APDT's Gotta Have a Gimmick---See Their Newest One C.L.A.S.S

The Association of Pet Dog Training has, in my opinion, encouraged the divide between dog trainers and dog training.   Click on the APDT topic to see my other articles and discussions on this.  They are not an honest professional organization as they limit what topics can be discussed in dog training, engage in double speak, yet still try to keep their market share by pandering to their "targeted market".   APDT is all about marketing and dollars, and not, in my opinion, about dog training, dog owners, or dogs.  I could go on and on about all the things they have tried to brand, and the language that they have attempted to redefine.   I could expand on how they like to manipulate the naive public with these things.   Do some research on this organization, it's founders, and it's history and you will find out for yourself.

When I saw the tweet blip by yesterday, I mistakenly thought that they may have thrown out their multiple choice exam that many pass easily without even studying for one that might measure dog training based on measurable standards, and thus the ability of the dog trainer.  How naive do I remain?  I should have known better.

Let me start this by saying there exists numerous tests of a dog's behavior in real life situations.  AKC's (American Kennel Club) Canine Good Citizen (CGC), Obedience Trials from Companion Dog to Working Dog (CD and Up), Puppy STAR Program, American Temperament Test Society (ATTS), and the UKC's (United Kennel Club's) similar obedience venues.  AKC even dumbed down obedience trials to what they call "rally".

So why does APDT now need to be promoting their self proclaimed "C.L.A.S.S".  It's all about furthering their agenda, which in my opinion IS NOT about promoting positive training (which we all do).  It's about promoting their illusionary niche market, and dividing dog trainers even further apart.  If they simply wanted people to know that you can positively train a dog (let's just pretend every dog has the same history here, temperament, and had a perfect upbringing with no problems) to a standard, they would simply show up at many of the trials and tests available in their area and steal the show.  Their members would stop talking about how "Rally" is more like real life because you can say a command a thousand times and treat your dog.   Oh, yeah, APDT runs their own Rally trials as well, which are much more super difficult because you need your dog to do so many more things.   Reliability in the world with one command is not stressed at all, because that is not so important.

I am not saying that APDT members don't go to trials, I am saying that their motivation is not to promote training to a standard.   Their promotion is their niche market or the illusion of purely positive.   To some, purely positive would include no leash, no collar because that is restrictive to a dog.  I find training a dog to be off leash reliable is a lot more doable when you start with a leash and a collar.  In fact, I have many clients come to me because they fell for the "puppies follow you anywhere, you don't need a leash and collar".   Yeah, that is until puppy becomes an adolescent and realizes that while you are very nice, there are a lot of interesting things around.   Also treats and balls will not station an untrained dog when a larger reward or distraction is around.

You need to fall for their gimmick.   I think the thing that really toasted my butt was when I read this article.  In the very first paragraph, they imply that the C.L.A.S.S. designation is going to instantly give your dog access and rights where they were not allowed previously!   Unless they have had hotels and other businesses sign off on this, there is no certificate that gives you this right.   I will tell you though, I have gotten access in areas with my dogs because the training shows while I am there.   If your training does not show, you can give a business a golden embossed certificate, and it will mean absolutely nothing to the business if they are smart.   I further worry that people will think that their dogs have the rights of service dogs by the way APDT is promoting this.

I am convinced as usual, that the Association of Pet Dog Trainers is a damaging and dangerous organization to dog owners, dogs, and dog trainers who care about their skill and about their clients' dogs.

http://www.mannerlymutts.com
http://mannerlymutts.blogspot.com

APDT's Forumla/Certification in Professional Canine Organizations (Robert Rubin)

Pass a multiple choice test, start seminars (not too choosey and will give credit), write articles, then write a book. It's a time tested formula, and the reason that many great dog trainers have left the APDT for something a bit more real and ethical.

When my wife started as a trainer, she felt this would be a non-political career LOL. Early on, it was realized that dog training is a career in marketing and politics. I give APDT kudos for coming through with a great marketing strategy, and a way to double speak while maintaining a goal and extremism consistently.

When someone who blogs that they don't understand how dog training or didn't understand how dog training is part of the behavior modification puzzle, and they have give out seminars approved for APDT CEU's, that tells you the quality of those given the nod by the APDT. Who on one hand rails about tools and certain training methods as aversive, but then suddenly understands what trainers who use the tools supposedly don't----that training is the ability to decrease either reward or correction in the ability to perform a command with distance, duration, and distraction.

No kidding? Why I never realized that....sigh. It's one thing to trap one's own dog into a state of fear. It's another to talk "professionally" and tell others that methods won't work for them. In that light, we will be thanking this particularly trainer for their contributions to Mannerly Mutts favorite charities in a few months. It's frightening however how this very misunderstood information has been doled out to others under the umbrella of certification, especially of this organization, just my honest opinion here.

Someday it is our hope that results in standardized performance tests will be required to be a licensed dog trainer. Hopefully the organizations that we value (IACP and NADOI) will also support such legislation when the day comes. My wife will be submitting her case study certification soon to the IACP, and agrees it has only been her fault that it has not been done. However, we value the time and referrals that the IACP requires before certification can even be taken. A panel of judges scores not the multiple choice questions, but the results of the case studies documented in both material presented to the clients, but also what the actual clients have to say:) These are exciting times coming up.

Maine and New Hampshire Dog Trainers
Mannerly Mutts Blog

Election List & Disappointments (APDT)

I have not been impressed with the roster of available nominees.   It's not even the Truly Dog Friendly people that I am worried about, but more so Dan & Paul that are on the BOD currently.  Trish seems like a likeable enough canidate that I would want supporting me, but I am guessing she is a voice in the vast wilderness.   If she does get in, and she keeps being sensible, I predict she will find herself outed so fast, it will make everyone's head spin right around.

What does this mean for me?   Well, I am out.   I have neither the time or energy for this.   I can always rejoin if this does in fact become an organization that I want a part of in the future.   

E-Mail to APDT BOD

NOTE: INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, LEGAL ADVISOR'S E-MAIL NO LONGER WORKS!!

Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2006 04:04:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: "ROBIN RUBIN" <mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com> View Contact
Details Add Mobile Alert
Subject: APDT Trademark Registration Expired 2002 now Owned by
Middle Atlantic Products Inc./Not for A specific Purpose
To: "Barbara Long" <electionsadvisor@apdt.com>, "Don Hanson"
<vicepresident@apdt.com>, "Executive Director"
<execdir@apdt.com>, "Jackie Loeser"
<rallyadvisor@apdt.com>, "Kellyann Conway"
<treasurer@apdt.com>, "Mel Bussey" <secretary@apdt.com>, "Teoti
Anderson" <president@apdt.com>, jraven1966@yahoo.com,
notify@yahoogroups.com, Doconnell@griffinpr.com

Dear Yahoo Staff,

Recently I notified you of the freedom of speech issues regarding
APDT (Association of Canine Professionals) squelching freedom of
speech of their membership by somehow convincing you to take ofF the
APDTMemberDiscussion list. I have provided documentation for you
that this trademark (APDT) is in fact owned by another company.
Additionally, members should be able to talk about their
organizations, list their organizations in an article title about
them, et et.

I have recently revised this list under the name
againstcensorshipintheAssocofPetDog Trainers. We would love to
have your assurance that you will not allow the APDT (the one that
does not own this name and is hounding you) to cease and desist with
interfering in freedom of speech issues.

The trademark information is as below. The Association of Pet Dog
Trainers does not own this trademark.

To look this up for yourself, go to the United States Patent and
Trademark Office website:
http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm

(graphic of APDT logo)
Word Mark APDT ASSOCIATION OF PET DOG TRAINERS BUILDING BETTER
TRAINERS THROUGH EDUCATION
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S:
EDUCATION SERVICES, NAMELY CONDUCTING CONFERENCES IN THE FIELD DOG
TRAINING. FIRST USE: 19930000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19930000
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 03.01.08 - Dogs; Puppies
03.01.24 - Stylized cats, dogs, wolves, foxes, bears
26.11.08 - Rectangles comprised of letters, numerals or punctuation
and letters, numerals or punctuation forming the perimeter of a
rectangle or bordering the perimeter of a rectangle.
26.11.09 - Rectangles made of geometric figures, objects, humans,
plants or animals
26.11.13 - More than one rectangle; Rectangles (more than one)
26.11.21 - Rectangles that are completely or partially shaded
26.17.13 - Letters or words underlined and/or overlined by one or
more
strokes or lines; Overlined words or letters; Underlined words or
letters
Serial Number 76273196
Filing Date June 19, 2001
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) Association of Pet Dog Trainers CORPORATION NEW
JERSEY 66 Morris Ave. Ste 2a Springfield NEW JERSEY 07081
Attorney of Record Douglas A. Johnson
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO
USE "ASSOCIATION
OF PET DOG TRAINERS" or "BUILDING BETTER TRAINERS THROUGH EDUCATION"
APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date December 2, 2002
----

In fact, even more interesting is that the word trademark "APDT" *is*
a registered trademark, but not of the Association of Pet Dog
Trainers:

---------
Word Mark A.P.D.T.
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Pop filters
for microphones. FIRST USE: 20051101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20051101
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Design Search Code
Serial Number 78916933
Filing Date June 26, 2006
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) Middle Atlantic Products, Inc. CORPORATION NEW
JERSEY 300 Fairfield Road Fairfield NEW JERSEY 07004
Attorney of Record Harriet E. Perkins
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
-------

APDT belongs to who?

(graphic of APDT logo)
Word Mark APDT ASSOCIATION OF PET DOG TRAINERS BUILDING BETTER
TRAINERS THROUGH EDUCATION
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S:
EDUCATION SERVICES, NAMELY CONDUCTING CONFERENCES IN THE FIELD DOG
TRAINING. FIRST USE: 19930000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19930000
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 03.01.08 - Dogs; Puppies
03.01.24 - Stylized cats, dogs, wolves, foxes, bears
26.11.08 - Rectangles comprised of letters, numerals or punctuation
and letters, numerals or punctuation forming the perimeter of a
rectangle or bordering the perimeter of a rectangle.
26.11.09 - Rectangles made of geometric figures, objects, humans,
plants or animals
26.11.13 - More than one rectangle; Rectangles (more than one)
26.11.21 - Rectangles that are completely or partially shaded
26.17.13 - Letters or words underlined and/or overlined by one or more
strokes or lines; Overlined words or letters; Underlined words or
letters
Serial Number 76273196
Filing Date June 19, 2001
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) Association of Pet Dog Trainers CORPORATION NEW
JERSEY 66 Morris Ave. Ste 2a Springfield NEW JERSEY 07081
Attorney of Record Douglas A. Johnson
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE "ASSOCIATION
OF PET DOG TRAINERS" or "BUILDING BETTER TRAINERS THROUGH EDUCATION"
APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date December 2, 2002
----

In fact, even more interesting is that the word trademark "APDT" *is*
a registered trademark, but not of the Association of Pet Dog
Trainers:

---------
Word Mark A.P.D.T.
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Pop filters
for microphones. FIRST USE: 20051101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20051101
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Design Search Code
Serial Number 78916933
Filing Date June 26, 2006
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) Middle Atlantic Products, Inc. CORPORATION NEW
JERSEY 300 Fairfield Road Fairfield NEW JERSEY 07004
Attorney of Record Harriet E. Perkins
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
-------

So, it appears that the Assoc. of Pet Dog Trainers is the one
violating the law by using someone else's registered trademark of
"A.P.D.T."!!!!

Association of Pet Dog Trainers/APDT

APDT is an association that has 4000 plus members of the canine professional community. I am member 67306. In first joining my professional memberships, there was the excitement of belonging. Little did I know the political issues that lurked below the surface. Actually, you didn't need to belong too long to other lists and professional organizations before the issues were clear.

However, if you are a member of the APDT, or Association of Pet Dog Trainers, you and your opinions will be censored on their training list. You will not be allowed to talk online to the membership of the APDT about policies and procedures. The board will make those decisions for you, without a membership vote.

I will not go into the TDF movement http://www.trulydogfriendly.com/blog/?page_id=15, but I as a member is against it. I am especially against an organization outside of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers trying to control policies without membership control. That is the five current BOD members make all decisions on policy without any kind of unanimous vote needed. 2 of these BOD members are currently in the TDF movement. 3 of the BOD nominees have aligned themselves witht he TDF movement. There has been unauthorized spam promoting TDF from a current BOD member using APDT's listing of trainers.

There are no attempts to even hide their high handed treatment and disregard for their membership. TDF membership is only 50 people, not all of which (by their own admission) are APDT members.

Stop the madness. http://mannerlymutts.typepad.com/mannerly_mutts/2006/07/apdt_petition.html

You can also join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/againstcensorshipintheAssocofPetDogTrainer/

APDT Petition

I am organizing a petition forwarded to the current board of the APDT to open up the APDT online training list on discussion of BOD nominations. I don't know if you have any members that would like to lend their name, e-mail, and APDT # to the following letter? I someone could forward this on to the group, all they need to do is contact me at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/againstcensorshipintheapdt/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/againstcensorshipintheapdt/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/againstcensorshipintheapdt/<> href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/APDTMemberDiscussion/%22%3E%3C/a%3E&nbsp&nbsp; is a link to a list where heated discussion on this very debate is going on now.

To the Board of Directors of the APDT:

Nominations have been made for the open seats of the Board of Directors of the APDT. Much discussion has being going on regarding the political platforms of one party on non-APDT group sites. These sites represent less than a little over one hundred members of the 4,115 members of the APDT or the 1,050 members of the APDT training list. The following members would like this discussion to be opened up on the sanctioned APDT training list to reach a broader member audience.

Please take this under consideration, and if approved, allow the list moderator to open up the topic for discussion on the APDT training list.

The list of names

The sincerely afore mentioned members of the APDT

Sincerly,

Robin Rubin

Mannerly Mutts

York Beach Maine

APDT #67306