British College of Canine Studies

Dog Behaviour Level 3 Course

It doesn't matter if you're a fan of Victoria Stilwell or Cesar Millan, the Dog Behaviour Diploma courses are written from a neutral standpoint, offering the latest info and studies, the newest understanding of social structure in dogs, and debating hot topics such as dominance in dogs. With thorough chapters on everything from Operant conditioning, including clicker training, to the principles and techniques of Cesar Millan, there is something for everyone, and if nothing else, this course will get you thinking about dogs and dog behaviour like never before.

Course Synopsis: Devised by a practicing Behaviourist for every day dog owners and anyone who works or has regular contact in a professional capacity with dogs i.e kennel assistants, dog sitters, groomers etc. This international best selling course is unique for many reasons, least of all being the first of its kind and the only dog behaviour diploma course to offer a ‘practical’ element. It is also the first course to study and consider both Positive Reward Training and its application in the human-dog relationship, and the more physical world of dog behaviour between dogs.

Find yourself immersed in the debate of topics such as pack structure, appeasement societies, the need for an authority figure, and the relevant scientific studies. Far from a course that exists to merely educate from one perspective, this course will challenge everything you thought you knew about dogs and dog psychology, calling on the work of Fisher, Scott and Fuller, Bruce Fogle, Cesar Millan, Ray and Lorna Coppinger, Stephen Budiansky, Ian Dunbar and many more leading experts.

 
On completion, the student will…

Have learned the difference between how dogs learn, and how dogs behave.

Have a greater understanding of both dog training and dog psychology.

Have examined the most recent studies and debates in the world of dog behaviour and training, and encouraged to formulate their own opinion based on experience and research.

Have a better understanding of key subjects such as: socialisation, communication, the origins of the dog and evolution.

Have a better understanding of the importance of the role of the owner, human moods, temperament, personality, morality and their affects on the dog.

Be able to recognise key body language, gestures and signals of the dog.

Be able to diagnose classic behavioural problems and formulate possible solutions, calling on both dog training and dog psychology.

Have a greater understanding of what is required for a dog to be happy, healthy, well behaved, and mentally balanced. In essence, what it truly is to be a good dog owner.

 
Course Content:

INTRODUCTION

UNIT ONE - The History of Dogs

UNIT TWO - Genetics of the Dog’s Mind, Nature or Nurture? The Brain, The Senses

UNIT THREE - Breed Difference - Are all dogs the same?

UNIT FOUR - Hormones, Diet & Health – Their Influence on Behaviour

UNIT FIVE - Communication, Pheromones, Body Language

UNIT SIX - Early Learning, Mum and Pack’s Influence, Socialization, Habituation

UNIT SEVEN - How Dogs Learn, Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, Discipline etc.

UNIT EIGHT - Social Structure of the Dog, New Understandings Examined -  Dominance, Pack Structure

UNIT NINE - Aggression In All Its Forms

UNIT TEN - Fears, Phobias & Anxiety

UNIT ELEVEN - The Owner Influence, Energy, Personality

OPTIONAL PRACTICAL - Real World Assessment Of Your Understanding Of Dog Behaviour In Action

The Practical: This unique and exciting element gives you an opportunity to put into practice, much of what you will have learned. You will demonstrate during a visit to you at home, an understanding of dog behaviour, basic dog training and its principles, and will be asked to identify a variety of behaviours on the day, in the form of video footage.

The practical element is optional and choosing not to participate will not affect your ability to pass this course.

Q. Is the course accredited?
A.  To answer this accurately, prospective students first need to understand what accreditation is! Few courses are genuinely accredited to a level within the QCF (Qualifications and Credits Framework). Almost all accredited courses are described as accredited when in fact it's the provider that is accredited, not the course. This means the course content is assured and of good quality, but the piece of paper you receive at the end of it is not a nationally recognised qualification. No nationally recognised qualification is required to be a Dog Behaviour Practitioner, however, accreditation has been sought to give students the reassurance of quality, and students will receive both their Diploma and the accrediting body's certificate (NOCN - National Open College Network)

Q. How long does the course take?
A. One unit per week is typical. A unit per day is not impossible, but some units are larger than others. Busy people may only manage one unit per month. On average, the course takes six months to complete, including practical.  

Format
The course is delivered to you in pdf format via email unit by unit as you progress. By this method you are assured of a thorough grasp of the topics before moving on to the next..