What NAPET Stands For
Welcome to National Association for Professional E‑collar Training, or NAPET.
NAPET is a professional body formed to bring together dog trainers, dog professionals, and dog owners who use e-collars responsibly, ethically, and responsibly within the UK dog industry. Our purpose is to create a clear, informed community around professional practice, education, and high welfare standards, in an area that is often discussed without the input of those who work with dogs every day.
E-collars are specialist training tools. Like all tools or methods used in dog training, their effectiveness depends on how they are used, why they are used and who is using them. Within an ethical, education-led framework, e-collars support clarity, safety and reliable communication for many dogs and owners.
NAPET exists to support that correct use and to promote professional standards that reflect real-world outcomes.
A central aim of NAPET is to raise standards across the profession by supporting those who already work responsibly and by encouraging best practice across the wider community. We do this by promoting education, continued professional development, and shared expectations around ethics, accountability, and welfare-focused decision making.
NAPET is not about pushing tools. It is about supporting people.
We believe that strong outcomes for dogs come from skilled handlers, informed owners, and trainers who understand how to apply tools appropriately within a broader training plan. By bringing together professionals and owners who share these values, NAPET provides a space for collaboration, learning, and mutual support.
We also recognise that the regulatory landscape surrounding dog training tools is evolving.
Under the UK Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra has indicated its intention to bring forward a public consultation on the use of e-collars in England, with a view to potential legislative restriction or prohibition. These developments highlight the importance of ensuring that the voices of experienced professionals and responsible dog owners are represented clearly and accurately.
In response, NAPET is preparing to engage constructively with the forthcoming consultation process. Our aim is to contribute professional insight, practical experience, and informed analysis, so that any future policy decisions are balanced, proportionate, and grounded in evidence and real-world practice.
NAPET is committed to constructive engagement, with policymakers, the wider dog industry and the public. We seek to clearly distinguish ethical, professional use from misuse and to ensure that responsible practice is understood rather than misrepresented.
Ultimately, NAPET exists to support dogs by supporting the people responsible for them.
By bringing together a community of trainers, professionals, and owners who prioritise education, ethics, and accountability, NAPET aims to protect dog welfare, support responsible ownership, and help ensure that effective, evidence-based training remains available for those who need it.
We welcome anyone who shares these values to engage with NAPET and be part of a professional, informed, and welfare-focused community.