Dog Psychology and Training
Everyone is familiar with the phrase "Dogs are a man's best friend." But how did they become man's best friend? Initially some dogs must have been bold enough to approach man and because of our own curiosity and attraction towards them we have chosen to invite these dogs to spend time with us. Eventually over thousands of generations these dogs have become domesticated but even now they can have some traces of wild dog in their genes.
This course covers the aspects of dog psychology from the canine senses and dog behaviour through to how to train a working dog. This makes it ideal for those buying or acquiring a dog for the first time, for those who have a dog and want to learn more about effective control and management of it, or those that have a farm and need to train working dogs.
Find out what it is that makes dogs so unique in the animal kingdom.
What this Course Covers
This course is comprised of eight lessons, outlined below:
1. Nature and Scope of Canine Psychology
2. Canine Senses
3. Understanding Natural Canine Behaviour
4. Canine Behavioural Development
5. Canine Behavioural Disorders
6. Basic Dog Training
7. Dog Obedience Training
8. Controlling a Dogs Movement
9. Training Working Dogs
Workload
Study when, where and however much you want. For most students, the course can be completed with a total of around 100 hours of study; and a commitment close to that may be needed to achieve desired learning outcomes.
Extra Reading
The following books, available through this web site are relevant supplementary reading for this course
Assessment
Self Assessment Tests are presented throughout the course. These are essentially an automated quiz. When you undertake a "SAT" or "Self Assessment Test", you will be able to see what you got correct, and what was incorrect; and in that way, you can identify your weaknesses.
Assignments are given at the end of each lesson. You should complete this assignment, paying careful attention to follow what is asked of you. It can be just as important to learn to work to specification, as it is to learn about the topic you are studying. Graduates who develop a habit of working to specification in the field of dog care, will impress employers, and will be more efficient when self employed.
A Final Exam is offered upon satisfactory completion of all assignments. This is optional. If you choose to apply for and do this exam, you will have the possibility of obtaining a "formal credit" or "Pass Certification" for this course. A fee applies. The exam may be sat under prearranged conditions anywhere in the world. This college will award you a formal transcript, upon successful completion of the exam, as proof of your results.
Recognition and Ethics
This college is a member of the ACS Affiliates Network; a group of colleges from several countries, affiliated with each other through ACS Distance Education.. Courses are developed with input from all of these colleges, aspiring to reflect internationally accepted standards and needs.
A strict "No Plagiarism" and "No fraud" policy exists. Assignments are checked for plagiarism, and assignments will not be deemed to have been completed, if work is not your own original creation, and is found to have been copied from elsewhere. If the person doing the course is discovered to be different to the name enrolled, the enrolment and any results will be recorded as invalid and any fees paid will be forfeited.
Refund Policy
A full refund less expenses (up to 15% of fees applied) is provided to anyone wishing to withdraw from a course, within 2 weeks of enrolment. This does not apply after the first assignment has been submitted and marked; or after the two weeks has expired.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS INSTITUTION?
We believe that we have an ethical responsibility to make good use of the fees you pay and the time you invest into an education through our college. To this end, our first priority is always your learning. This comes before issues such as formal accreditations, speculative marketing and bureaucratic processes which all too often add considerable costs to the running of colleges, and take resources away from the provision of more valuable services to the student.
This college focuses on facilitating your learning and support to optimise that learning. We recognise that learning is all about improving knowledge and skills in your long term memory. While some colleges may focus on getting you to pass exams, by committing knowledge to short term memory; we understand that such an approach is not true education, and does little to improve your long term career or business prospects.
How This Course Could Help You
Whether because you are a pet owner who wishes to understand more about your dog, you work or would like to work with dogs, or you'd just like to understand more about the animal kingdom generally - this course will provide you with a foundation upon which to build your knowledge.
Use it to open doors to working as a dog trainer, pet psychologist, dog handler, or as a veterinary assistant. Combine it with other studies or experience to take things further.