The ABTC is the only charity dedicated to promoting the welfare of animals undergoing training or behaviour therapy. The ABTC believes that it cannot be right to cause any animal pain in order to motivate them to carry out desired behaviours, when humane methods are not only available, but produce better long-term results.

The ABTC believes that improvements in Animal Welfare are achieved by:

• Setting, overseeing and monitoring standards of professional competence in the practice of behaviour therapy and training of animals
• Coordinating and harmonising the activities of organisations directly engaged in the promotion of such standards within different areas of this sector
• Providing information and a point of contact for other agencies more widely connected with animal welfare
• Increasing the awareness and understanding of the pet owning public, with regard to ethical and humane approaches to animal training and behaviour modification
• Continuing to improve our understanding of human-animal interactions, animal behaviour and psychological welfare through ethical research

ABTC Practitioners must use science-led, compassionate and non-punitive methods. Training and Behaviour programmes must not be based on Positive Punishment or the creation of anxiety or fear.

The ABTC Practitioner Directory lists the species which any given practitioner works with (having been rigorously assessed as competent in the role in its entirety by the Practitioner or Assessor Organisation).