Accredited Animal Care Course

Holly and Hugo

Module Exams

Included in course price

The pet industry is booming, and there’s never been a greater demand for experienced animal care professionals.

Pet owners are investing more time, money, and effort into providing their pets with a high quality of life, and they are increasingly relying on the services of professionals to help with pet training, grooming, boarding, therapy, and fitness. With new career paths opening up every day to keep up with consumer demands, animal care workers are defining their own niches and specialties within the field. Recent trends include pet spas, cat cafes, luxury pet hotels, and even pet physiotherapists! If you love working with animals, then you can easily turn that passion into a viable career, and earn a comfortable living doing what you love.

This course will give you insight into animal behaviors, psychology, natural instincts, and health and dietary needs, and teach you to safely interact with animals of all shapes and sizes; from the statuesque Great Dane to the humble goldfish - and everything in between!

Dogs 101

• Aging- from early years to old age
• How dogs socialize
• Dog psychology
• Why they perform certain habits
• Recognizing body language
• Interpreting postures and stances
• Why dogs sniff and smell
• Territory marking
• The meaning of barks and howls
• What causes fear, anxiety and aggression
• Feeding

All about cats

• All stages of development
• Feeding schedules
• Sleep and biological rhythms
• Sexual behavior and natural instincts
• Reading body language
• Understanding meows
• Preventative health care
• House training

Rabbits & Guinea Pigs

• Breed information and characteristics
• Common problems and diseases
• Providing an adequate living environment
• Exercise requirements
• How to care for them

Hamsters, Gerbils, Mice & Rates

• Difference between breeds
• Understanding behaviors and natural instincts
• Common health problems and diseases
• Environmental and lifestyle requirements
• How to safely handle

Birds

• General tips on care
• Small birds - behaviors and characteristics
• Larger birds & birds of prey
• Poultry
• The parrot family
• Maintaining good health
• How to prevent diseases

Fish

• How to care for fish
• Tropical fish
• Cold water fish
• Marine fish
• Identifying health problems

Reptiles

• Keeping reptiles as pets
• Care, environment, and handling
• Turtles, terrapins and tortoises
• Snakes and lizards
• Recognizing signs of disease

This course is ideal for anyone who wants to work with animals, or for animal care professionals who want to upgrade their skills.

• Aspiring veterinarians*, veterinary nurses, or animal technicians
• Animal shelter volunteers
• Pet groomers
• Pet sitters and kennel workers
• Pet trainers
• Dog walkers
• Pet store employees
• Anyone who wants to start their own animal care business

*Please note that this course will not give you professional qualifications to practice veterinary medicine - but it’s a great place to start if you’re thinking of becoming a vet!

All courses are accredited by the International Council for Online Educational Standards (ICOES). After passing any exams and completing a course successfully, students can opt to purchase an ICOES certificate from the third-party institution.

Holly and Hugo is also CPD certified, meaning the courses meet or exceed Continuing Professional Development standards and benchmarks.

Holly and Hugo courses are designed for anyone with an interest in learning. No formal qualifications are required. Our courses are suitable if you want to learn new skills, start a new career, or if you’re already working in a particular industry and wish to upgrade your talents and enhance your resume.

For individuals who open their own business or work on a freelance basis, such as dog walkers, professional groomers, animal trainers, etc., the earning potential is limitless!