Dog Obedience Trainer Course

Course overview

An owner will often bring his dog to obedience classes as a last resort before giving the dog away, and his biggest mistake is to misunderstand canine communication. Once we can recognise the reactions and behaviours of dogs we can eliminate most, if not all, of their problems. The course is designed to provide the knowledge required to become a professional Dog Obedience Trainer, but is also well-suited to any dog owner who would like to encourage good canine behaviour within his own household. The student will learn the requirements of effective obedience training, for handlers and dogs alike. Having understood the principles of motivation and how to work with groups, the student will then learn how to construct appropriate training programmes.

Syllabus

Lesson One
- Selecting the Right Dog
  - Temperament
  - Breeding
  - Rescue Animals
  - Critical Periods of Development
Lesson Two
- Communication
  - Body Position
  - Facial Expressions
  - Vocalisation
  - Human Communication with Dogs
  - Signs of Stress
  - Stress-Testing a Puppy
Lesson Three
- Training
  - How a Dog Learns
  - Classical Conditioning
  - Inducive and Conducive Training
  - Compulsion and Counter-conditioning
  - Effective Training
Lesson Four
- Skills and Aptitudes
  - The Good Trainer
  - Learning Styles
  - Dog Memory and Intelligence
Lesson Five
- Problem Behaviour
  - Temperament
  - Instinct
  - Environment
  - Physical and Mental Stimulation
  - Physical Conditions
  - Nutrition
  - Routine
  - Neutering
Lesson Six
- Motivation
  - Basic Principles
  - Steps Towards Motivation
  - Psychological Persuasion Techniques
  - Turning an Enquiry into an Enrolment
  - Maintaining Motivation Throughout the Course
Lesson Seven
- Planning the Course
  - Choosing a Location
  - Insurance
  - Equipment
  - Creating a Basic Instruction Programme
  - The First Session
  - The Sit Command
Lesson Eight
- Planning the Course
  - The Second Session
  - The Stand Command
  - The Third Session
  - The Down Command
  - Giving Feedback to Owners
Lesson Nine
- Planning the Course
  - The Fourth Session
  - The Come Command
  - The Fifth Session
  - The Stay Command
  - Other Methods of Training
  - Which Method Works Best?
Lesson Ten
- Planning the Course
  - The Sixth Session
  - The Premack Principle
  - The Heel Command
  - Challenging Owners
Lesson Eleven
- Planning the Course
  - The Seventh Session
  - Behavioural Problems
  - Chewing
  - Nuisance Barking
  - Aggression
Lesson Twelve
- Planning the Course/Further Training Opportunities
  - The Eighth Session
  - Puppy Socialisation Classes
  - Agility Training
  - Conclusion

Practical training

No practical training is required to complete this course.

Prerequisites

You do not need to have any additional qualifications before studying this course.

Level

On successful completion of this course you will have received professional training at level 3. This is ideal if you wish to start a practice, or expand a career. Graduates of this course wishing to start their own practice can also obtain professional liability insurance. It has also been endorsed by the Quality Licence Scheme and graduates will receive the QLS Certificate of Achievement as above. This course has been designed by BSY to meet specific learners’ and/or employers’ requirements which cannot be satisfied through current regulated qualifications. The Quality Licence Scheme, endorses high-quality, non-regulated provision and training programmes.

Certification

On successful completion students will receive dual awards: Award 1- The professional BSY Dog Obedience Trainer Diploma and will become a Registered BSY Dog Obedience Trainer.

Award 2- Certificate of achievement at QLS Level 3 from Quality Licence Scheme. Registration through BSY is essential with this course.

How the course works

Upon enrolment you receive your first course lessons.

You can study in your own time, at your own pace and from the comfort of your own home. If you have any questions, or would like feedback or encouragement about your course or your studies then you can contact our friendly tutors by phone, email or post.

At the end of each lesson are a set of questions. Completing these can aid your learning and help you master each step before moving on to the next. Your next lesson will then arrive for you to continue when it suits you. This allows us to continually assess understanding and competence of the subject.

Having progressed through each lesson you can take your final examination at home, and at a date and time that suits you. Then, on successful completion you will be awarded your BSY certificate.

Support

Your tutor will mark your lessons, giving valuable, constructive feedback - helping you to master each step before moving on to the next. You can contact them for support or advice throughout your studies.

You can also contact the support team who are here to help you Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

We are proud of our friendly, caring ethos and aim to do all we can to help you succeed.