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Canine Behaviour

​Foundation Course


​(Gauteng)
​




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CONGRATULATIONS ALYSON WHO QUALIFIED IN APRIL 2019
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CONGRATULATIONS TO LORRAINE WHO
​GRADUATED APRIL 19


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A career with dogs is a wonderful and exciting career to consider – each and every day is different and watching a dog with fear behaviour for example, become a confident and happy dog is a sight that warms the heart and gives one a feeling of a job well done.

​In addition to getting to work with these wonderful animals on a daily basis, it really is a profession that has opened up so very much and there are now many different genre available to people wanting to peruse a career with dogs – knowing and understanding behaviour will stand you in excellent stead, no matter which direction you decide to go forward, whether Doggy Day Care, Grooming, Behaviour, Instructing, Dog Walking, Holiday Care, Kennel Owner etc. 

​To become a Canine Behaviour Advisor, takes time and commitment - this is a serious profession, and not one that can be achieved over a weekend or a week. It is also a profession that requires practical sessions. We do understand that work and family can take up a lot of time, so to allow you to follow your dream and become qualified in this wonderfu profession, we have broken it down into 4 Modules, each of which contains practical and Theory sessions. This allows you to work at your own pace, and still achieve your dreams. 

Additionally, if you find that after Module 1, this is not the career you wanted to follow, you have saved yourself additional financial expense and do not have to continue. Certificats are issued on successful completion of each stage.

Should you wish to book for the whole course instead of doing by modules, this can be arranged. Reduced price R12800, with R500 deposit and up to 24 months to pay - no interest. Additional discount given for cash in advance R11300.
​MODULE 1 - R3750. Payable by R400 deposit and balance over 3, 6 or 9 months - no interest. Time period allowed, 9 months to complete, but can be done much quicker. See link for Theory and Practical sessions included. 

MODULE 2 - R4000. Payable by R400 deposit and balance over 3,6, or 9 months - no interest. Time period allowed, 9 months to complete, but can be done much quicker. See link for Theory and Practical sessions included

MODULE 3 - R4000. Payable by R400 deposit and balance over 3,6 or 9 months - no interest. Time period allowed, 6 months to complete, but can be done much quicker. See link for Theory and Practical sessions included. 

MODULE 4 - R4000. Payable by R400 deposit and balance over 3, 6 or 9 months - no interest. Time period allowed, 9 months to complete, but can be done much quicker. See link for Theory and Practical sessions included
 For our 'Out of Towners' we have an option for you as well. 

Canine Behaviour Foundation Course 


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Includes:
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  • 28 Practical sessions (minimum)
  • Two TTouch Sessions​
  • Comprehensive Theory from Pups to Seniors
  • How to work with Questionnaires and prepare client reports
  • ​Clients skills
  • Shadowing at behaviour consultations (where possible)
  • Minimum of two case studies required
  • 12 month Mentoring after qualifying
  • 30 months to complere the course 
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 ​Recommended by the Animal Behaviour Consultants (ABC of SA) and counts for points towards accreditation.

​The sessions in Gauteng are hosted in the Edenvale/Modderfontein area

​
This course is presented in an easy to follow format, and is unbelievably comprehensive and will give you everything you need to start your career.

In addition: 
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  • Presented by working, qualified and registered canine behaviourists. See information on Presenters at end of this page.
  • A complete and well rounded knowledge and understanding of why dogs do the things they do, right from pups to seniors - a solid foundation.
  • Gain an understanding as to why behaviour concerns develop
  • Receive the knowledge, ability and tools to be able to change behaviour concerns and start your own career in this amazing profession. 
  • All materials are presents in an easy to understand format
  • You have 24/7 access to us during the week
  • You can start any time during the year - work at your own pace, and have 30 months to complete the course. 
  • We close between 15th December to 15th January annually
  • On successful completion, you will qualify as a Canine Behaviour Advisor Level 1 (CBFC - Fods Academy) and be able to start you career.
  • All successful Graduates will be bound by our  Code of Ethics
  • You will be Mentored for a full 12 month period after Graduation or for as long as needed.
  • We host two seminars per annum wherein qualified behaviourists all get together to compare notes and discuss new research in the dog industry in various aspects. 
  • After having graduated and working in the industry for approximately a 12 month period, you are able to attend the Advanced Behaviour Course. 
Theory : Comprehensive - click here to view in detail

​Practical Sessions Covered (in no particular order)
Some of these sessions are done using a demo dog or your own dog. Other sessions consists of seminars. Some of these sessions are covered individually, while others may be combined, depending on time available. There are 28 practical sessions in total over the 30 month period. ​
Practical sessions are hosted at either our offices in the Whitney Gardens area (across from Lyndhurst), or at our premises in Modderfontein. Both these venues are 5 minutes from Greenstone Shopping Centre
Private Session A - All Basic Exercises using your own, or a demo dog. 

Private Session B - House Rules - House Rules are the A,B,C of behaviour and are used at the majority on consultations, putting in place a solid foundation for changing behaviour. 

Private Session C - Test on Basic Exercises - using your own dog or a demo dog.

Private Session D - Private Behaviour Consult - depending on your location, this is either carried out in person, or by a Skype session. 
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​​​​Equipment - various types and how to use same.
Introducing Dogs 1- gives you all the skills needed to introduce dogs
Introducing Dogs 2 - gives you the tools you need to work with a dog that is mildly reactive to other dogs. 
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​Basic Obedience - Sit, Down, Recall, Leave, Swap, Bite Inhibition, Balance lead, Watch, Balance Lead Plus, Loose Lead Walking, Lead Attachment - own dogs or a dog will be supplied for you. As so many of the common behaviour problems involve having the knowledge of these basic skills, we ensure that you are more than proficient and there are at least three sessions supplied to learn these skills. ​
Resource Guarding - This covers changing resource guarding of objects, locations and people, as well as what to do when dogs resource guard objects towards other dogs. ​
​TTouch 1 & 2 - own dogs - n.b. this is for your own use and does not qualify you as a TTouch Practitioner. If you do not have a dog, one will be supplied for you or you will practice your new skills with another handlers dog.  ​
​Escape Artists - how to successfully change this behaviour
​​Fearful Dogs - fear of people, objects etc -utilizing desensitizing & counter conditioning   Collar & Lead Problems
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Enjoy the personal touch from professional behaviourists
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Learn how to work with clients, analyze questionnaires and put together behaviour reports.
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Apart from digging being a natural doggy behaviour, learn why this happens and how to change it
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Practical training sessions learning the skills
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Theory sessions with others sharing your passion
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Changing the 'Professional Puller' into a better balanced dog and the understanding and knowledge of the use of equipment and dog behaviour to achieve this
​Dogs that chase - here you will learn how to change this behaviour
​​Basic Behaviour Problems - Jumping Up, Nipping, Mouthing, Leave, Recall, Settle, Hugging, Collar Grabbing, Tantrums.
​Professional Pullers - in this section, using own dogs, you will learn how to change this bheaviour. Included in this section is the use of various equipment to prevent pulling, as well as how to desensitize a dog to using a muzzle
​Separation Anxiety - this is a terrible condition for a dog to experience, and unless the dog is taught how to cope, the condition will worsen and it is possible that other behaviour concerns will develop. Seminar
​Storm Phobia - you will learn all the tools, right from a dog with mild fear, through to dealing with a dog with full blown storm phobia. This condition is similar to Separation Anxiety, in that other behavioural problems tend to develop, especially separation anxiety.
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Learn why aggression develops and the various types of aggression
​Mediation and Social Media Skills - here you will learn to deal with conflict and as we now live in a world of the internet, how to develop the skills you will need for social media and for working with clients. As Charmaine is a Registered Mediator, she will analyse you personality type and 
Working with a dog's critical distance - in addition to understanding and recognizing a dog's critical distance, you will be taught further skills to become proficient at recognizing and dealing with a dog's stress. ​
Calming a dog before working with it - it is impossible to work on a dog where the stress levels are sky high - here you will learn valuable skills on calming a dog so that working with it is more likely to be successful - essential when working with dogs with any fear issues, or a feral dog, or a dog in a shelter. ​
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Chasing is another natural doggy behaviour - learn how to change this behaviour
​Why Behaviour Problems Develop - in order for us to change a dog's behaviour, we have to have an in-depth understanding as to why the behaviour may have occurred in the first place and there are multiple reasons as to why.
​Exception to House Rules - Although House Rules are the A.B.C of behaviour, there are times, depending on the individual dog, and the behaviour problems being experienced where some of the House Rules may not apply.
Pre-Planning and Questionnaires - Having the tool of a Questionnaire is essential. A Questionnaire highlights why the problem may have occured in the first place and also shows us areas of potential concern, as well as allowing us to start working the second we arrive at the client. 

Once we have analyzed, by way of the Questionnaire, as to why the behaviour concerns may be occurring, we put together a Pre-Planner of the modifications and exercises that may be used. This allows us to go to see our clients, fully prepared and carry out the behaviour session in a professional manner. 
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Role Play - Only students who have completed Module 3 are invited to these sessions. 

Here we give you 4 different behaviour 'clients' where you will put the skills you have learnt into practice, and show them how to overcome the problems they are experiencing. 
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Where possible we use students own dogs for the Practical Sessions, or Demo dogs for specific behaviour concerns
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A dog jumping up on people is so easy to change if your just know how.
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Learn how to work with clients and helping them to be successful
​Your Financial Investment :
The full price is R12800 inclusive of above. Payment is a deposit of R500, followed by monthly payments of either 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 or 24 months. The course must have paid in full before Certification is awarded. Should you wish to pay up front, substantial discount awarded and cash price is R11600               

Pay
Canine Behaviour Course - Full - R12800. Alternatively you can contact us to discuss terms over a maximum of 24 months with no interest charged. 


​Canine Behaviour Foundation Course - in 3 Modules 

For those of you that are unable to undertake the full course in one go, due to either time or financial restrictions,  we do have an alternative for you. The course can be done in 3 Modules, doing one at a time as suits you and you can take a break in-between Modules. A certificate of completion will be issued  will be awarded, and on successful Completion of the final module you will qualify as a Canine Behaviour Advisor Level 1 - Fods Academy. Follow this link to find out more​
​Your Time Investment :
  • See full details for time allocated to each Module. 
  • Theoretical - the notes are sent out by email and at the end of each section there are short assignments based on course material. At the end of each Module Phase there is a simple quiz based on the material you have just read. There is no research required to complete in Modules 1 and 2. Module 3 requires limited research. 
  • Practical  - as below. Private sessions are arranged by appointment. 
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Module 1                       R4000
Module 2                       R5100
Module 3                       R5150
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Module 4

Each Module can be paid, and undertaken one at a time - click here to see full details and payment options

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Using positive reinforcements methods to train basic exercises
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You will learn how to introduce dogs to one another in a safe manner and to increase the chances of a successful outcome
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You will learn how to work with dogs with fear of people, objects and other dogs
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Storm fear and storm phobia is a common behaviour concern, togeter with dogs with fear of noises, that you will learn how to overcome
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Overcoming an everyday problem such as jumping up is easy, if you have the knowledge and skills
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Dogs chase, and some breeds more than others. Learn why this happens and how to change behaviour

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Apart from digging being a natural doggy behaviour, learn why this happens and how to change it
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Using Lure & Reward to teach basic behaviours

Presented by Founders of Friends of the Dog Education Website Platform (www.friendsofthedog.co.za)
and Canine Behaviourists
Scotty Valadao & Charmaine du Toit

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Scotty Valadao
  • Accredited: Animal Behaviour Consultant (ABC of SA™) Canine
  • Registered with the South African Board of Companion Animal Professionals. (SABCAP)
  • Practising Canine Behaviourist
  • Certificate: Tellington T-Touch Practitioner 
  • Certificate: Puppy Socialisation and Basic Home Obedience (SAADOI)
  • Certificate: (Basic Animal Behaviour(Dogs) Pretoria University
  • Certificate: Louise Hay (Facilitator)
  • Certificate: Modern Theories of Canine Psychology Behaviour & Obedience ( Dist)Animal Care College (UK) 
  • Certificate: Veterinary Nutritional Advisor I (Hills)
  • Certificate: Clicker Training & Instructor


Charmaine du Toit
  • Certificate : Canine Behaviour Foudation Course Level 1
  • Certificate : Canine Behaviour Foudation Course Level 2
  • ​Registered with the South African Board of Companion Animal Professionals. (SABCAP)
  • Practicing Canine Behaviourist
  • Certificate : Clicker Training  Instructor
  • Certificate: Mckaynine Instructors Course 
  • Certificate: Basic Ethology Course 
  • Certificate: Advanced Ethology Course 
  • Certificate :Superpup Certified Instructor 
  • Degree:      LLB (Unisa)
  • Advocate
  • ​Registered Mediator