Syllabus

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