The Animal Behaviour and Training Council

The Animal Behaviour and Training Council Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The Animal Behaviour and Training Council, Taunton.

The ABTC sets and maintains the standards of knowledge and practical skills needed to be an animal trainer or animal behaviour therapist, and it maintains national registers of appropriately qualified animal trainers and animal behaviourists. The Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) sets the standards of professional competence and behaviour, and is the only organisation that assures the c

ompetence of those on the ABTC Register. ABTC represents the training and behaviour sector to the public and to governments, and is supported by DEFRA, the veterinary profession, major animal charities and practitioners alike.

Anyone can claim to be an expert in animal training or behaviour therapy, without even a single hour of recognised educa...
10/09/2026

Anyone can claim to be an expert in animal training or behaviour therapy, without even a single hour of recognised education or assessment.

These are real stories of animals and their families who suffered at the hands of aversive training advice.

This is why ABTC exists.

We’ve built the UK’s most trusted register of accredited trainers, instructors, and behaviourists.

Because we believe guardians shouldn’t be left trying to figure out who they can turn to for professional support.

Every one of our registered practitioners is vetted to the same professional standards which assess their skills, knowledge and practical skills.

So that animals and their people get the right training and behaviour advice the first time around.

Visit our website to find a practitioner near you who’s been independently assessed to meet national standards set by industry experts.

We’ll pop the link to the directory in the comments.

07/09/2026

If you’re a business who cares about animal welfare, we’d love to collaborate.

As a charity we get over 20k visits to our website each month and have a reach of almost 250k people who care about animals. And that’s set to keep growing as our team of expert volunteers amplify our message and mission.

We want to invite you to share our reach… in return for support that helps us continue campaigning, advocating and changing outcomes for animals.

This is your chance to be seen contributing to the future of ethical animal care.

Our sponsorship opportunities start from a donation of just £50 and go up to £5000 for those able to dig deep to change the lives of animals.

If you’re curious or would like to learn more, check the comments for a link to our sponsorship information.

In a couple of months, the bangs and whooshes of fireworks will start again - and suffering for many animals and people ...
04/09/2026

In a couple of months, the bangs and whooshes of fireworks will start again - and suffering for many animals and people will follow.

As an organisation working hard to improve the welfare of animals, we’re calling for your help.

The government are currently undertaking a public consultation to consider what both professionals and the general public feel about the use of fireworks.

You can have your say here: https://ditresearch.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eg0jcixPsRnv1NY

Our members frequently address the behavioural effects of fireworks and their lasting impact on animals.

And we know only to well that it’s not just animals affected, but people too.

It’s time to use our collective voices to urge the government to restrict the use of fireworks to organised public displays and silent fireworks.

We know the unpredictability of the loud noises causes acute panic, injury, and escape behaviour in companion animals and livestock.

And we know fireworks can trigger or worsen a lasting fear of loud noises, often persisting for months even after a single event.

We believe restricting fireworks to organised, well-publicised events and adopting quieter alternatives would allow guardians to prepare and protect their animals, reducing both welfare harm and human cost.

The associated costs for guardians of companion animals can be vast.

The need for veterinary care, medication, behavioural support, and even repairs due to damage caused as a direct result can cause a huge financial strain.

Scheduled, licensed displays can be publicised in advance, while unrestricted private use exposes animals and people to sudden, repeated stress with no opportunity to intervene.

The consultation is open for you to share your views now - please have your say and respond before it closes on Wednesday 7th October 2026.

👉 https://ditresearch.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eg0jcixPsRnv1NY

02/09/2026

We’re extremely proud to collaborate with other astounding advocates for animal welfare. Because together, we make change happen.

Thank you to all the practitioners, practitioner organisations, assessing organisations, advisory members, supporting members and sponsors that work alongside us to champion improving the welfare of animals.

We believe there’s never any excuse for causing any animal pain or fear in a quest to motivate them to perform our desired behaviours. Because we know humane methods aren’t just kinder, they produce better long-term results.

We’re proud to work together to promote the use of science-led, compassionate and non-punitive methods in all training and behaviour work.

To listen to the full podcast with Companion Animal Psychology, Kristi Benson and Fiona representing the ABTC, check the comments for the link. Thank you to our patron Zazie Todd for all your support.

90% of dog owners experienced at least one behavioural problem in the last year according to the Dogs Trust National Do...
31/08/2026

90% of dog owners experienced at least one behavioural problem in the last year according to the Dogs Trust National Dog Survey in 2025.

But if you have a problem with your dog’s behaviour, do you know where to turn?

Or do you find yourself confused by social media influencers, disagreements on what’s best, and ultimately still left with a problem you need help addressing?

The UK Government's own Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs - issued by Defra under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 - names the Animal Behaviour & Training Council as a trusted source for finding help.

🤔 So why the ABTC?

Because every practitioner registered has passed rigorous assessments of their knowledge, understanding and practical skills.

Which means when you choose an ABTC practitioner, you can be confident you’re choosing a competent professional - who’s been independently assessed to meet the highest of standards in welfare and training.

To find an ABTC practitioner near you, just head to our website and use the directory. We'll pop the link in the comments 🙌

28/08/2026

We were delighted to talk to Zazie Todd from Companion Animal Psychology and Kristi Benson on their fabulous podcast The Pawsitive Post in Conversation.

It was a great discussion covering what the ABTC does, why it matters, and how anyone who cares for animals can get involved (and benefit).

We’re the only charity in the UK to support animal welfare in training and behaviour, for all species!

So whether you’re a guardian, a practitioner, an educator or a purposeful brand, there’s lots of ways to work with The ABTC for the good of all animals.

Give us a follow and don’t forget to give the full podcast a listen - just search ‘The Pawsitive Post’ wherever you get your podcasts.

A big thank you to Zazie and Kristi for giving us the opportunity to talk about our passions and our mission. And thank you to Fiona Cooke for representing the ABTC so wonderfully.

We are delighted to announce the return of the European Turtle Alliance Conference for 2026, taking place on:Save the Da...
10/07/2026

We are delighted to announce the return of the European Turtle Alliance Conference for 2026, taking place on:
Save the Date: Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October 2026

Location: ARU Writtle University College, Essex, UK.

Held in association with Tortoise Welfare UK and the European Studbook Foundation, the conference will once again bring together leading voices from across the chelonian world for a weekend dedicated to tortoise and turtle conservation, husbandry, research, and veterinary practice.

Whether you are a veterinarian, veterinary nurse, zookeeper, researcher, student, private keeper, conservation enthusiast, or working in the trade, this event offers a unique opportunity to learn from international experts, exchange ideas, and connect with like-minded people from across the globe.

https://www.turtlesurvival.eu/european-turtle-alliance-conference-2026

Survey request I am an MSc Clinical Animal Behaviour student at the University of Lincoln investigating problem dog beha...
09/07/2026

Survey request

I am an MSc Clinical Animal Behaviour student at the University of Lincoln investigating problem dog behaviour.

I would be very grateful if you could complete my short anonymous survey. The survey takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.

Survey Link - https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/lincoln/thesis-survey-3

Please feel free to share this survey with colleagues who may be eligible to participate. Thank you for your support.

Dog owners needed! 🐶 Researchers at the University of York are studying dog social cognition (how dogs solve problems an...
25/05/2026

Dog owners needed! 🐶

Researchers at the University of York are studying dog social cognition (how dogs solve problems and respond to human communication) and trainability.

We hope this project will help assistance dog charities improve selection for breeding. We are inviting dog owners to complete a short (10-15 min) survey.

To participate, your dog needs to be at least 1 year old, have lived with you for 3 months and have no hearing or vision impairments. There is the chance to win a £50 Amazon voucher if you complete the survey 1 week later. Thank you!

Link to participate: https://lnkd.in/dtn9jbSQ

ALT text Study poster for the University of York’s social cognition and trainability questionnaire study including an image of a woman pointing to a tennis ball for a brown poodle and a man knelt down talking to a sighthound.

Bekki Kennedy of Bishop Burton University Centre (Rebecca_Kennedy@hotmail.co.uk)would like to recruit participants for ...
21/05/2026

Bekki Kennedy of Bishop Burton University Centre ([email protected])
would like to recruit participants for an MSc research survey.

“Hi everyone. I am currently completing an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Training and conducting research into the relationship between spaying and fear-related behaviour in female dogs.
I am looking for owners of female dogs, whether spayed or unspayed, to complete a short anonymous survey exploring fear-related responses to everyday stimuli.
The survey takes approximately 2-5 minutes to complete:�https://forms.gle/rESa3kz3nDpFwgUAA
Thank you for your support.”


Alt Text Description��The image shows a brindle mixed-breed dog with her tongue out. She is outdoors with a background of trees. Text on the right side reads: ‘Participants Needed for MSc Research’ and ‘Investigating the association between age at spay and fear-related behaviours.

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Taunton
TA12UH

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