Navigating the Unregulated Industry of Animal Welfare and Dog Behavior
There has been a lot of "talk" of the dog training industry being unregulated. But, what does this really mean? And, how does this impact you as a professional, volunteer, or pet parent?
"Unregulated" can conjure up visions of the Wild West - no laws, no regulations, and no recourse. Or, perhaps, self-regulation has its own way of maintaining a positive balance and encouraging innovation and motivation.
For example, to thrive as an entrepreneur, without the comfort blanket of an organization, it is, arguably, vital to uphold professional values and ethical practices to succeed. Having said that, it is necessary for pet parents, professionals, and others in the industry to expect transparency and ethical standards, not only from dog trainers, but from the industry as a whole.
As much as dog trainers and behaviorists are unregulated, it is often overlooked that "regulatory bodies" are also unregulated. But, wait, there are no regulatory bodies 🤔 Correct!
Often organizations position themselves as regulatory bodies with the goal of ensuring professionals maintain high ethical standards. While this mission is commendable, it is important to recognize that they can promote and share ONLY the information they choose, and even their courses and certifications are not sanctioned by a regulatory body. Additionally, they are not required or obligated to explore any product or business, whereas regulated industries offer portals/streamlined processes for innovative products and practices to come to the forefront.
What does this mean?
As entrepreneurs, independent contractors, innovators or advocates, it is important to be self-motivated, ethically curious, and creative. To succeed, one must balance acknowledging suggestions and advice provided by industry leaders while robustly embracing the beauty of social entrepreneurship and the benefits of an unregulated industry - in other words; explore, take different paths, and stay true to yourself.
As an influential leader or organization, it is important to be transparent and truthful in the mission, goals and information provided. Use the position wisely - to encourage progress, ethical curiosity, and success while gently guiding and advising.
As a pet parent, explore your options, research and trust your gut.
After four decades of being deeply involved in an unregulated industry, I can say I whole-heartedly embrace it, while remaining cautious of the inherent problems. I have never feared it. It is simply a matter of seeing the full-picture of the benefits and challenges.
This topic has been more deeply explored in many articles. The IAABC most recent journal has a well written paper on this topic focusing on the roles of dog trainers and behaviorists.
