Become a Dog Trainer

Our Support Promise

You can phone or email your tutor at any point during your course – to ask questions, for advice, encouragement or to draw on their wealth of knowledge.

You can also contact the support team who are here to help you Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

What You’ll Learn

Intermediate Canine Psychology

Unit 1 

The dog’s brain:

• The physical and mental development of the puppy
• How early experiences affect behaviour
• How dogs learn
  

Unit 2 

Natural behaviours of the dog:

• What owners expect
• Why and how owners seek to change some behaviours
• The psychological and physiological effects of neutering

Unit 3

Canine senses:

• How they compare and differ from those of the human
• Canine communication – verbal and body language. Learning to read the signals

Unit 4

The intelligent dog:

• Mental stimulation
• The importance of play

Health, Safety, Legal and Associated Issues

Unit 1

• Customer Service and Care
• Client Distress
• Personal Safety
• Health and Safety
• Prevention of Ill Health and Accidents
• Risk Assessment
• First Aid
• Legal Issues
• Environmental Issues
• Insurance

Dog Training Class Instruction (Theory) Part 1

Unit 1 

• Responsibilities of the instructor – Experience, qualifications, coping with stress, using time effectively and practical approaches to running classes

Unit 2

• Modern dog training methods – how the dog learns, traditional and modern training methods, how dogs communicate and fun and games exercises

Unit 3

• Care, behaviour and diet – owner expectation, handling skills, owner stress and effects on behaviour, neutering and diet

Unit 4 

• Dog training and owners – organising classes, discussion with owners and coping with behaviour problems

Dog Training Class Instruction (Theory) Part 2

Unit 1 

Problem prevention:

• Choice of puppy/breeder
• Breed related behaviour
• Genetic predisposition

Unit 2

Problem definition:

• Recognition and interruption of problem behaviour
• Unrealistic owner expectations
• The adolescent dog

Unit 3

The class:

• Types of classes – comparisons
• Problem prevention in the class
• Rehabilitation classes
• The dog’s view

Unit 4 

The home environment:

• The dog in the human environment
• Training aids
• Problem prevention in the home
• The ‘behaviourist’

Unit 5 

People as Owners:

• Human perceptions and misunderstandings
• Reinforcing the dog/owner relationship

Study Length

There are no deadlines for this pathway. Simply study in the comfort of your own home, and in your own time.

Distance learning is designed to be flexible, but as a guide, students who can spend 4-6 hours a week studying tend to complete a single unit within a month.

What's Next

This pathway can help you progress in your career in the animal care sector.

Once it’s completed, you may wish to further your study. If that’s the case, we’d suggest:

• Modern Theories of Canine Behaviour, Psychology and Training
• Advanced Canine Psychology
• Pet Bereavement Counselling

If you’d like to turn what you’ve learned into a career, or you’re wondering how best to apply it to your existing role, get in touch with one of our tutors, or contact our support team from 9am - 5pm.

Course fee & how to enrol

This career pathway combines 4 of our individual courses, providing students with a clear and comprehensive path towards a career in animal care. What’s more, when you take this pathway, you’ll save £190, compared to taking each course on its own. Plus, you’ll get a free unit worth £145

There are two ways you can enrol

Pay the total course fee of £995 in one sum and receive a voucher towards the cost of your next course

or

Pay a deposit of just £155, followed by 12 instalments of £70