As the debate over dominance heats up we feel that it is appropriate to issue a statement regarding the stand that Compass takes on this issue. If you were to study outside the limited topic of dogs and venture into the broader world of animal behaviour or still further into zoology and psychology you would find that it is far from a simple clear cut issue of believing it or not.

However, as the arguments seem to simply concern domestic dogs, our approach to the subject which is based on a multitude of contemporary research is as follows:

Dogs that display unwanted behaviours either towards other dogs or people do not have problems understanding their status in their social interactions at the root of their behaviour. Consequently any attempts to alter the dog’s apparent perception of rank will at best amount to a pointless exercise. As many behaviour modification regimes that are based on this assumption involve some form of stress, coercion or even fear and in extreme cases, pain, Compass Education Ltd wishes to publicly distance itself from such an approach to canine behaviour. It is our belief that virtually all training and behaviour therapy can be successfully achieved through the use of positive reinforcement which is widely acknowledged by responsible and educated practitioners who operate with animal welfare in mind as the only humane method.

New course in conjunction with Burgess Pet care

Compass is pleased to announce a new course for Veterinary Nurses developed in partnership with Burgess Pet Care. The Burgess Excel — Compass Veterinary Nursing for Rabbits Certificate is exclusively available to Veterinary Nurses in practice. It is not available to any other audience and complements the highly successful practical course that Burgess run at the annual BVNA Congress. BVNA approval has been granted for CPD and accreditation by Lantra Awards is in process.

Course Modules
1. Origins and Husbandry.
2. Anatomy Physiology and Nutrition.
3. Disease, Vaccinations and Preventative medicine.
4. Parasites and Skin Conditions.
5. The Nurse Examination, Pre and Post-Operative Care.

Compass approved as BVNA CPD partner

We are pleased to announce that Compass has been approved by the British Veterinary Nurses association as a Continual professional Development (CPD) Partner. Selected courses are now available to Veterinary Nurses at discounted prices and have the BVNA CPD Partner logo in the course description to identify them.

Regulatory body formed for Animal Behaviour and Training

Following the lead of the Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) and co-ordinated by VETNET LLN, representatives from the major professional organisations in all branches of the dog training and behaviour therapy industry have come together to form the Animal Behaviour & Training Council. The Council is supported by Lantra (the sector skills council) and all four UK governments as the body responsible for co-ordinating the much needed self-regulation of the industry and a regulatory framework is expected to be in place by September 2010.

Organisations represented

on the Council: APDT, APBC, ASAB Accreditation, UKRCB, CAPBT, ISDS, BSAVA, ESVCE-CA, CABTSG, ACPO/PDWG, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Guide Dogs, ADUK, NSARDA, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, RSPCA, SSPCA.