The BHARCS Pledge

This is the promise I make to every dog I can influence. Knowledge is powerful, and I am responsible for how I use mine.

If you see the BHARCS name, logo, certificate or badge alongside my work, I have signed up to this.

I will not

• Use or recommend
  • collars or head halters of any kind — flat, choke, prong, martingale, shock, bark, gentle leader.
  • punishment, scolding, disciplining, timeouts, isolation, behaviour shaping, flooding or board-and-train.
  • any method or tool built on limiting a dog's agency — reward-based or punishment-based behaviour modification, muzzles, and the like.
  • crates or cages, or tethering a dog for long periods.
• Breed or sell dogs.
• Put dogs in large gatherings — events, parks, parties or boarding.
• Use dogs as working animals.
• Support the inhumane treatment of dogs by advice, referral, transaction or money.
• Advise outside my area of expertise.
• Promote any product or service in BHARCS's name without BHARCS's written consent.

I will

• Be upfront about my qualifications, and never let you believe I am more qualified than I am.
• Tell you what to expect and what I cannot promise. No guaranteed methods, no secret cures.
• Advocate first for your dog. That means being honest about my assessment of your dog's health, emotional experience and wellbeing. If something is bad for your dog, you can count on me to call it out.

This pledge is the individual's own commitment. BHARCS attests completion of its courses; it does not verify how anyone practises. If you have evidence that someone displaying the BHARCS name or marks has broken this pledge, report it here.

Drawn from The BHARCS Code, Polcy_code_2026, v2026.02.