Accredited Animal Psychology Course

International Open Academy

This pet psychology course answers questions like:

• How do I train my pet not to urinate in inappropriate places?
• Why does my dog bury his food?
• What does it mean when my cat shouts?
• How can I stop incessant barking?
• Why does my dog attack certain breeds and not others?
• Is it normal for a cat to groom itself all day?
• Why does my dog roll in disgusting fox poo?
• How can I reassure my anxious rabbit?
• What does it mean when a dog eats grass?

How is the Animal Psychology course assessed?

There is a short multiple choice exam at the end of each module for you to take and you’ll know your score immediately.

By studying Animal Psychology online with IOA, you do not pay an extra fee for sitting an exam or have to wait for a set date to sit an exam.

Animal Psychology Course Syllabus:

Module 1: Domestication - how pets came in from the cold

• 1.1 History to human engagement with pets
• 1.2 Breeding
• 1.3 Anthropomorphism (transferring human emotions & expectations to pets)
• 1.4 Choosing your pet

Module 2: Normal dog behaviour - when your pet is being true to his nature

• 2.1 Socialisation
• 2.2 How older dogs change
• 2.3 Understanding puppy behaviour
• 2.4 Feeding time
• 2.5 Habits like licking, digging & jumping

Module 3: If dogs could talk

• 3.1 Dogs’ body language
• 3.2 How they greet humans and other dogs
• 3.3 How to recognise what signals play
• 3.4 Different types of aggressive behaviour
• 3.5 The hidden language in dogs’ smells/urine/faeces/sniffing
• 3.6 Translating vocal language

Module 4: Calm the pack – fear, aggression and anxiety

• 4.1 Aggression: territorial, protective, predatory, sexual, fearful and more
• 4.2 Anxiety due to separation
• 4.3 Fear

Module 5: How well do you know me? The colourful world of dogs’ antics explained

• 5.1 Rolling over and rolling in poo!
• 5.2 How dogs feel about your stroking, patting,
• 5.3 tummy tickles & ear scratching
• 5.4 Circling and chasing tail
• 5.5 Tail between legs
• 5.6 Muzzle grabbing
• 5.7 Eating grass

Module 6: Lose your mind to understand your dog’s

• 6.1 Marking in inappropriate places
• 6.2 Urination due to excitement and submission
• 6.3 Unusual levels of barking
• 6.4 Soiling your home

Module 7: What is normal behaviour for a cat?

• 7.1 Eating rituals - how and why they differ from dogs
• 7.2 Important early lessons for kittens
• 7.3 Understanding how older cats change
• 7.4 Kneading
• 7.5 Burying faeces

Module 8: A cat’s the only cat who knows where it’s at

• 8.1 Body language – tails, whiskers, eyes & 8.2 ears, posture
• 8.3 Instinctive activity
• 8.4 Cat calls
• 8.5 Bringing you their catch
• 8.6 Napping & playing
• 8.7 Grooming

Module 9: When you’ve had it with your cat – psychiatric challenges

• 9.1 The ins and outs of litter trays - what works and doesn’t
• 9.2 Why they soil where you don’t want them to
• 9.3 How to deal with challenges
• 9.4 Jumping up
• 9.5 Shouting

Module 10: Cat on a griddle

• 10.1 Likely reasons for aggression and how to recognise different kinds
• 10.2 Desensitising
• 10.3 Separation anxiety
• 10.4 The impact of environmental stress

Module 11: Understanding rabbits

• 11.1 Body language
• 11.2 Rabbit noises
• 11.3 Normal behaviour and what signals a problem
• 11.4 Chewing
• 11.5 Marking

This course will be of great interest to animal lovers and professionals in the pet care industry who would like to better understand the behaviour of animals, how to properly care for pets, and to any learner who is interested in pet care as a future industry to work in.

This Animal Psychology course is open to all, with no formal entry requirements.

Candidates with an interest in working with animals

Anyone interested in a career in pet grooming, pet sitting, dog walking, veterinary medicene or animal care

Those interested in owning animals, volunteering at animal shelters, or fostering animals.

Existing animal care workers in pursuit of promotion