I am interested in taking a distance/home learning dog behaviour/psychology course or courses, initially as part of my hobby, but hopefully with a view to, in a few years and after gaining more practical experience, working as a trainer/behaviourist.

There seem so many though, and I don't wantto waste my money, so I wondered if anyoen could reccommend me one please?

Thanks!

Id be interested in peoples thoughts/experiences on this too.

I am considering doing either the Compass courses or the Think Dog ones... any info?

Which ever course you decide on make sure it is an accredited course and check who the course is accredited by.

The open college have courses at reduced rates for alimited time, it doesn't say how long this offer is on for, but here is the url for the prices http://www.opencollege.info/coursefees.html

Compass courses come high recommended and i was considering one before i did my animal behaviour degree. David Montgomery you can speak to, gave me an excellent reading list and you can skip some courses with knowledge you already have, eg i did biology a olevel so could skip the genetics etc and could have gone straight on the Adv Dip in canine psychology, you can complete the course in 2 years and do a module over 2 months, but you can pace yourself how you want. The UKRCB suggests and recommends their courses too.

Hope this helps

Louise

Thanks, I had looked at the compass one, and the Open College one. The open college one says it takes 6 months, so I am assuming the Compass one is more comprehensive? Do you know what it is equivalent to, for example NVQ, degree etc. I haven't got the prospectus yet, so only have the basic information on the website.

Have you done your degree via distance learning Louise, or by an attendance course?

Thanks again!

Its an advanced diploma its better than GNVQ and NVQ not quite equivalent as a degree i think but next best thing! 6 months isnt long enough to do such a course to be honest. Im doin BSc (hons) Animal Behaviour Science at Lincoln Uni, its attending and its 3 years. The compass one is greater recognised and would also look ''better on paper'', covers all aspects, genetics, domestication, physiology aswell as behaviour. I am hoping to go down the route of trainer behaviourist also, but experience is also essential, im looking to volunteer at the RSPCA centre in wragby they have behaviourists in so i would like to learn from and shadow them. Getting any experience in that feild as well as your own hounds is always great. There are not any local classes in my area and i was trying to set up a puppy socialising class but couldnt get a hall to hire, they all had children going in them and wouldnt allow dogs pfft. May try again next year

Louise

Thanks. I have three young children as well as my dogs, plus am int he middle of nowhere pretty much at the moment, and in Northenr Ireland, so a distance learning course is the way to go at the moment for me, I think. I will look more into the Compass one, I think.

I hope to get some practical experience, other than my own dogs, but it is a bit difficult over here. It's at least 40 mins to any training classes or rescue centres, but I am hoping to be able to help out with something like that later in the year when I have a bit more time on my hands.

Thankyou!

The compass course sounds perfect for you, you can fit it around your lifestyle and there are always people available to help out on the other end of the phone. You may need to find a good library that has all the books on the reading list, the book i started reading first was 80 pound to buy!!! im sure you will do fine and good luck, just wish some people would take their dogs to more classes to help them have a better life for them and thier dogs. I feel like i should take some buiness cards with me when out on walks the things i see, my dogs arnt perfect but my god there are some bad uns.

Best wishes

Hi, I am currently doing the Compass Advanced Diploma in Canine Behaviour Management.  So far, so good and i'm enjoying the course, it is also recommeded by the UK RCB their website is www.ukrcb.org.

Lucy