Association for Professional Dog Training International

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Association for Professional Dog Training International This is the official page of The Association for Professional Dog Training International, www.apdt.com

With over 3700 members and partners in almost 40 countries, the Association for Professional Dog Training International is the largest dog training community world-wide. Rebranding in September of 2024, APDT International welcomes a wider base of participants in the larger training ecosphere and seeks to grow our already international network, into one that touches training everywhere around the w

orld. Through these expanded connections to other professionals and trainers around the globe, the Association for Professional Dog Training International will accelerate the learning and growth of our members as well as create space to better inform everyone who is passionate about dogs receiving the best training and care possible. In 2010, APDT declared January to be “National Train Your Dog Month.” This annual campaign will highlight the importance of training to the marketplace, potential clients and allies who also understand the value of access to training for all dogs. www.trainyourdogmonth.com

The APDT is always developing and delivering online educational opportunities. Offerings include on-demand webinars and multi-week online courses touching subjects across the training field. One of our most successful programs, the Canine Life and Social Skills program (C.L.A.S.S.) promotes the benefits of training for dog owners and for shelter dogs. www.mydoghasclass.com

APDT International’s Annual Conference offers a unique experience each year, drawing expert speakers from all over the world to share their knowledge of canine behavior and training. Manufacturers of dog products and services often use our trade show to launch new products, and you never know who you may run into at an in person APDT International event! Our award-winning quarterly magazine, Chronicle of the Dog offers exclusive access to some of the industry’s prominent experts as contributing authors. Each issue is a truly beautiful piece overflowing with insight into the state of the profession.

Meet Dr. Risë VanFleet, PhD, RPT-S, CDBC, CAEBI, founder and president of the International Institute for Animal Assiste...
22/06/2026

Meet Dr. Risë VanFleet, PhD, RPT-S, CDBC, CAEBI, founder and president of the International Institute for Animal Assisted Play Therapy and a leader with nearly five decades of clinical and teaching experience.

A Licensed Psychologist, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, and Certified Animal Ethology and Behavior Instructor, Dr. VanFleet specializes in highly fearful, traumatized, and unsocialized dogs. Her work centers on one guiding idea: always consider the animal's point of view and welfare. She has trained and supervised thousands of clinicians internationally and has authored 13 books, including the award-winning Animal Assisted Play Therapy and The Human Half of Dog Training.

Her materials have been translated into several languages, and she has earned 20 national and international awards spanning psychology, writing, and even wildlife photography.

Specialty: Highly fearful and traumatized dogs, all positive methods
📍 Boiling Springs, PA

We are honored to feature Dr. VanFleet, whose dog-centered, welfare-first approach continues to inspire professionals worldwide.

In the early 2000s, positive, science-based dog training was virtually unknown in Türkiye. Almost everything relied on p...
21/06/2026

In the early 2000s, positive, science-based dog training was virtually unknown in Türkiye. Almost everything relied on pressure-based methods.

In our latest APDT Chronicles, Mehveş İpek, founder of StarDogs Türkiye and an APDT member since 2008, shares how that changed. From co-founding StarDogs Türkiye in Istanbul in 2003, to building a 35-week online Trainers' Academy, to a national network of more than 250 graduates, her story is one of trust, communication, and the emotional wellbeing of the dog.

As she tells every new student: "Today, I teach you this method because, based on current scientific knowledge, it is the most ethical and animal-friendly approach available. If tomorrow a better method emerges, we will learn that method together."

After twenty-three years, what still inspires her most is the "Eureka moment," that instant when a dog truly understands. At its heart, it's a story about trust and the possibility of authentic relationships between people and dogs.

🌍 Read the full story: https://apdt.com/building-a-positive-dog-trainer-education-system-in-turkiye/

Positive training is a global movement. Where are you reading from?

Nominations are officially open. 🎉The APDT International Board of Directors Nominations are here, and this is your chanc...
20/06/2026

Nominations are officially open. 🎉

The APDT International Board of Directors Nominations are here, and this is your chance to help shape the future of our organization and our profession.

We're filling three spots on the Board, each a three-year term.

Two ways to take part:
🐾 Throw your hat in the ring and nominate yourself
🐾 Nominate someone you believe would be a great fit for APDT

If you have ideas to share and a passion for the dog-training community, we want to hear from you.

📩 Member, check your email. The nomination form has been sent to members and is ready for you now.

⏰ Deadline to submit: Friday, July 10

Tag someone you'd love to see on the APDT Board. 👇

Finding a qualified, professional dog trainer just got easier. ✅The APDT International Training Search is the only place...
19/06/2026

Finding a qualified, professional dog trainer just got easier. ✅

The APDT International Training Search is the only place to find trainers who follow APDT's Code of Ethics and uphold the highest standards in positive, science-based training. Puppy classes, behavior help, advanced skills: our searchable directory connects you with members around the globe who are here to help.

And don't forget to look for the APDT member badge. Online, in your neighborhood, and now in our directory.
Because trust matters when it comes to your dog. 🐶

🔎 Start your search: training.apdt.com

Trainers, is your Training Search profile up to date? Photo, bio, certifications, and service areas all make a difference.

Ready to build a stronger group-class business while taking students from puppy basics all the way to "Ph.D. level" trai...
18/06/2026

Ready to build a stronger group-class business while taking students from puppy basics all the way to "Ph.D. level" training? 🎓

The C.L.A.S.S. (Canine Life and Social Skills) program, created by APDT International, just got a fresh logo. Same proven program, brand-new look.

Four levels, inspired by academic degrees:
🐾 H.S. for puppies, and it meets AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy requirements
🐾 B.A. for foundational skills and AKC CGC prep
🐾 M.A. for intermediate skills and manners
🐾 Ph.D. for advanced, real-life training for dogs who've mastered the basics

Each level helps pet parents fold training into daily life and create well-mannered canine citizens. Plus, the ready-to-use curricula make multi-level group classes a breeze.

✨ Learn more: https://apdt.com/class/

✨ Get a discount when you join: vhttps://apdt.com/engagement-benefits/

Which level fills up fastest in your classes?

Today is World Pet Memorial Day.For everyone in our community who has loved and lost a dog, the ones who taught us patie...
09/06/2026

Today is World Pet Memorial Day.

For everyone in our community who has loved and lost a dog, the ones who taught us patience, made us better trainers, and shaped the way we work, we're holding space for you today. The bond we share with our dogs is the reason so many of us do this work at all. 🕊️

If you're remembering a special companion, we'd be honored to hear about them. 🐾

Tell us about a dog who changed how you see this work.

Meet Emma Parsons, KPA CTP, CDBC, a trainer with more than 30 years of experience who specializes in managing and rehabi...
09/06/2026

Meet Emma Parsons, KPA CTP, CDBC, a trainer with more than 30 years of experience who specializes in managing and rehabilitating reactive and aggressive dogs.

Emma most recently served as the Canine Behavior Training Consultant for VCA Rotherwood Animal Hospital in Newton, MA, before moving to private clients full time. She is a faculty member of the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior and of the Karen Pryor ClickerExpo conferences, and she travels the world delivering her "Click to Calm" seminars, teaching other professionals how to help reactive and aggressive dogs thrive.

Emma holds a BA from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and shares her life with her husband, Greg, and their clicker-trained dogs.

Credentials: KPA CTP, CDBC Affiliations: APDT, IAABC Specialty: Reactive and aggressive dog rehabilitation

We are proud to count Emma among our community, helping dogs and their people find calm and confidence together.

Dogs experience the world nose-first. Nosework taps into that natural drive, giving dogs a fun, purposeful way to use th...
08/06/2026

Dogs experience the world nose-first.

Nosework taps into that natural drive, giving dogs a fun, purposeful way to use their powerful sense of smell while building confidence and deepening their partnership with us.

Join Kathryn Butts, CPDT-KA, a sought-after instructor, coach, and judge for AKC Scent Work and UKC Nosework, for Scent-Sational Sniffing: Building Confidence & Teamwork Through Nosework Games. This hands-on seminar is built for trainers.

Instead of focusing on competition or trial prep, you'll leave with simple, adaptable scent games to share with clients, the kind that engage dogs mentally, strengthen training, and deepen the human and canine bond. Kathryn has seen remarkable transformations in environmentally sensitive and fearful dogs once scent work enters their lives.

📅 Sunday, June 14, 2026, 1:00 PM CDT 📍 Violet Crown Canine Academy, Austin, TX

Two ways to join, and the right one depends on how you like to learn:

Working Spot ($150): Participate actively with your dog, apply the games in real time, and get direct coaching. Dogs are crated when not working. Earns 5.5 CEUs through CCPDT (1.0 Knowledge, 4.5 Skills).

Audit Spot ($75): Observe, take notes, and focus on the structure and application of the games, no dog needed. Earns 4 Knowledge CEUs through CCPDT.

✅ Audit: https://www.pathlms.com/apdt/in_person_events/27600
✅ Working: https://www.pathlms.com/apdt/in_person_events/26041

Questions? [email protected]

Working spot or audit, which way do you like to learn?

"How long will this take to fix?"Every trainer has heard it. Clients are stressed, embarrassed, exhausted, and they want...
06/06/2026

"How long will this take to fix?"

Every trainer has heard it. Clients are stressed, embarrassed, exhausted, and they want relief. Meanwhile, the wider dog-training world still loves to promise instant transformations.

But behavior change happens in stages. Fearful dogs need time to feel safe. Reactive dogs need repeated practice. Young dogs need maturity alongside training. And guardians need time to build observation, timing, and consistency.

Here's the good news: you don't have to compete with quick-fix promises. You can build your services around how change actually works, and help clients notice progress sooner. A reactive dog recovering faster. A calmer walk. A guardian spotting early stress signals for the first time.

Our latest APDT Chronicles piece covers redefining progress, structuring your services for the long game, and pricing for the work you actually do.

Sponsored by dogbiz.

📖 Read it: https://apdt.com/when-clients-want-quick-fixes-and-dogs-have-other-plans/

What is one "small win" your clients almost always overlook until you point it out?

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Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 17:00

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