra Millikan PCBC-A AABP-CABT CAP2

Debra Millikan has over 40 years’ experience in dog training that has seen her involved in conformation, obedience judging, pet manners classes and puppy pre-school. Currently, she serves on the board of the Pet Professional Guild, Doggone Safe, the Companion Animal Sciences Institute and the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. She also trains aspiring instructors at Canine Behavioural School in Adelaide, South Australia.

Louise Stapleton-Frappell BA (Hons) PCT- A PCBC-A CAP3 CTDI DN-FSG DN-CPCT CWRI

Louise Stapleton-Frappell is a partner and faculty member of DogNostics Career Center and board member of The Pet Professional Guild. A professional canine trainer and behavior consultant accredited via the Pet Professional Accreditation Board, she is also the regional coordinator of Doggone Safe in Spain and the owner and head trainer of The DogSmith of Estepona, Spain.


This book is dedicated to the millions of pets who share our lives, our homes and our love – You deserve better!

The Chapters

  • One: What Is Occupational Licensing?
  • Two: Living Property - The Need for a New Legal Definition
  • Three: Professionals Should Exemplify and Promote Anti-Cruelty Statutes
  • Four: How Pets Learn and the Consequences of Methodology, Equipment and Philosophical Choice
  • Five: A Call for an Industry Wide, Professionally Acknowledged Best Practice
  • Six: Canine Communication and Social Behavior
  • Canine Communication and Social Behavior
  • Seven: Competency Is Mission Critical
  • Eight: Ethics in Pet Training and Behavior Consulting
  • Nine: Consumer Protection and Transparency
  • Ten: Pet Industry Oversight Recommended Implementation Model



Your Instructor


Niki J Tudge MBA PCBC-A CDBC CDT
Niki J Tudge MBA PCBC-A CDBC CDT
Before following her passion into her own pet business in 2002, Niki Tudge enjoyed a distinguished career in the hospitality industry holding executive positions all over the world. This extensive experience managing luxury hotels serviced by hundreds of employees and management personnel provided her with incredibly broad knowledge in every facet of business. Niki's formal education and over 20 years of practical management, leadership and employee development experience allows her a uniquely effective perspective on the right way to manage a successful business.
Niki’s professional credentials include; AABP-Professional Dog Trainer, AABP-Professional Dog Behavior Consultant, PCBC-A and PCT-A through the Pet Professional Accrediting Board and she has earned diplomas in Animal Behavior Technology and Canine Behavior Science & Technology through the Companion Animal Science Institute. Along with Niki’s business degree and MBA from Oxford Brookes University she is also a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, a HCITB TS1, TS2 & TS3 certified people trainer and a certified Facilitator and Project Manager.

As the founder and President of The Pet Professional Guild, DogNostics Career Center and The DogSmith, Niki has substantial leadership experience in the pet industry. She is also the President of Doggone Safe, a non-profit educational organization that focuses on education initiatives for the purpose of dog bite prevention and increased safety around dogs. Niki has published numerous articles on dog training and dog behavior and her pet dog training businesses have been featured in many publications including The New York Times.
Niki is a published author and has released the following titles People Training Skills for Pet Professionals, Get Coaching Now! Big Training in a Small Business, A Kids’ Comprehensive Guide to Speaking Dog! , A Lexicon of Practical Terms for Pet Trainers and Behavior Consultants and most recently Pet Training and Behavior Consulting: A Model for Raising the Bar to Protect Professionals, Pets and Their People. Click here to review these publications

Course Curriculum


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