Use this form to submit a Complaint of Ethical Violation against a certificant of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). Completing the form typically takes 15-30 minutes.
All complaints are reviewed and handled in accordance with the CCPDT Certification Compliance and Disciplinary Procedures.
If you have any questions or need assistance at any point, please contact us at administrator@ccpdt.org.
Thank you for helping uphold the integrity of the CCPDT Credential.
During the complaint submission, the CCPDT collects personal information, including but not limited to your name, contact information, IP address, location data, professional background, and your relationship to the respondent (the person named in the complaint).
All information collected in this form will remain confidential and will only be used for the purpose of reviewing and processing ethics complaints. The Executive Director and the Chair of the Certification Compliance Committee (CCC) will receive the full complaint form. Members of the CCC may review the form in its entirety.
Complainant identities shall remain confidential to the CCPDT. Disclosure of the complainant's name to the respondent will occur in accordance with CCPDT Certification Compliance and Disciplinary Procedures.
Specifically:
The CCPDT conducts all disciplinary investigations confidentially between the involved parties. When a complaint is submitted in good faith, the Certification Compliance Committee (CCC) will make every effort to protect the complainant’s identity, except where disclosure is necessary to pursue an appropriate remedy or comply with legal obligations. Investigation outcomes are not made public.
Fairness and due process are foundational principles in professional regulatory settings. Accordingly, the CCPDT’s disciplinary procedures typically allow respondents to know the complainant's identity. This transparency ensures that respondents are given a full and fair opportunity to respond to the allegations, provide context, gather evidence, and present a meaningful defense.
Knowing the complainant's identity can also promote early resolution by clarifying misunderstandings before formal disciplinary action becomes necessary. Additionally, transparency helps deter frivolous or malicious complaints driven by personal or competitive motives, reinforcing accountability for all parties involved.
Exceptions are granted when a complaint is submitted in good faith, and there is a legitimate concern that the complainant may face retaliation or harassment. In such cases, upon a showing of good cause, the CCC may approve anonymity and will assume the role of the complainant. The identity of the individual who initially brought forward the concern will not be disclosed to the respondent.
In cases involving alleged violations of the CCPDT Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics that are a matter of public record, such as blog posts or social media activity, the CCC may initiate its investigation without a formal complaint. In these instances, the CCC acts as the complainant, and the identity of the person who alerted the CCC to the concern will not be disclosed to the respondent or informed of the outcome.
Complainants are required to maintain the confidentiality of the complaint process and its outcome. Disclosure of any details, other than to legal counsel, is prohibited. Submission of this form constitutes acknowledgement and acceptance of the confidentiality obligations described.
The CCPDT Certification Compliance and Disciplinary Procedures require complainants to identify the specific section(s) of the CCPDT Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics that they believe the respondent has violated.
Please review the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics before submitting your complaint and select all sections that apply.
Please upload any evidence that supports your complaint. This may include documents, screenshots, emails, photographs, or other relevant documentation. You may upload multiple files at once.
If you have additional evidence that cannot be submitted through this form, please contact the CCPDT Executive Director at bphifer@ccpdt.org after submitting your complaint. In your message, describe the additional materials so they can be added to your complaint file.
By submitting this complaint, I affirm that the information I am providing is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that I am submitting this complaint in accordance with the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) Certification Compliance and Disciplinary Procedures.
Further, I understand that in some cases, my identity may need to be shared with the respondent so they can respond fully to the complaint.
I acknowledge that confidentiality is required throughout this process. I agree not to discuss the complaint, the identity of the respondent, or any related details with anyone outside of the process. I understand that the Certification Compliance Committee Chair or the CCPDT Executive Director may contact me for clarification or additional information as part of the review.
Upon submission of a Complaint:
A. The complainant will agree to be bound by the CCPDT’s Certification Compliance and Disciplinary Procedures and agree to keep submission of the complaint, the identity of the respondent, the alleged violation, and any related action or determination by the CCC confidential, other than as noted within these procedures. A breach of confidentiality may result in sanctions against the complainant or dismissal of the complaint.
B. The Chair notifies the parties after decisions are made. Details of the resolution remain confidential except as required by law or by this governing policy.
C. Violation of confidentiality by a CCPDT certificant or a CCC review panel member is considered a breach of the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics and will result in sanctions. Any violation of confidentiality by any witness or any party to the Complaint may result in dismissal of the Complaint.
D. The confidentiality obligations imposed by these procedures do not preclude a complainant, respondent, or witness involved in a complaint from consulting legal counsel in drafting statements and in responding to any questions asked under these Procedures.
E. In the interest of fairness and to ensure the integrity of the organization and these Procedures, the CCPDT reserves the right to disclose information related to the complaint, including but not limited to, names of parties and resolution of a case.
F. A party to a complaint may petition the CCPDT for permission to disclose the names of the parties and the resolution of their case. The CCPDT may grant disclosure for good cause. The Board may consult the CCC in making a good cause determination.
G. All correspondence relating to an investigation will be marked “Personal and Confidential.”