THE GOVERNMENT’S INTEGRATED PLAN FOR IMPROVING ANIMAL WELFARE TO 2030

The Animal Welfare Strategy for England is a UK government policy document published on December 22, 2025, by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), covering companion animals, farmed animals, and wildlife.

What a “Strategy” Means in Practice

A government strategy is a planning and direction-setting document. It focuses on identifying areas the government wants to review or potentially change in the future.

Within the Pets and Companion Animals section, the strategy:

• Highlights topics of interest or concern (such as breeding, ownership, and potential ban on training tools)
• Signals areas where the government may consider future regulation
• Proposes consultations, reviews, and research
• Sets the policy tone that may influence future proposals

This strategy:

• does not ban anything
• does not regulate professionals
• does not change existing law

How (and If) This Could Lead to Legislation

For anything mentioned in the strategy to become law, additional steps must occur, including:

1. Formal public and stakeholder consultation – This is where professionals, trainers, breeders, and organizations can provide input.
2. Drafting of actual legislation or regulations – This would be a separate document entirely drafted by a member of parliament.
3. Parliamentary debate, scrutiny, and amendment
4. A vote and formal adoption

At any point, proposals can be changed, delayed, or abandoned based on evidence, public input, or unintended consequences.

Why This Matters to Dog Professionals and Owners

Although the strategy is not legally binding, it is still important because:

• Strategies often shape future laws
• They influence which voices are included — and, more importantly, which are excluded
• Early narratives can become assumptions later in the legislative process

This is why the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) emphasizes:

• Evidence-based policy, not ideology
• Balanced, humane training approaches, not one-size-fits-all mandates
• Professional discretion and education, rather than blanket bans
• Meaningful stakeholder engagement with trainers and behavior professionals

Here’s a concise comparative overview of the UK Animal Welfare Strategy (Pets and Companion Animals section) and the (IACP):

What We Are Asking

The IACP encourages thoughtful participation that prioritizes animal welfare, public safety, and professional expertise.

We urge policymakers to:

• Engage meaningfully with canine professionals, trainers, and behavior experts
• Rely on evidence and outcomes, not ideology, when evaluating training practices
• Avoid one-size-fits-all policies that limit humane, professional discretion
• Consider unintended consequences of restrictions or bans on training tools
• Ensure stakeholder consultation occurs before any legislation is drafted

How You Can Participate Constructively

If you are a trainer, behavior professional, breeder, veterinarian, or interested stakeholder:

• Submit respectful correspondence to Defra and relevant advisory bodies
• Identify yourself as a professional with real-world experience in companion animal welfare
• Focus on outcomes: dog welfare, owner success, community safety
• Advocate for education and standards, rather than prohibitions
• Ask for consultation, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making
• Encourage clients to voice their concern specifically about banning training tools and the lack of meaningful consultation with stakeholders

This is not about opposing animal welfare. It is about getting animal welfare policy right.

Why a Balanced Voice Matters

History shows that policies developed without professional input can lead to:

• Reduced options for humane training
• Increased relinquishment of dogs
• Fewer tools to support at-risk animals and owners
• Poorer welfare outcomes overall

Strong animal welfare policy is built through collaboration, evidence, and professional respect — not assumptions or exclusions.

The IACP remains committed to:

• Ethical, humane, and effective training
• Protecting professional judgment
• Supporting dogs, owners, and communities
• Engaging policymakers in good faith

Now is the time to be part of the conversation, while it is still a strategy—and before it becomes something more.

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