
The aim of
the course is to prepare participants academically to work in the ABTC role of
animal behaviour technician. It is recognised by ABTC as meeting the academic
requirements for this role. It should be noted that this course will not
directly involve students in the practical aspects of the subject matter as it
is not possible to supervise such activity. It is anticipated that other
recommended organisations will offer such training and supervision.
This course
would be ideal for the veterinary nurse who deals with behaviour in practice or
for animal keepers in wildlife collections.
This course
is not open to all because of the technical nature of the material and
potential students will have to demonstrate their ability to study at this
level (level 5: HND/Foundation degree) before being accepted. It should be
noted that a long standing, 'hands on' knowledge of animals will not normally
be accepted as adequate qualification to register on this programme without
prior study although each case is judged on its own merits.
Course
Modules
1. Learning
Theory
- What is
learning? An introduction to learning theories
- The
different ways animals learn
- Habituation
- Classical
and operant conditioning
- Stimulus
generalisation and stimulus discrimination
- Types of
reinforcement
- Vicarious
learning
- Learning
through experience, trial and error learning and one-trial learning and the
effects on future behaviour
2. The
Genetics and Evolution of Canine Behaviour
- The genetics
of animals, and how genes can affect behaviour
- Biological
principles; cell division, types of reproduction
- The
principles of inheritance of genes
- The links
between animals and their ancestors
- How
domestication and artificial selection have changed the physical and
behavioural characteristics of animals
3.
Biochemistry of the Brain
- The
differences between the divisions of the nervous system
- The
different neural pathways between voluntary and involuntary behaviour
- The
structure of the nervous system
- Overview of
the brain and the functions of the various parts
- Neurotransmitters
and how they affect canine behaviour
- Animal
senses and how they differ from species to species
4.
Pharmacology
- The classes
and types of veterinary drugs
- Different
ways that drugs act on the body
- The ways
that drugs can impact upon behaviour
- Some common
medical disorders and the ways that these can influence behaviour
- For the
project a chemical that might be found within the environment is selected and
researched to find out how this could impact upon health and behaviour
5. The
Internal Environment
- Homeostasis
and the normal physiology of the body
- How health
and physiology can affect behaviour
- Various
medical conditions are covered, and their behavioural effects
- The physiological
and behavioural effects of stress, and the hormones involved
- Other
biological factors, for example how hormones or nutrition can influence
behaviour
6. The
External Environment
- The external
factors that can affect behaviour
- The
environment in which the animal lives, and the experiences it has had
- The
interactions between conspecifics, and also with people
- The
importance of socialisation in early life
- Scientific
research that has been carried out into social development
- The problems
that can occur due to poor socialisation
- The
importance of consistency when training
- The effects
of an enclosed environment on behaviour and stress levels
This module
introduces some case studies for analysis to identify causes of problem
behaviour
7.
Intelligence and Theory of Mind
- Do animals
think?
- Do they
experience emotions?
- Do they
recognise themselves in a mirror?
- Are they
aware of the intentions of others?
- Can we
define intelligence and what it means?
- A review of
the scientific research that has been carried out on animal emotions
- An analysis
of the selfish gene theory
8.
Behavioural Diagnostics
- The many
possible causes of a particular behavioural problem (root causes of behaviour)
- Environment,
nature, nurture, pharmacological, physiological causes, and how more than one
of these could be the cause of a problem
- How we can
diagnose the cause of behaviour, by asking questions and analysing the
situation
- Drawing on
knowledge gained from the previous modules to discuss all the possible reasons
why an animal is behaving in a certain way
- Designing
history sheets to use during client consultations
9.Professional
Conduct
- Maintaining
a professional image when dealing with clients and the veterinary profession
when working as a behaviourist
- The
importance of excellent communication skills
- The business
aspects of working as a behaviourist, such as insurance and code of conduct
- Dealing with
clients, using tact or sympathy when dealing with clients and difficult
situations
- Designing
promotional material
- Writing
letters to veterinary professionals
10.Application
of Theory
- The way we
interact when dealing with animals, and how our own behaviour can potentially
influence theirs
- Fear and how
to deal with it
- Aggression
and why it might occur and how to deal with it
- The
scientific study of behaviour, including presenting reports, interpreting data
and graphs
- Carrying out
an observational study of your own
- Analysing
different methods of dealing with a behavioural problem to determine the likely
success of different approaches
11.The Law
- Legislation
affects anyone working with animals and their owners
- The legal
position and the laws that affect animals and those working with them.
- Includes the
Dangerous Dogs Act, Control of Dogs, Animal Welfare Act
- Responsibility
for animals in your care
- The law
regarding behavioural treatment of animals, and how this relates to the
Veterinary legislation
12.Case
Studies
- Analysis of
case studies to pull together all the knowledge gained throughout the course.
- The
examination of ten different behavioural problem case studies
- Suggesting
how you would go about assessing and solving the problems.
- Demonstrating
knowledge of all factors that might affect canine behaviour, including
learning, genetics, and biological and environmental factors
- Suggestions
for solving problem behaviour
- Production
of professional reports and letters to clients and veterinary professionals