C2C Code of Ethics

 

The C2C Canine Coaches will spending September helping Service Dog Teams with common struggles by offering strategies to prevent, manage, and modify or change many of the behaviors, both human and canine, that teams commonly struggle with. We will be starting with several discussions and resources on Ethics in the SD Community. Then we will also touch on common challenging behaviors we see with our dogs including barking, losing focus, and opting out of training. All SD Teams encounter access issues, face challenges dealing with the prying public, and struggles with unaccepting family members. And last but not least, we will be looking at struggles with social media in SD Communities.

To kick things off we wanted to share the C2C Code of Ethics that all Canine Coaches have signed when they join the group.

The Crazy2Calm Code of Ethics

The Crazy2Calm Code of Ethics has been designed with the fundamentals of the 9 Core Principles of Ethics that are widely accepted among professions.  This is not intended to be a list of requirements or criteria that Coaches must maintain in order to be a member of the collaborative.  This Code of Ethics is designed to affirm that all who join the collaborative are in general agreement of the following base code of ethics.

1. “Do No Harm!”  As Canine Coaches we often are faced with issues surrounding the use of punishment, the appropriateness of aversive procedures in certain situations, and handling dogs with serious behavior problems, “Do No Harm!” will be a most important ethical principle. Crazy2Calm Canine Coaches is intended to be a force-free, aversive-free environment for every individual, both human and animal.

2. Canine Coaches will teach our clients skills and techniques that should result in the dog being a well-mannered, well-behaved, family member. Teaching dog owners responsible dog ownership behaviors will result in creating a community where the dog’s individual needs are addressed as an important part of any training plan or behavior modification plan.

3.  Canine Coaches should maintain a relationship that is mutually beneficial to all individuals involved. Canine Coaches may need to  address ethical issues regarding trainer-client relationships, trainer-dog relationships, and trainer to trainer relationships.  Coaches should maintain a goal of benefiting all individuals with the intent to give more than take.

4. Canine Coaches should treat other individuals as we would like to be treated refraining from giving unreasonable guarantees regarding the outcome of training. Unreasonable guarantees build expectations that do not consider the needs of the individuals involved.  Coaches will set individuals up for success based on the needs of the individuals involved.

5. Canine Coaches will be faithful in this professional setting to apply the principles of confidentiality, promise keeping, and not violating the trust of others in this collaborative or the clients that we work with.

6. Canine Coaches begin with the assumption that every individual is worthy of respect; coaches, clients, the dogs, etc. Coaches can give individuals dignity by giving them strategies and procedures to use with which they can have success.  Individuals  are given dignity when Coaches understand their problems, needs, and the dynamics of their particular situation at a given time. 

7. Canine Coaches will treat others with care and compassion.  Coaches should imagine one’s self in the place dealing with a frustrated dog owner and with an understanding that a dog is not being noncompliant, instead, they are really confused about what we want them  to do.

8. Canine Coaches should be in constant pursuit of excellence. This means improving one’s own skills as well as helping other individuals to “be all that they can be.” Coaches will do their best to have an impact on the larger dog training community, but they will not attempt to work out of the range of their own professional limitations.

9. Canine Coaches should be accountable and accept some responsibility for the services and resources offered within the collaborative.  For example, if multiple individuals (coaches and/or clients) are struggling with understanding the educational resources, a trainer might have to accept responsibility and recognize that it could be that the instruction was not as effective as intended.  Coaches will do their best to adjust their materials in effort to convey their message more effectively.

You can also check out the C2C Kindness Code that all Coaches have signed by visiting our blog on Supporting Handlers!

Watch our Facebook Page and Instagram Accounts for more information on Struggles & Strategies throughout the month of September.

Check out this SD Handler Chat with Donna Hill where we discussed Ethics in the SD Community!

And if you haven't done so yet, check out our Patreon Membership where you can join our FREE Membership and participate in the Free TEAM Chat on the 1st Thursday of the Month.