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Theoretical Sections - Canine Behaviour Foundation Course
Practical - Level 1



At the end of each section there is a Quiz to test your knowledge on that section, as well as questions to increase your lateral thinking when it comes to working with clients and behaviour
Understanding Dogs
​The Dog’s senses : The Psychology of Emotions   
Understanding Dogs
The 5 F’s of Behaviour : How dog’s communicate : Calming Signals
Signs of Stress : Signs of Possible Reactive behaviour: 

Understanding Dogs
Dog Language : Can amputation of a tail affect behaviour? : How humans can misunderstand dog behaviour : How misconceptions could have arisen.

Canine Development Theory

From Wolf to Dog : Pack Rule Theories : Development Stages

Canine Development Theory
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Socialization & Habituation : Location Separation Anxiety

Learning Theory

How Dogs Learn : Other Training Methods : Lure & Reward Methods : Using Lure/Rewards : Fading the Reward : Cue's, Signals : Commands
Breeds and Breeders
Points to bear in mind : Owner's Responsibility : Choosing the Breed : Breeds that dont get along with other dogs : Breed Groups


Breeds amd Breeders
Breeds that tend not to get along : Will any existing dogs tolerate a Puppy? : Nature or Nurture : Where to Purchase your pup : What to look for in a pup : One or Two Pups : Puppy Testing : Genetic Testing : Additional Breed Knowledge

Learning Theory
Operant Conditioning & The 4 Quadrants of Learning : Classical Conditioning : Punishment : Aversives : Extinction : Reinforcers : Reinforcement Schedules : Timing : Fluency : Learning Plateau : Important Points for Handlers : The 4 Pillars of Training

General Theory & Puppies
Inoculations : Crate Training : Sterilization : Auditory Habituation : Picking up Puppies : Grooming & Handling : Importance of Exercise

General Theory & Puppies
Chewing & Toys : Kennels or Home Care? : Teaching a Pup to Swim : Dogs in Complexes : Free Play : The Importance of Puppy School : Car Sickness
Pups Coming Home
Plan for a Successful Homecoming : How to make the home safer : Introducing a pup to existing dogs


After the Pup Comes Home
The First Few Days : Toilet Training :Teaching the pup to eliminate on paper : Feeding the Pup : Pups crying at night : Furniture

First Exercises to Bring In
Bite Inhibition : Mouthing : Nipping : Leave & Swap : Dealing with Tantrums : Calming a Pup Down : Putting on Collar and Lead : Food Bowl Exercises

​House Rules for Pups
General : House Rules : Ignoring your dog when arriving home : Attention on your terms or not at all : Work to Earn (General) : Work to earn (Specific) : NRM - Non Reward Marker

Children and Dogs
General : Preparing the child for interacting with dogs : Preparing the dog to interact with children : Approaching strange dogs : Parents helping the children and dogs to be successful : In the case of a possible dog attack : What dog is the best dog for kids : Preparing an existing dog for the arrival of a baby

Exercise to Teach a Pup
How to reward a pup : Fading : General exercise points : Sit Exercise : Down : Stand Exercise : Recalls : Watch : Collar Grabbing : Off : Finished : Beginner Wait : Gate Exercise : Preventing Pulling  


Preventing Behaviour Problems in Pups
Prevention of Separation Anxiety : Prevention of Jumping Up : Prevention of Excessive Barking : Prevention of Digging in inappropriate places : Preventing Begging : Preventing Reactive behaviour when a pup is hugged : Prevention excessive licking : Dealing with two pups

Pups with Potential Problems
Signs of potential problems and important factors to cosider : Unbalanced Pups - how does this behaviour occur? : Counter Conditioning & Desensitization : Pups fearful of traffic : Fear of the vet : Fear of People : Aggression towards other dogs or people

Adolescence
Physically what to expect : Behaviour : How to get through adolescence

Adolescence 
​New research       
 Physical and Mental Stimulation 
A variety of games and suggestions to improve a dogs quality of life

Why do Behaviour Problems Occur?
Dogs Needs : Possible contributing vauses of problem behaviours : Pain or Illness : Fear : Selection : Social : Training : Changes in enviroment or circumstances : Exercise and Life Spaces : Stimulation and Enrichment : Addiontal Factors to consider : Factors between owner and dog : Lack of behaviour

Questionnaires
Analyzing questionnairs to determine possible causes for behaviour, contributing factors and possible future concerns.

Pre Planning
​Learning the basics of putting together a pre-plan to use at your consultation

​​House Rules & Additional Theory
Human/Canine Social Structure : Consistency : Extinction Burst : Spontaneous Recovery : House Rules : Additionions to House Rules : Dog ignoring owner : Video on exceptions to House Rules

Lead Pulling & Equipment in Adult Dogs
Why do dogs pull on lead? : Can a dogs health be damaged by pulling? : Importance of owners position : Review of the Balance Lead : Training a dog to settle while putting on collar and lead : Loose Lead Walking : Professional Puller & Halti : What to do if a dog will not move
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Equipment
Collars, Leads, Harnesses

Collar & Lead Problems
Dealing with fear of equipment 
Jumping Up
​Why does this behaviour occur? Additional problems that can occur. Modifications

Attention Seeking Behaviour
About : Modifications : Attention Seeking behaviour with outside dogs

Over Attachment - to both people and dogs
Over Attachment where both people and other dogs are concerned. Modifications

Separation Anxiety
Defintion : Vet Assistance : Degrees, Examples and Signs of Separation Anxiety : Why & How does Separation Anxiety develop? Owners Interaction with dog : Management of dog being left alone : TTouch : Management of destruction : Building confidence and coping skills : Modifications.

Ingestion & Elimination problems
Counter Stealing : Pica : Philia : Coprophagia : Modifications

Mouthing & Nipping
General : What Causes and Contributes to this behaviour? Modifications : What not to do
Fear Behaviour 
General : Physical Reactions to Fear : Causes of Fear in Dogs : Long Term Fear/Stress

Dogs Fearful of People 
​General : Preparation : Meeting Visitors Exercise : Entering the Home : Further Modifications

​Storm Fear & Phobia - Brontophobia
General : What causes this condition? : Can this condition be prevented ? Is this condition genetic : What age does it start? Signs of Storm Fear : Modifications Standard : Further Modifications : Medication

Fear of Fireworks and Noises
General : Modifications

Travel & Related Problems
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Causes : Signs : Prevention : Fear of the Car : modifications

​Excessive Digging
General : Modification : Breed Related Digging
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Sexual Behaviour
General and Causes : Medical Reasons : Masturbation : Dogs Humping People : Dogs Humping Dogs : Modifications

Excessive Barking
​General : Different types of barks : Modifications

​Resource Guarding
What is this? : Why does this behaviour occur? : Modifications : Dog guarding food bowls/objects towards other dogs : Dogs guarding food bowls /objects towards people : Other modifications that can be done : Resource Guarding People


Introducing a new dog into existing pack
Existing dogs ; Considerations for owners ; Behaviour Concerns in existing dogs ; Preparing the existing dog for the arrival of the new dog ; Initial introduction at the shelter First few days at home
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Introducing dogs and cats

Adopting a dog when you have a cat at home; Planning before the dog is even chosen : Adopting a Dog when you have cat/s at home – in the shelter environment:
Adopting a cat when you have dog/s at home.

Escape Artists
General : Factors that could contribute to the behaviour : Modifications

Chasing Behaviour
What is prey drive and which Groups are more prone to it? : Why does excessive chasing occur? : Modifications

Hyperactive / Hyperkinetic Dogs
General : Factors that could contribute to the behaviour : Modifications
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​Reactive/Aggressive Behaviour in Dogs
General : Types of Reactive Behaviour : Triggers : Dr. Dunbar's Bite Scale/Ratio : Signs of Reactive Behaviour
Abnormal Behaviour in Dogs
Classifications of Abnormal Behaviour : Behaviours Exhibited : Breed Specific

​Post Traumatic Stress
Can dogs suffer from PTS? The symptoms and modifications.

Food and Behaviour
Methods of feeding and how dog food is made. Reading Dog Food Labels : The 5 Components required : Additives and Preservatives : Diet and the Brain : Food and Behaviour

Medication and Behaviour
Vet Medication : Alternative Options

Senior Dogs
Behaviour changes that can occur due to aging ​
Death and Dying
To Euthanasia or not : Euthanasia : 5 Stages of grief
Helping children with loss : Assistance for grieving

Canine Nervous system in brief

​​The Nervous System : The Dog’s Brain : The Cerebrum
Limbic System : The Midbrain : The Spinal Cord
Autonomic Nervous System


​Canine Related Terminology
Common terminology used in behaviour, clicker and the meaning of same

​Working with clients
Referrals : Client Enquiries : Questionnaires : Consults
The consult itself : Points to bear in mind : Body language
Dealing with conflict : Reports : Vet’s Reports : Files and Records : 
Setting up a business  ​
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Questionnaires & Pre-planning
​Practice sessions on Questionnaires and preparing Pre=planners

​Master Modifications
House Rules (including Fading and Ignoring) : Changing Jumping Up : Alone Time : Away Exercise : Mental & Physical Stimulation : Changing Pulling on Lead : Visitor Exercise : Desensitizing a Dog to a Lawnmower  : Dogs that Chase : Escape Artists : Dogs Running Out Gates : Storm Phobia : Noise Phobia :Hyperactive Behaviour; Resource Guarding to People : Resource Guarding between dogs; Swap Exercise : Leave Exercise : Recall : Wait: Time Out & Reverse Time Out : Collar Grabbing

Reports 

How to present a comprehensive report for a client in a simple and easy to read, and understand format

Where possible you will start to accompany behaviourists to their consults to observe. This will be treated as if a case study and you will be expected to submit the Pre Planner based on the Questionnaire and prepare a Report after the sessions. Excellent practice 
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A minimum of two case studies will be required. Prior to seeing client the Questionnaire and Pre-plan is submitted to ourselves for perusal. After seeing client, your Report is submitted to ourselves for checking before sending to clients

This is a very comprehensive Quiz covering the whole course which counts towards final qualifications

​Either by Skype or one-on-one session. Here you will be asked general questions relating to solving behaviour concerns based on the knowledge gained in the course.