Obedience Training Organisations

Approved obedience training organisations

These organisations have been approved by the Minister for Agriculture as approved obedience training organisations in line with the requirements of Section 5B of the Domestic Animals Act 1994:

• Australian Association of Professional Dog Trainers Inc
• The Kintala Dog Club Association Inc.
• Four Paws K9 Training
• Delta Institute.

The organisations are required to produce an annual report and have a code of ethics that promotes responsible pet ownership in compliance with the Act and its related codes of practice. It is expected that the organisation will take disciplinary action against members who do not comply with the organisation's code.

As an approved obedience training organisation, the Minister may approve an assessment program if the organisation assesses a dog in the following skills:

• heeling or walking with handler
• sociability with other dogs
• staying on command (known as the stay test)
• coming to handler on command (known as a recall test)
• absence of aggression towards humans or other animals.

For the purpose of the Schedule of the Act, dogs that have undergone obedience training that comply with the regulations will receive a reduced registration fee with their council.

Qualified obedience trainer

A qualified obedience trainer is a person who is a current member of one of the organisations approved by the Minister. The trainer must have completed a training course administered by that organisation and approved by the Minister – to the satisfaction of that organisation.

The Minister may approve a training course if it provides for:

• training in appropriate equipment used to train dogs
• practical obedience training of dogs
• a written or oral examination on the theory of dog training
• a practical examination of a person's dog training skills
• a probationary or learning period of at least 100 hours in which the trainee is under the supervision of a qualified dog obedience trainer.

Dog training establishments

All Dog Training Establishments must register as a Domestic Animal Business with the local council in the municipality that it resides. Note that not all Dog Training Establishments are also 'Approved Obedience Training Organisations'.

Find out more about dog training establishments.