Note: Where applicable below, the terms ‘Member’ and ‘Practitioner’ are used and in reference to Members, Associates, and Fellows of the CFBA
All dog behaviour methodologies are required to be legal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and all other related laws in England & Wales and Scotland. The CFBA supports Operant Conditioning Science.
Canine and Feline Practitioners (CFP’s) accept patients by referral from veterinary surgeons and/or other professional bodies (KC, Welfare Societies, etc.) The welfare of the patient and client are at all times the prime consideration.
CFP’s are covered by appropriate and adequate insurance to meet any liabilities they may incur. Public Liability Insurance and Professional Indemnity Insurance. Members will be expected to act within the law at all times. Any member breaking the law will have their membership and support withdrawn.
CFP’s have a responsibility to their patients, clients and to the general public. Their techniques and advice should not knowingly cause avoidable psychological, physical distress or damage to any of the above. The treatment must be consistent with the breed type and temperament of the dog or cat.
CFP’s techniques of behavioural modification are based on the knowledge and proven practical experience of the top behavioural trainers in the UK. CFP’s clients are fully informed as to the nature and reasons for the methods used and to any possible drawbacks. They do not convey unrealistic expectations from their advice/techniques.
CFP’s at all times will maintain a professional relationship with their client. Information acquired is confidential. Photography, video or tape recordings of the clients or patients are made only with the consent of the client. Where case studies are used in teaching and furthering the knowledge of behavioural techniques the anonymity of the client must be preserved and written permission should be obtained from the client.
Members cannot use or recommend the use of mind altering drugs on cats or dogs for behavioural modification. However if a veterinarian recommends such drugs in exceptional circumstances (and for the animal’s welfare) the association has no objection. An example would be 5th of November.
Members should not act in any way which may be detrimental to the relationships with other professions. Where CFP’s employ within their practice, then the CFP (and member of the CFBA) is responsible for ensuring that any assistants who are not members of the CFBA also conform to the above code of practice.
Successful applicants can only practice within the species discipline they have been assessed for and supplied documentary evidence for at the said interview. Example: if you have been assessed as a Dog Behaviour Practitioner and passed, you cannot thereafter practice as a Feline Behaviour Practitioner under the CFBA’s rules. However, you can at your first application and interview be assessed as a behaviour practitioner for Dog and Cat jointly.
Membership fees are payable in advance. All renewal fees should be paid one month before the expiry date of the member’s membership. A certificate will be issued with a membership number to successful applicants and this certification is only valid where membership fees have been paid in full and up-to-date.
The Value of CFBA Membership
As a member of the CFBA you will be entitled to use the designation in accordance with our rules of membership. And it identifies you to the public, affiliated organisations and the veterinary profession as a qualified and most of all experienced Dog Behaviour practitioner (Cat if app). It also declares that you are a highly skilled dog trainer and therefore encompass the full necessary gamut of dog care, control and education.
MCFBA Members and Pet Insurance Cases – NOT Associates (ACFBA)
All members of the CFBA are registered with the relevant Pet Insurance Company thereby enabling clients to use their insurance policies in Dog & Cat Behaviour cases and as designated by their specific insurance company.
The Client
A client with a veterinary referral can apply to their insurance company for cover of the consultation (with a member of the CFBA). This includes all subsequent corresponding behaviour advice/techniques proffered by the practitioner. (This does not include training equipment of any type). The insurance company will decide whether the behaviour presented is covered by their client’s policy.
As a member of the CFBA you will be recognised as professional in the Pet Industry, on a par with other similar organisations. This will help you when dealing with clients and other professions like veterinarians.
Information
To keep members informed of the latest developments in the science of psychology, Dog & Cat Behaviour, new Dog Training techniques relating specifically to behaviour problem solving. Our web site will place your articles, new information you wish to impart to the wider community of dog professionals. (This is at our discretion) See web for conditions of publication.
A Voice
Above all the CFBA acts as a voice for our profession and offers advice to the Pet industry, Local Government, Charity and other Welfare organisations. As members we can have our unified say on any new legislation that may affect our work. This means as a voice we can influence.
Television and Radio
CFBA members are regularly called upon as experts to proffer advice on many Dog & Cat programmes, news items and consultants to the media as a whole. Without doubt, we are the market leaders in media information.
CFBA Student Membership
CIDBT or CFBA students are not approved Associate or Full members behaviourists of the CFBA.
CFBA Logo Use by members or associates
The CFBA logo can be used by Members or Associates under the following terms and conditions not withstanding our rules of membership. More of this is explained in the CFBA PHR application form in a binder.
Termination of Membership
The CFBA reserve the right to refuse membership or to terminate membership at any time. Professional Misconduct will not be tolerated, examples of which are shown below
Each of the following is professional misconduct, and any member of the CFBA found guilty of such misconduct may be dismissed as a member of the CFBA:
1. Obtaining the membership fraudulently.
2. Practising the profession fraudulently or beyond his/her authorised scope/knowledge
3. Practising the profession with negligence.
4. Practising the profession with gross negligence on a particular occasion.
5. Practising the profession with incompetence on more than one occasion.
6. Practising the profession with gross incompetence.
7. Practising the profession and bringing the CFBA into disrepute with colleagues / other CFBA members and or causing friction via statements in the public domain or directly to other members which the CFBA fellows and/or members consider unprofessional.
8. Revealing of personally identifiable facts, data, or information obtained in a professional capacity without the prior consent of the client, except as authorized or required by law or with permission from the CFBA Fellows in writing.
9. Delegating professional responsibilities to a person when the practitioner delegating such responsibilities knows or has reason to know that such person is not qualified, by training, by experience, to perform them and in dog behaviour, cat behaviour or dog training.
10. Any other matter that the fellows deem inappropriate or unacceptable.
11. The CFBA training care and welfare ethos in regard to modifying and reforming dog and or cat behaviour is clearly written in this code of ethics and moreover on it’s CIDBT education site owned by the CFBA Ltd. That philosophy should be read and understood before joining the CFBA. It can be viewed here http://www.cidbt.org.uk/information/our-philosophy/ and is a part of the application process. By becoming a member of the CFBA you agree to our standards, codes of practice, education and training philosophy on the CIDBT link page herein. Joining the CFBA confirms that agreement between you, the CFBA and CIDBT.
12. Applicants whose main experience, qualifications and or services proffered to the public are more than 50% security type work/ protection dog work are not eligible to join the CFBA unless an exception is made by the directors of the CFBA because they have canine behaviour skills/qualifications above the joining CFBA requirements.
