Animal Psychology

This course will offer the learner a rewarding way of learning everything required to enhance their animal psychology and behaviour knowledge base.

Looking after pets needs and understanding them is very rewarding. This course will cover the natural instincts and behaviours of dogs, cats and other common pets. It includes domestication, and how to prevent psychiatric issues . You will also learn how pets think, learn and feel, why they exhibit a certain behaviours and how to read their communication signs.

This course is ideal for anyone, whether they are considering a career working with pets, pet owners, as well as people looking to provide a service in the growing need for pet psychologists or someone who wants to gain a much better understanding and knowledge of pet psychology.

The course is broken down into 12 modules that contain the information needed to get the learner started in the field of animal psychology. Each module will end with a assignment for the learner to complete. All material will be presented in an organised, easy-to-understand format.

Syllabus

Unit 1 – Pet Evolution

Topics:

Domestication
Selective Breeding
Therapeutic value
Anthromorphism
Pet fashions
Choosing a pet

By the end of this unit the learner will be able to:

Have a clear knowledge of the process of domestication
Know the functions of selective breeding
Identify the different reasons why pets have a good therapeutic value
Understand what Anthromorphism is and how to avoid it
Know how media effects the numbers of unwanted pets
Identify the different questions that need to be answered before having a pet

Unit 2 – Dog Communication

Topics:

Smell
Sound
Body language

By the end of this unit the learner will be able to:

Understand how dogs communicate through smell and sound
Identify the different ways dogs communicate to other animals and us
Understand why dogs urine mark
Know what a dog is saying by the types of sounds they use
Identify the dog’s body language

Unit 3 – Canine Normal Behaviour

Topics:

Puppy behaviour
Meal time manners
Sociology
Senior behaviour
What is normal?

By the end of this unit the learner will be able to:

Have a clear knowledge of Puppy behaviour
Know the different types of behaviour that go on at canine meal times
Understand canine sociology
Have a clear knowledge of senior dog behaviour
Identify and understand different normal canine behaviours

Unit 4 – Understanding Canine Actions

Topics:

Chasing tails
Rolling in unpleasant things
Human to dog communication
Tail between their legs
Eating grass
Rolling over
Mad moments
Circling
Muzzle grabs

By the end of this unit the learner will be able to:

Know the reasons behind dogs, circling, rolling in unpleasant things and mad moments
Identify the different ways humans communicate to dogs
Understand why dogs chase their tails and eat grass
Know how to use muzzle grabs and understand how they work
Identify why dogs roll over showing you their belly

Unit 5 – Common Canine Psychiatric Challenges

Topics:

House soiling
Jumping up
Digging
Barking

By the end of this unit the learner will be able to:

Know the different types of inappropriate elimination behaviours
Understand why dogs jump up and know how to solve it
Have a clear knowledge of digging dog behaviour
Identify, understand and modify different barking canine behaviours

Unit 6 – Canine Anxiety, Fear and Aggression

Topics:

Separation anxiety
Fear
Aggression

By the end of this unit the learner will be able to:

Understand separation anxiety in dogs and learn possible treatments
Have a clear knowledge of fear and phobias in dogs and understand how to treat them
Identify different types of canine aggression

Unit 7 – Cat Communication

Topics:

Smells
Cat talk
Cat Body language

By the end of this unit the learner will be able to:

Understand how cats communicate through smell and sound
Identify the different ways cats communicate to other animals and people
Understand why cats urine mark
Know what a cat is saying by the types of sounds they use
Identify the cat’s body language

Unit 8 – Feline Normal Behaviour

Topics:

Kitten behaviour
Cat lessons
Meal time manners
Sociology
Senior behaviour
What is normal?

By the end of this unit the learner will be able to:

Have a clear knowledge of kitten behaviour
Know the different types of behaviour that go on at feline meal times
Understand feline sociology
Have a clear knowledge of senior cat behaviour
Identify and understand different normal feline behaviours

Unit 9 – Understanding Feline Actions

Topics:

Catnip and Presents
Belly up and Halloween cat
Grooming
Catnaps
Food burying and toy dunking
Naughty Tortoiseshells
Grieving

By the end of this unit the learner will be able to:

Know the reasons behind cats showing you their belly, catnaps, grooming and food burying
Identify the Halloween cat stance and understand why cats do it.
Understand why some cats love catnip and why cats bring us presents
Identify what is special about Tortoiseshell cats and learn about grieving in cats

Unit 10 – Common Feline Psychiatric Challenges

Topics:

House soiling
Jumping up
Inappropriate activity
Cat shouting

By the end of this unit the learner will be able to:

Know the different types of inappropriate elimination behaviours
Understand why cats jump up and know how to solve it
Have a clear knowledge of inappropriate activity behaviour
Identify, understand and modify different cat shouting behaviours

Unit 11 – Feline Anxiety, Fear and Aggression

Topics:

Separation anxiety
Fear
Aggression

By the end of this unit the learner will be able to:

Understand separation anxiety in cats and learn possible treatments
Have a clear knowledge of fear and phobias in cats and understand how to treat them
Identify different types of feline aggression

Unit 12 – Rabbit Psychology

Topics:

Domestication
Rabbit talk
Smell
Body language
Normal behaviour
Prey behaviour
Common psychiatric challenges

By the end of this unit the learner will be able to:

Understand how rabbits communicate through smell and sound
Identify the different ways rabbits communicate to other animals and us
Understand rabbit domestication
Learn what a rabbit is saying by the types of sounds they use
Identify the rabbit’s body language
Understand common rabbit behavioural problems and learn possible treatments
Identify prey behaviour in rabbits

Qualifications

On completion of your course, you will receive the dual award:

Award 1 is issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges: Animal Psychology Diploma

Award 2 is issued by our Awarding Body: Level 3 Animal Psychology Award

At the end of this course successful learners will also receive a Level 3 NCFE Award Certificate of Achievement. Our course has been accredited under our NCFE IIQ Licence and the course measurable learning outcomes have been benchmarked at Level 3 (using Ofqual's Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) level descriptors) to allow you to consider the depth of study, difficulty, and level of achievement involved.

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.