The Cambridge Institute of Dog Behaviour & Training was originally formed to raise the standards of canine behaviour & training education in the UK for students of dog behaviour and training. At one time, there were few course providers whose tutors had experienced working in the occupation. Hard to believe, but that was the reason for our inception.
Since then, we have continued to develop an organisation and a product that is keenly focused on raising the standards of dog professionals worldwide. We are not only passionate about dogs, their physical and physiological wellbeing, but also, people are at the centre of what we do. We are very proud to have a team of skilled canine professionals, who are experienced in many canine disciplines and are open, honest and willing to share their knowledge with our students. All of our tutors work within the disciplines that they teach and have done so for a minimum of ten years. We take great pride in nurturing our students and ensuring that their study with us, is one of honesty, fun, shared learning and mutual respect.
The CIDBT courses embody these goals in their content which has been approved through Kennel Club external inspection for the KCAI Scheme. With our distinctive quantitative knowledge of people and their pets, we are innovative and adept at absorbing, sharing and developing new ideas.
Dog Training Methods and Inculcation
We do not dictate training methods or behavioural reformation techniques. We have our views and opinions and share those freely, but we encourage wide research and accept all reasonable and humane training methods that teach dogs to be well behaved and fit into our society and its increasing stringent dog laws.
It is standard CIDBT Policy that dogs work better for reward and that should be the critical factor in beginning all learning for the dog or puppy. It’s more enjoyable for all when the teaching of your dog is fun and exciting – to see a dog learn a plethora of communications and respond in the way we desire is a mark of mutual knowledge of the other’s behaviour.
Dog Training Methods and Variations
Dogs are intrinsically wired to do what nature intended for their specific species drives. Nothing in that inherent blueprint is designed for them to fit in with human lifestyle or to follow training commands. Dogs which have developed serious behaviour and or training problems and will not operate or change solely for reward then compulsion, direct intervention or interruption may be necessary (the same rules apply to human behaviour in our society and its laws). Even in those circumstances, in the most severe cases of problematic behaviour, reward will be a powerful part of rehabilitating the dog.
What is a Dog Training Problem and What is a Behaviour Problem?
To a great extent it’s just semantics. Whether you wish to solve an anxiety-related problem in a dog or simply get it back to you in the park, individuals will try and tell you it’s behaviourally based or dog training. In fact it’s both, always both and always has been. The psychological dog and owner bond and initial conditioning of dog and owner is the behaviour/relationship base but the mechanics of fun dog training that build on the relationship may not have not been taught or formed. This may result in poor human management skills causing inappropriate behaviours being developed and exhibited by the dog.
CIDBT Tutors’ Standards
We have deliberately made a policy that only highly skilled training and behaviour experts will become teachers, tutors and instructors for the CIDBT.
Whilst all of our tutors have academic qualifications (many are qualified to BA or Masters Level) Dog behaviour and training is a very much a practical occupation. We believe that the dog owning public have a right to expect you to assist them in public places with their dog’s bad behaviour – not just chat about theoretical ideas at a safe distance. On that basis, all of our tutors have extensive experience in Professional Practice and have a wealth of knowledge to draw from. Many also work their own dogs or compete in various disciplines. Click here to see a list of our tutors.
Because our methods are fluid, we make subtle adjustments on each course as we strive to improve, innovate, and progress. Naturally, learning is not one-way, we learn a good deal from our students too: bearing in mind that many have as much knowledge as we do, but have enrolled to formalise their knowledge. This means the constant exchange of skills, ideas and personal experiences enrich the knowledge base of the CIDBT team.
Note
We do not use or condone the use of psychotropic drugs in dog behaviour solutions.
