Somehow it is July, and the year is already more than half over. For some, it may have been a busy first half of the year. For others, maybe you are taking more time off to rest and reset. For us here at APDT, we have been navigating some fast-paced changes.

APDT has always been a leader in the industry and has always strived to change and grow alongside the industry and our members. Change is not new for us—we welcome it. We welcome growth. We made a big change years ago when we changed our name from The Association of Pet Dog Trainers to The Association of Professional Dog Trainers. It was a huge shift in our goals and in how we wanted our members to be seen within the industry.

We made that leap again in 2024 when we changed both our name and our engagement levels for members and the public. We went from The Association of Professional Dog Trainers to The Association for Professional Dog Training International. Seemingly, it was not a huge change, but in reality, it represented a complete shift in how we wanted to show up for our members and the broader dog care industry.

We want to be the place where owners, dog walkers, groomers, veterinarians, and more come for the highest level of educational offerings. We want to be the place to learn for those just starting out, as well as those who have been working with dogs for years or even decades. We want to reach a larger, more inclusive community of people who all have the same thing in common: their love and care for dogs. Changing our engagement levels to invite pet owners, shelter volunteers, new trainers, veterinary staff, and everyone in between helps us work toward that goal. The Learning Partner level allows anyone interested in dog training to have access to some of the best minds in the industry.

We are proud of the shift we’ve made, but our changes haven’t stopped there.

At the beginning of this year, the APDT Board of Directors took on the responsibility of running the organization directly. We parted ways with our management company, which had served us well in the past, but we felt it was no longer in our best interest going forward. I am extremely proud to serve on this board. Every board member has been instrumental in maintaining the organization and working to ensure it not only runs smoothly but continues to move forward.

While leaving our management company meant losing staff, we have been very fortunate to fill those gaps with incredible people. We are working with a wonderful CPA who is helping us manage our finances and build our annual budget. We have tech staff who are invaluable in helping us navigate the inevitable technical hiccups—because there are always technical hiccups! We also have an excellent social media manager who oversees all our social media channels, as well as our newsletter and email campaigns, helping to keep you informed and connected.

Most recently, we hired a new Executive Director, Kevin Dayo. We are thrilled to have him on board and are excited about everything he will bring to the organization.

A lot has changed in these last six months at APDT, but the one thing that hasn’t changed, and never will, is our commitment to our members and the dog training industry. We know we are all Better Together!