Animal Behaviour and Psychology Short Course

Animal Behaviour And Psychology 20 Hours Certificate Course

What makes animals tick? This short course will help you to decode the behaviour of your pet or other animals. For example: how to tell the difference between a domesticated cat and a feral cat, whether animals feel grief and joy, or interpreting anger in baboons.

You will acquire valuable knowledge of the general common denominators exhibited by all animal species both captive and wild, and the skills to deal with animals in the most appropriate way..

This course starts off with animal Instinct and takes you through to the ritualised behaviour of domestic animals. It will give you a solid foundation into the workings of the animal psyche. Animal Behaviour and Psychology will benefit you if you are a pet owner, farm worker. zoo keeper, vet or veterinary nurse, someone who works in an animal shelter, in animal control and more.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: 

There are eight lessons.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Animal Behaviour

• Interpreting Animal Behaviour
• Descriptions of Animal Behaviour
• Factors that Influence Behaviour
• Additional Reading (Goats, Cats, Dogs)
  
  

Lesson 2: Animal Perception and Cognition

• Introduction
• Perception
• Sight
• Hearing
• Smell
• Taste
• Touch
• Dexterity
• Cognition
• Additional Reading (Animal Perception, Types of Stimuli)
  
  

Lesson 3: Innate or Native Behaviours

• Innate Behaviours
• Instincts
• Fixed Action Patterns
• Innate Releasing Mechanisms
• Ritualised Behaviours
• Maturation
• Feeding Behaviour
• Other Eating and Drinking Adaptations
• Orientation
• Locomotion
• Biological Rhythms
• Sexual Behaviour
• Reproduction
• Additional Reading (Feeding Cats, Dog and Cat Obesity, Sexual Behaviour, What Animals Eat)
  
  

Lesson 4: How Animals Learn

• What is the Point of Learning?
• Types of Animal Learning
• Environment and Learning
• How Instincts and Learnt Behaviour are Related
• Animal Attachments
• Animal Parenting
• Additional Reading (Why Animals Learn, Equine Behaviour, Conditioning)
  
  

Lesson 5: Specific Types of Animal Behaviour

• Mating
• Social Behaviour
• Dominance
• Territoriality
• Aggression
• Additional Reading (Social Behaviours, Horse Temperament, Aggression in Dogs)
  
  

Lesson 6 How Animals Communicate

• Introduction
• What is Communication?
• Types of Animal Communication
• Do Animals Understand Human Language?
• How Animals Communicate
• Additional Reading (Communication in Dogs, Understanding Cat Behaviour)
  
  

Lesson 7 Animal Mentality

• Animal Intelligence
• Animal Emotion
• Animal Psychopathology
•  Additional Reading (Dog Depression, Bird Behaviour Problems, Five Ways to Ensure a Happy Pet)

Lesson 8 Managing Animal Behaviour

• Our Need to Manage Animal Behaviour
• Why Do We Domesticate Animals?
• Canines - Managing their Behaviour
• Felines - Domestic and Wild Cats
• Equines - Training Horses
• Cattle
• Training Wild Animals in Captive Environments
• Additional Reading (Equine Therapy and Rehabilitation, Dog Problems)

COURSE ASSESSMENT: 

This course is completed entirely online, including lessons, self-assessment tests, plus obtaining your certificate at the end, which is immediately downloadable after successful completion. Please note that there is no tutor support, as it is not required. The assessment breakdown is as follows:

1. Study lesson 1.
2. When you are ready, take the self-assessment test. Retake until you reach the required level of learning.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the following 6 lessons.
4. Take the final assessment.
5. Download your certificate of completion, with your name on it.
   

Now you are ready to stand out at a job interview, or put your newly acquired knowledge to use straightaway.