New Name for Trainers Group

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The Association of Pet Dog Trainers has changed its name to the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.

The non-profit group celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and the re-branding was undertaken following an extensive survey with various focus groups and feedback from its global membership.

“Our board and staff put a lot of thought and work into creating a new image that will hold up another 20 years and beyond,” Jeff Silverman, CDBC and chair of the APDT board of trustees, said. “Our focus will remain on serving pet dog trainers, i.e., those who work with companion animals and their owners. The replacement of ‘Pet’ with ‘Professional’ reflects our strategic commitment to promoting the development of dog training into a true profession, and an effort to better communicate what we stand for to our members, allied professionals and the general public.”

Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., the APDT is a non-profit, professional association of individual trainers who are committed to becoming better trainers through education. The association offers education for trainers online and through an annual conference. It was established in 1993 by Dr. Ian Dunbar and maintains a membership of nearly 6,000 members around the world.