Animal Psychology Diploma

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.

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