New code of animal welfare for dog trainers; pet groomers must be with animals during sessions

Minister of State for National Development and Foreign Affairs Alvin Tan interacting with dogs that were up for adoption at the World Animal Day event on Oct 3.

Published Oct 03, 2026, 02:05 PM

Updated Oct 03, 2026, 02:06 PM

Singapore launched its first-ever code of animal welfare (COAW) for dog trainers, promoting humane training methods and professional standards using the least intrusive, minimally aversive approach.

The COAW for pet groomers was revised to improve groomer competency, animal supervision, and client communication after multiple cases of pet harm and deaths during grooming.

AVS plans to review and update the 2017 COAW for pet owners, setting minimum welfare standards and best practices through public consultations to align with global trends and local needs.

SINGAPORE - For the first time in Singapore, dog training as an industry sector gets its own Code of Animal Welfare (COAW) to ensure more humane ways of getting dogs to listen and obey.

And one significant change to the code for pet groomers is that they must be physically present with the animals during grooming sessions.

This comes after several high profile incidents of dogs dying at grooming centres when they were left unattended.

The National Parks Board’s Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) said these moves will ensure that animal welfare standards remain aligned with changing global practices and relevant to Singapore’s context.

The new code for dog trainers adopts the least intrusive, minimally aversive (LIMA) approach , which promotes the use of humane, evidence-based training methods and positive reinforcement for behaviour modification.

Apart from not using electric collars to zap the pet’s bad behaviour, LIMA promotes rewards for good behaviours over harsh punishment for bad ones.

On Oct 3, Minister of State for National Development and Foreign Affairs Alvin Tan launched the codes at World Animal Day, held at The Plaza at the National Library Building.

Until now, Singapore did not have a dedicated code setting out animal welfare and competency standards for dog trainers.

Tan said: “These efforts will further strengthen standards in the dog training sector and give dog owners greater confidence that their pets are cared for by trainers guided by clear standards of animal welfare and professional competency.”

The COAW builds on earlier initiatives, such as the AVS-Accredited Certified Dog Trainer Scheme and the advisory on the use of aversive dog training devices like electronic shock and prong collars to train their pets as such devices can cause serious harm.

The advisory was launched in July 2025.

The codes come following a spate of viral videos that showed dog trainers mistreating their charges.

In one of the cases investigated by AVS, a two-minute clip dated March 20, 2022, showed a man at dog training and daycare centre K9 Connection hitting a brown mongrel with a metal food bowl while the animal cowered in a corner.

A director there was charged with one count of animal cruelty on Nov 29, 2023.

Another video in January 2024 showed two employees from dog training firm Xavian and Pack pushing and hitting dogs while arranging them for a photoshoot.

With COAW in place, AVS said dog owners can have greater assurance that trainers are guided by defined standards of animal welfare and professional competency.

Pet grooming sector issues

Over the past three years, 54 cases of alleged groomer-related pet harm, including deaths, were probed by AVS.

In July 2024, an unattended corgi fell off a grooming table at pet grooming salon, Pawkins SG, and was hanged to death by its leash . The salon’s owner was fined $10,000 .

And on Oct 30, 2025, a white standard poodle named Buddy, was sent to Pawsome.sg, a pet grooming facility, in Tanjong Katong Road, when it died after allegedly being left unattended for about 1½ hours.

The facility’s director at the time of the alleged offence was handed an animal cruelty charge on Sept 23 . He is expected to plead guilty on Oct 21.

One significant change to the code for pet groomers is that they must be physically present with the animals during grooming sessions.

The finalised revised code for pet groomers includes suggestions relating to the groomers’ handling of animals, a demonstration of competency, client communication and record keeping.

The dog, called Buddy, was sent to Pawsome Singapore's Tanjong Katong outlet for grooming. It was reportedly left unattended when it died. PHOTO: TANISHDHILLON683/INSTAGRAM

Pet owners must also play their part in ensuring the well-being of their animals.

AVS will review the 2017 COAW for them to ensure that welfare standards remain aligned with global practices and Singapore’s pet ownership landscape.

The revised code will set out minimum standards and best practices across areas such as accountability of pet owners, housing and environment, diet and nutrition, behaviour and enrichment, and health.

It will be structured into two sections: general minimum standards applicable across all pet species; and species-specific minimum standards and best practices for dogs, cats, birds and small mammals including rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters.

AVS will be engaging pet owners, veterinarians, animal groups and the wider community through public consultations, including an online survey and focus group discussions.

On Sept 23, a 37-year-old man was sentenced to 16 weeks’ jail for abandoning 71 cats in a filthy, poorly ventilated Housing Board flat without electricity or running water for close to two years, resulting in the deaths of nine.

He was also disqualified from owning pets for 12 months.

On the launch of the two codes on Oct 3, Tan said: “The codes set out minimum standards and best practices for how to house, manage and care for animals. These are more than guidelines. If you fail to meet the minimum standards, it will be taken into account in animal welfare investigations.”

National Parks Board

Ministry of National Development

10月3日，国家发展部兼外交部政务部长陈志远在世界动物日活动上与待领养的狗狗互动。

发布于 2026 年 10 月 3 日下午 2:05

更新于2026年10月3日下午2:06

新加坡推出了首个针对训犬师的动物福利准则（COAW），提倡人道训练方法和专业标准，采用侵入性最小、厌恶性最低的方法。

在发生多起宠物美容过程中受伤和死亡事件后，宠物美容师职业技能标准（COAW）进行了修订，以提高美容师的技能、动物监管和客户沟通能力。

AVS计划审查并更新2017年宠物主人福利准则，通过公众咨询制定最低福利标准和最佳实践，以符合全球趋势和当地需求。

新加坡——新加坡首次为犬类训练行业制定了《动物福利守则》（COAW），以确保以更人道的方式训练犬只听话和服从。

宠物美容师规范的一项重大变化是，他们必须在美容过程中与动物待在一起。

此前曾发生多起备受瞩目的狗狗在宠物美容中心无人照看而死亡的事件。

国家公园局动物及兽医服务处 (AVS) 表示，这些举措将确保动物福利标准与不断变化的全球惯例保持一致，并符合新加坡的实际情况。

新的训犬师规范采用了最小侵入性、最小厌恶性（LIMA）方法，提倡使用人道、循证的训练方法和积极强化来改变行为。

除了不使用电击项圈来惩罚宠物的不良行为外，LIMA 还提倡奖励良好行为，而不是对不良行为进行严厉惩罚。

10月3日，国家发展部兼外交部政务部长陈志远在国家图书馆大楼广场举行的世界动物日活动上启动了这些守则。

此前，新加坡还没有专门针对动物福利和训犬师能力标准的法规。

谭先生表示：“这些努力将进一步加强犬类训练行业的标准，让犬主更加确信他们的宠物会得到训练员的照顾，这些训练员遵循明确的动物福利和专业能力标准。”

COAW 建立在早期举措的基础上，例如 AVS 认证的认证训犬师计划，以及关于使用厌恶性训犬设备（如电击项圈和尖刺项圈）训练宠物的建议，因为这些设备可能会造成严重伤害。

该咨询报告于 2025 年 7 月发布。

这些法规的出台，源于一系列网络疯传的视频，这些视频显示一些训犬师虐待他们的狗狗。

在 AVS 调查的其中一起案件中，一段拍摄于 2022 年 3 月 20 日的两分钟视频显示，在 K9 Connection 犬类训练和日托中心，一名男子用金属食盆殴打一只蜷缩在角落里的棕色杂种犬。

2023年11月29日，该机构的一名董事被控一项虐待动物罪。

2024 年 1 月的另一段视频显示，训狗公司 Xavian and Pack 的两名员工在安排狗狗进行拍照时推搡和殴打它们。

AVS表示，有了COAW的实施，犬主可以更加确信训练员会遵循既定的动物福利和专业能力标准。

宠物美容行业问题

过去三年中，AVS 调查了 54 起与宠物美容师有关的宠物伤害案件，其中包括宠物死亡案件。

2024年7月，在新加坡宠物美容沙龙Pawkins SG，一只无人看管的柯基犬从美容台上摔下，被牵引绳勒死。该沙龙老板被罚款10000新元。

2025 年 10 月 30 日，一只名叫 Buddy 的白色标准贵宾犬被送到位于丹戎加东路的宠物美容店 Pawsome.sg，据称它在无人照看约 1.5 小时后死亡。

据称，事发时该机构的负责人于9月23日被控虐待动物罪。预计他将于10月21日认罪。

宠物美容师规范的一项重大变化是，美容师必须在美容过程中与动物待在一起。

最终修订的宠物美容师守则包括有关美容师处理动物、能力展示、客户沟通和记录保存的建议。

这只名叫巴迪的狗狗被送到新加坡丹戎加东的Pawsome宠物美容店做美容。据报道，它死时无人照看。照片：TANISHDHILLON683/INSTAGRAM

宠物主人也必须尽自己的一份力，确保宠物的健康福祉。

AVS 将审查 2017 年 COAW，以确保福利标准与全球惯例和新加坡的宠物饲养环境保持一致。

修订后的守则将制定宠物主人责任、住房和环境、饮食和营养、行为和丰富化以及健康等领域的最低标准和最佳实践。

它将分为两部分：适用于所有宠物物种的一般最低标准；以及针对狗、猫、鸟类和小哺乳动物（包括兔子、豚鼠和仓鼠）的特定物种最低标准和最佳实践。

AVS 将通过公开咨询，包括在线调查和焦点小组讨论，与宠物主人、兽医、动物团体和更广泛的社区进行互动。

9 月 23 日，一名 37 岁男子因将 71 只猫遗弃在肮脏、通风不良、没有电也没有自来水的组屋中近两年，导致 9 只猫死亡，被判处 16 周监禁。

他还被禁止饲养宠物12个月。

10月3日，在两项新规发布会上，谭女士表示：“这些守则规定了动物饲养、管理和照料的最低标准和最佳实践。它们不仅仅是指导方针。如果您未能达到最低标准，将会在动物福利调查中被纳入考量。”

国家公园管理局

国家发展部