Description
Level 4 Professional Canine Behaviour Practitioner Diploma
PETbc Accredited and 360 hours CPD. American Accreditation Association Accredited.
This course is the same as the smaller Level 3 Canine Behaviour Diploma, units 1-12. This Advanced Practitioner course then has additional units 13-16 that delve into problem behaviours and solutions in more detail, behavioural diagnostics, setting up in business, and is generally more suited to those wanting to specialise in behaviour modification and training.
The other BIG difference between the smaller course and this one, is the option to take part in hands-on experience days on completion. Real-life consultations can be tailored and arranged to suit your availability and you will be expected to make suggestions, contribute, watch and observe. More details on this below.
For those working with dogs in some other capacity, such as groomers, walkers, kennel and rescue staff, you might find the shorter 12 unit long, Dog Behaviour Certificate more appropriate.
Additional units are designed to not only cover training and dog behaviour, but the practical aspects of setting up in business, conducting a consultation, follow up sessions, monitoring progress, the law, health & safety, and your role as Dog Behaviourist, Teacher, Trainer, Mentor and Coach.
On completion, the student will:
- Have learned the difference between how dogs learn, and how dogs behave.
- Have a greater understanding of both dog training and dog psychology.
- Have examined the most recent studies and debates in the world of dog behaviour and training, and encouraged to formulate their own opinion based on experience and research.
- Have a better understanding of key subjects such as: socialisation, communication, the origins of the dog and evolution.
- Have a better understanding of the importance of the role of the owner, human moods, temperament, personality, morality and their affects on the dog.
- Be able to recognise key body language, gestures and signals of the dog.
- Be able to diagnose classic behavioural problems and formulate detailed solutions, calling on both dog training, dog psychology and human psychology.
- Have a greater understanding of what is required for a dog to be happy, healthy, well behaved, and mentally balanced. In essence, what it truly is to be a good dog owner.
- Have an understanding of the daily running of a dog behaviour practice including time management, the law, health and safety, marketing, insurance, code of conduct, record keeping and referrals.
- Be able to perform a real life consultation with clients and their dog, evaluate, diagnose, and implement solutions and techniques both relevant and suitable to the dog and owner.
Unit Breakdown:
- INTRODUCTION
- UNIT ONE – The History of Dogs
- UNIT TWO – Genetics of the Dog’s Mind, Nature or Nurture? The Brain, The Senses
- UNIT THREE – Breed Difference – Are all dogs the same?
- UNIT FOUR – Hormones, Health & Diet – Their Influence on Behaviour
- UNIT FIVE – Communication, Pheromones, Body Language
- UNIT SIX – Early Learning, Mum and Pack’s Influence, Socialisation, Habituation
- UNIT SEVEN – How Dogs Learn, Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, Punishment etc.
- UNIT EIGHT – Social Structure of the Dog, New Understandings Examined – Old School Thinking ‘Dominance’ & ‘Pack Structure’
- UNIT NINE – Punishment & Discipline In Natural Dog Behaviour
- UNIT TEN – Aggression In All Its Forms
- UNIT ELEVEN – Fears, Phobias & Anxiety
- UNIT TWELVE – The Owner Influence, Energy, Personality, Compatibility
- UNIT THIRTEEN – Solutions & How To Implement Them
- UNIT FOURTEEN – Stimulus Control & Behavioural Diagnostics, Case Studies, Evaluation, Proposals & Implementation
- UNIT FIFTEEN – H&S, The Law, Code Of Conduct, Insurance, Advertising, Record Keeping, Time Management
- UNIT SIXTEEN – Consultations, Follow Ups, Progress
Want Practical Experience?
You reach a point where it’s time to put it all into practice. Now you can – and there’s something for everyone, whatever your budget. All practical and mentorship options are inside The Balanced Dog Collective, the free community run by BCCS tutor, Julia Langlands. Start with free peer support, case reflection and course drops. Add one-to-one Power Hours at member rates when you want a sounding board. Bring your own cases for supervision when clients start coming in. Book a shadowing day on a real case with real owners – and if you want more, practical days can be built into bespoke blocks and mentorship packages shaped around you. Level 4 Behaviour Graduates are automatically accepted for shadowing, but the Collective itself is open to any and all students. Join free here: https://www.skool.com/the-balanced-dog-collective/about – or email enquiries@balancebehaviour.org to talk through a bespoke package.
This course is also available with the Dog Law course as a Combo.
Who Is This Course For?
The aim of the course is to help students gain the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to become a dog behaviour practitioner, where the subject is more than a hobby or passing interest, and where a career is in mind. We consider our courses part of a continuous professional development.
How Long Will It Take Me To Complete?
This really depends upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies, as well as how easily and quickly you grasp the learning concepts. We recommend that students fully digest and understand the course content before submitting their question paper. We encourage students to do their own additional reading and research to reinforce what they have learned. Each unit comes with a question paper which should be completed and returned to the college by email. Work at your own pace. Turnaround time from submission to receiving your marking sheet and next module, is 4 working days maximum. So you can do a module per week, or per month. It’s up to you. The course comes with an initial two years, which can be extended by an extra year for any reason. The one year extension is £50.
Completion of this course will allow you to use the letters BCCSDip.ProCanBhvPct. after your name.
By enrolling on this course through the website, you agree to our Terms Of Enrolment
Susan Finley –
Loved the course! The last unit especially perfectly demonstrated how dogs behaviour is influenced; certain things that I see in the rescue dogs that I’m working with now seem to make perfect sense! I haven’t done any dog behavioural courses before but looked at a few before deciding on this one. Some of the courses even though they said they were behavioural were very much slanted towards training and not that in depth. This course has more than lived up to my expectations in explaining dog behaviour and treatment of issues. I am really enjoying it, have never studied so readily before!” Susan, Dog Behaviour Practitioner student, Belfast
Nicola Godfrey –
I have just completed the Behaviour Practitioner Diploma course. It has taken me just over a year to complete and I have to say it has been the best thing that I could have done. I have learned so much and it has given me the knowledge that I need to start my own canine behaviour business . The practical, which is at the end of the course, was the best day ever. My tutor was very supportive. I cannot fault the college or the course at all, and I would urge anyone who is thinking about doing a course through them to do so. You will not regret it. The ‘BCCS’ is the only choice in my opinion.
Greta –
Thank you so much for having organised the practical yesterday. Both cases were very different from one another and provided the opportunity to put into practise a lot of what was learnt in the units – definitely my favourite part of the course! Learning about the theory behind techniques in no way compares to putting them in to action in a real life situation. I really enjoyed being able to experience the way in which a consultation would usually take place. I think it also gave me the chance to see techniques in action, and to observe diagnoses that I would perhaps not have seen myself. I have really enjoyed the course, and hope to put what I have learned in to practice very soon! Greta, Bristol
Tamasine Smith –
I really enjoyed doing the research. I love learning so I’m looking forward to the rest of the course. I have already been sharing some ideas from this course with the breeder we are friends with and where we got our Ridgebacks. She is so keen to learn more and help her puppies get the best start.
Marie-Helene Leoni –
This is just to let you know that I have received my Diploma, I was SO happy to see that I have been awarded MERIT ! 🙂 I would like to say thank you to everyone for a most enjoyable course and for all the support I received throughout. I have learnt SO much and the content of the course have given me even more determination to help dogs. Wishing you all the best. Marie-Helene
Jo Boyce –
Now I’ve completed all parts of the course including the 5 day extended practicals, thought it was about time I added my review.
I’ve sooo enjoyed the course, I’ve learnt so much, even if you haven’t studied for some time, this course will enable you to build your knowledge at your own pace, taking you from simple to complex theory. Tutors are friendly, responsive and fair. Admin is efficient and timely.
I highly recommend this course, I sincerely believe that it is peerless in these aspects:
1. Designed to encourage independent study and individual assessment of the range of philosophies and methodologies
2. For giving a really comprehensive and sound foundation on the ‘whole’ animal
3. For truly equipping the graduate with actual real world practice
Lesley Gornall –
I have recently completed the Level 4 Advanced Canine Behaviour Diploma, culminating in the one-day practical, after nearly 18 months of study. I originally enrolled for the Level 3 Diploma but knew, as I approached the end of this, that I was ready to challenge myself more. I therefore upgraded to the Level 4, the best decision I could have made.
I have enjoyed the whole process enormously, it’s been quite a journey. I have questioned everything I thought I knew; acknowledged past mistakes in order to move forward with better empathy and understanding; I have become more confident in my own skills and abilities, and my opinions have naturally evolved as a result of my reading and research. The support and constructive comments from my tutor have been invaluable in helping me develop and the practical organised for me was the best! I feel so much better equipped now to help people and their dogs. Lesley, Leigh
Norma Parfitt –
I am halfway through this course and really enjoying the process more with each unit. I am experienced with dogs and have helped owners on an informal basis, as well as receiving a great deal of help for myself. Its great to have the knowledge and understanding to confirm what I feel is right for dogs and owners. Dogs like to have fun and I am passionate about allowing them to express themselves in their own way within safe boundaries and see the owners building a great relationship with their dogs. I look forward to achieving my diploma, so that I can officially call myself a behaviourist. I have had tremendous encouragement and support from Julia in getting the best I can from the units and research.
Rebecca Barrett –
I have really enjoyed this course and would recommend to others. The notes to each unit provide a framework for further research. The practicals within the course are challenging and tested my ability with dog owners! Feedback is good.
laura kendon –
This is an excellent course… just starting unit 14 , i started unit 1 in august 2017 and must say how addictive this course is, hoping to complete within a year. It is very indepth and i have already learnt so much, i enjoy putting it to use during the practical parts. I certainly recommend to anyone who is looking to earn this diplomar…i cant wait to finish it and start a career in dog behaviour.
Simon Parry-Moreno –
A brilliantly thorough and thought-provoking course. Beside being incredibly well written and educational, it encourages you to make your own mind up about topics and conduct your own further reading. The feedback and marking from the course tutors has been invaluable and was always very detailed – offering not only areas of improvement, but showcasing the tutors’ knowledge in all thing canine. I’ve gained so much from completing this course, and it has set me up perfectly for a successful career as a canine behaviourist myself – I even managed to get a position as a resident dog expert on a popular dog-based podcast! I can’t thank the team enough for what I’ve gained from this course! Even if not this course in particular, I recommend British College Of Canine Studies to anyone interested in furthering their dog-based knowledge.
Larry Jones –
Well where do I start? I embarked on the Level 3 Behaviour Course after adopting a rescue dog burdened with multiple issues. Despite my three decades of experience in dog ownership and having cared for various breeds, I initially believed I could handle this rescue dog’s problems with ease. However I soon realised that these problems were deep seated and my knowledge was insufficient.
Upon beginning Level 3, I delved headfirst into the material and quickly grasped the complexity of the task at hand. The course notes were incredibly informative, but they also sparked numerous inquiries that I diligently pursued through additional research. The recommended books proved to be a goldmine of insights into all facets of canine learning. Even though the course wasn’t primarily focused on training, it provided more than enough knowledge to commence my journey. In my pursuit of knowledge and growth, I decided to upgrade to Level 4, which is now nearing its conclusion, leaving me eager for more.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for all the support and constructive feedback I’ve received from all at the College. Like many others, I initially grappled with self-confidence issues as I embarked on this path, but the knowledge I’ve acquired has given me a reliable foundation to begin.