CIAVCEP

Official Statement from the International Council of Trainers, Veterinarians, Breeders, Specialists, and Protectors A.C. (CIAVCEP) on the LIMA Approach

Guiding Principle: LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) The International Council of Trainers, Veterinarians, Breeders, Specialists, and Protectors A.C. (CIAVCEP) endorses and promotes the LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) principle. This approach is our primary ethical and methodological framework for canine training and behavior modification.

The fundamental goal of LIMA is to achieve training or behavior change objectives using the least intrusive and least aversive strategy from a set of humane and effective tactics, maximizing the welfare and the relationship of trust between the dog and its handler.

LIMA Hierarchy of Priorities
Adherence to LIMA requires the professional to follow a hierarchy of interventions, always prioritizing those that cause the least negative impact on the dog's emotional and physical state.

Absolute Priority: Positive Reinforcement and Proactive Strategies CIAVCEP establishes that the first and main tool, the pillar of all training, is Positive Reinforcement. Focus: Teaching desired behaviors by rewarding choice (food, play, praise, etc.).

Environmental Management: Modifying the environment to prevent the occurrence of the undesired behavior. For example, if the dog barks at the window, blocking the view.

Health and Nutrition: Ruling out medical or pain causes that may be driving the behavior.

Next Options: Low-Impact Interventions If Positive Reinforcement and environmental management strategies are insufficient, one moves on to methods that, while slightly more "intrusive," remain low-impact: *Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviors (DRA): Rewarding an alternative, acceptable behavior while preventing the opportunity to perform the problem behavior.

Negative Punishment (P-): Removing something the dog desires (a valuable resource) immediately after an undesirable behavior to reduce its frequency. It is not physical or painful.

Extinction: Permanently eliminating the consequence that maintains a behavior, causing it to decrease.

Strictly Limited Use of Aversive Tools
CIAVCEP emphasizes that the use of tools and methods classified as "aversive" (those that cause fear, pain, discomfort, or distress) is relegated to the last resort and should only be considered under exceptional circumstances and by competent professionals.

Electric, Prong, or Choke Collar: These devices, which rely on the application of an unpleasant or painful stimulus (Positive Punishment P+ or Negative Reinforcement R-), are the very last resort in the LIMA hierarchy.

Conditions for Their Use (Extremely Rare): When all less intrusive methods have failed or are impracticable.

When non-intervention represents a significantly greater risk (for example, risk of life for the dog, other animals, or humans).

The professional must possess the technical and ethical competence to apply these tools precisely, controllably, and temporarily, with the goal of eliminating their necessity as soon as possible.

LIMA DOES NOT JUSTIFY the use of punishment or aversive methods as a first resort or instead of other effective interventions. The principle is clear: only the minimally aversive and only if the risk demands it, always prioritizing kindness and the effectiveness of Positive Reinforcement.

“The LIMA professional demonstrates competence by maximizing the use of positive reinforcement and minimizing, to the point of elimination, the use of punishment and intrusive techniques.” – CIAVCEP

We are CIAVCEP

We promote animal welfare through education, training, and the standardization of criteria.

Union and Professional Representation

We are a multidisciplinary team of Animal Welfare and Zootechnical professionals seeking to be the voice of specialists in working groups with the government when legislating regulations or laws that concern or affect the community we represent.

Legally Constituted Association

We train, evaluate, and accredit professionals through other experts to validate that they meet high-quality standards in the performance of their functions and protocols.

About us

CIAVCEP is an international professional dog training and animal welfare association, which includes trainers, veterinarians, biologists, breeders, specialists in the police field, search and rescue, and professional animal protectors, that seeks to promote animal welfare through education, training, and standardization of criteria.

Educational services, namely, conducting classes, seminars, conferences, and workshops in the field of dog training and canine welfare. We also provide comprehensive training materials to support these programs.

Trainers

Veterinarians

Breeders

Protectors

Vision

To be a national and international benchmark

For individuals and institutions in the areas of education, awareness, and training in the zootechnical use of species for sustainable development and human and animal welfare, and the protection of ecosystems and their biodiversity. To be a national benchmark for the professionalization of Dog Trainers, Breeders, and Guides.

To become one of the largest and most important dog trainer associations in Mexico with real and tangible representation in every region of the country, and to also achieve relevance and presence as an association in other parts of the world.

To become one of the main links between professional dog trainers and animal welfare and health professionals, such as veterinarians and biologists. To achieve governmental and academic ties so that our profession is heard.

To always remain loyal to our principles, always seeking the union of professionals who not only have a high technical and knowledge level but also values and ethics, and who care about the well-being of others.

Mission

To link professional dog trainers with the academic and professional support of veterinarians and biologists

By promoting their professionalization through constant, high-quality training. To certify that professionals meet high quality standards and professional protocols to carry out their activities. To protect dog breeds and their zootechnical function.
To ensure that professionals in dog training, animal welfare, health, and protection in Mexico and around the world are guided by high-quality standards and homogenized professional protocols that allow for sustainable development and human and animal welfare.

To raise awareness about the importance of ecosystems and their biodiversity by protecting wild animals.

To actively promote Canophilia, Canine Sports, and responsible pet ownership. To reduce the number of domestic animals in street or abandonment situations. To raise our voice as a united profession and be heard by authorities when it comes to legislating laws that affect our professional field.

To link our association through collaboration agreements with other organizations that pursue the same goals to achieve synergy.

Values

Family, Synergy, Humanity, Honor, Integrity, Freedom

Our

Services

Board and

Coordinators

LIMA Declaration