Code of Practice - Aug 2025

1. Accepted Training Practices

All Spirit Dog Trainers and Exclusive Franchise Owners will use positive training methods only and will not cause any deliberate fear, trauma. pain or intimidation that could lead to physical or psychological damage to the dog in their charge.

They will also do everything in their power to stop people they are training using these methods through sympathetic education.

All trainers representing both brands (Essential Canine Life Skills and Spirit Dog Trainers) should continuously refer to the 5 canine welfare strands and encourage all dog owners to ensure they are meeting their dogs’ needs – i.e. physical and mental exercise, good quality feeding, adequate companionship and encouraging dogs to settle and sleep.

This will help to ensure any training plan put in place will have the best chance of succeeding.

All dog training plan will be carried out holistically.

2. Accepted Training Equipment (including all husbandry)

All trainers and exclusive franchise owners will follow the Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive Method for equipment used.

In all cases dogs in classes and under instruction will be trained on a standard collar or harness.

Choke/check Chains and prong collars are prohibited, as are any products considered corrective (such as, but not limited to anti bark collars, sprays, noise or spray emitters of any description, prong or electric collars of any description).

Headcollars – if it is considered unsafe for the dog to be walked on a collar or harness (due to size or unpredictability), then headcollars must be fitted correctly and owners educated in their correct use.

3. Continued CPD, Record Keeping and monitoring

Exclusive Franchise Owners are required to submit on franchise renewal, 25 hours per year of CPD with reputable companies.

They furthermore agree that the company they are using for the CPD adhere to similar Code of Practices, and the company used is registered.

DBS, Certificate of Insurance, Proof of ID and Canine First Aid are also required for exclusive territory ownership and will be kept up to date.

All Franchise owners have read and understood all our business policies.

Independent Spirit Dog Trainers agree to submit 25 hours continued CPD per year, along with a canine first aid certificate and valid insurance certificate, in order to keep their title and use of our logos for social media. A private record of their data is kept but not advertised on the website and from time to time they will be contacted by franchise owners to cover classes / training.

Business owners using trainers are also encouraged to carry out their own CPD with regards to running an ethical business.

4. Personal Conduct

All representatives of Essential Canine Life Skills and Spirit Dog Training will conduct all their duties in a professional manner and have a sympathetic approach to all clients. This includes (but is not limited to), zero tolerance to any bullying or harassment, in any way shape or form.

All will use best practice approaches and are encouraged to use lesson planning and video self-critique as an appropriate method of self-evaluation.

The public will be treated with respect as will all other professionals in our field.

The use of inappropriate behaviour or speech is considered a breach of this code and removal from inclusion of any of our registers will be instant and without warning – in case of franchise owners it is considered a serious breach of contract and the procedure is outlined in the franchise contract.

All franchise owners have signed a separate legal franchise agreement.

Personal Conduct also includes any social media platform and Spirit Dog Trainers, and any representatives must agree to the correct use of social media and omit from commentating on threads or discussions in a professional capacity unless in a positive way.

All people using the Essential Canine Life Skills and Spirit Dog Trainers logos should do so with pride and use best practices at all times.

5. Personal Care

All representatives of the organisation will be treated with the utmost respect and pride; the Managing Director actively encourages self-care both mentally and physically. All representatives are encouraged to take down time.

V 1 REVISION DATE – AUG 2025