Trainers should use learning theory and ethology as a basis for their work. They should rely principally on reward-based techniques.
Effective, humane trainers base their methods on animal learning theory and on ethology - the biological study of the natural behavior of a species. Knowledge in these areas does not guarantee good training, but it would be difficult to train effectively and humanely without some understanding of both how learning takes place and of basic dog behavior.
Trainers who are familiar with ethology are less likely to interpret dog behaviors based on anthropomorphism (assigning human traits and motivations to animals). Humane training, by definition in these standards, relies heavily on reward-based techniques to reinforce desired behaviors and on the withholding of rewards to inhibit undesired behaviors.
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