Animal Behaviour Courses

cocker5

Hi All,

I am really interested in doing a (proper) animal behaviour courses etc.. not too sure where to start can anyone point me in the right direction?

Has to be part time as I work full time etc

Thanks a million

ElKavo

Hey Cocker,

I am currently doing Canine studies diploma via compass in the uk. Its distance learning so suits my time constraints. After that I have a semi intensive canine behavior and training course with elista. It is meant to be one of the best available in Ireland. That one is 4 days in the classroom in one set and follow up in the summer, but as far as I am aware they offer it in a distance learning format too. If you like Pm me and I can send you on the details. Also ani-ed are doing courses too but again I think they are classroom based, might be the weekend though.

cocker5

ElKavo wrote: »

Hey Cocker,

I am currently doing Canine studies diploma via compass in the uk. Its distance learning so suits my time constraints. After that I have a semi intensive canine behavior and training course with elista. It is meant to be one of the best available in Ireland. That one is 4 days in the classroom in one set and follow up in the summer, but as far as I am aware they offer it in a distance learning format too. If you like Pm me and I can send you on the details. Also ani-ed are doing courses too but again I think they are classroom based, might be the weekend though.

Thanks a million much appreciated

Bells21

Hi OP, have you checked out AniEd? Im currently doing a course with them. Their website is very helpful and will most definitely point you in the right direction!

DBB

I suppose a lot depends on what you want to get out of it OP... is it for your own personal development, or are you thinking of getting into dog training?
Either way, I think one really important element of any such course is that they have a practical element to them, which usually means travelling to a central location where you get to put all of the theory you've learned on the rest of the course into practise! Theory-only courses really don't leave the student with the same application of knowledge and skills, but perhaps this isn't such a big deal if you already have good practical skills.
However, for anyone wanting to get into professional dog training or behaviour, I would discount any course where you don't get the practical tuition as well as grinding through the theory.
There is also a bit of a tendency amongst these courses to be ferociously expensive, and I'm not convinced that they're necessarily worth the money they charge.
The Elista courses kinda cover all of the above: comprehensive, geared towards people who can only devote X amount of time (there are more intensive versions available too), practical weekends (bring your own dog!), and quite a bit cheaper than any other courses I've seen available either here or further afield. They're underwritten by Compass Education, a highly-respected course provider based in Scotland.
Ani-Ed have a couple of courses with practical work included too. They have OCN accreditation.
Such courses are hard enough work though! I think people can be a little shocked at how much theory they have to learn before they get to do the fun stuff!

cocker5

Thanks for all your replies guys i do appreciate it

I suppose for me its just my first love in life has always been animals and dogs in particular - so i suppose it would be so i can learn more and develop myself etc

Ill take a look at all your suggestions over the next few weeks

Thanks

ElKavo

DBB wrote: »

think people can be a little shocked at how much theory they have to learn before they get to do the fun stuff!

Tell me about it, LOL.