Animal Care and Behaviour (Lightning Skills Bundle) Certificate

Cattery Business Certificate Course

Running your own cattery is hard work and a dream come true in equal parts. If you love animals, have a soft spot for feline friends and are driven enough to create your own business, a cattery may be the perfect option for you. While it is important for you to know a lot about feline health, grooming habits and behaviour, you also need to know how to run a small business. There are also specific requirements that your company must comply with if you want to obtain and successfully renew your licence. This course goes over everything you need to know about running a cattery. We begin by talking about the most practical aspect of any start-up company: your financing. Next, we review your licensing requirements and how you can apply. It is also important to have some knowledge about hiring and training staff, even if you plan on keeping things small at first. Finally, we go over the record-keeping requirements that you need to be familiar with.

You Will Learn:

• The specific avenues you can take, to secure financing for your cattery
• The steps involved in applying for your licence, including a discussion about fees
• The reasons for hiring staff
• The specific points you should make sure that you include in all training sessions
• Ways in which you can comply with HMRC and your local authority when it comes to creating and maintaining records

Benefits of Taking This Course:

• Understand why it is important to learn about the business side of animal care
• Find out specific places you can turn to for loans or grants
• If you are an animal enthusiast, learn more about turning that passion into an income
• If you have a career in animal care, learn how to become your own boss
• Learn about the three key pieces of animal welfare legislation that you as a cattery owner should be familiar with

Introduction to Animal Care Course

Learning more about proper animal care is a skill that can take you far in life. Not only does it give you the tools you need to properly care for your own pets, but it also gives you the foundation you need for an incredibly rewarding career in the animal care field. Everyone from breeders and dog walkers to animal shelter volunteers can benefit from more knowledge about caring for the animals in their lives.

This course gives you an overview of what goes into proper animal care. We begin by talking about care as it applies to household pets, such as cats and dogs. This module gives you tips and strategies you can use when you need to handle your pet, in order to keep them comfortable and at ease. The first module also discusses the Animal Welfare Act as it relates to domestic animals. Our second module goes into detail about farm animals and other types of livestock, discussing applicable legislation and giving you an overview of environmental and dietary needs.

You Will Learn:

• How to safely handle domestic animals
• Why it is important to do your own research on your specific animal’s needs
• The relevant pieces of UK legislation relating to animal care and welfare
• The difference between providing for a household pet and providing for a farm animal
• The types of food common farm animals consume

Benefits of Taking This Course

• Learning more about the housing and nutritional requirements of various animals can help you become better prepared for animal guardianship
• Understand more about the work that goes into caring for a household pet or livestock
• If you work with animals or are interested in pursuing a career in that field, this course gives you a solid foundation you can build from
• If you are thinking about adopting or fostering a pet, you can learn about the legal and ethical requirements animal owners have
• If you are passionate about animals, you can learn more about existing rights and protections

Introduction to Being a Dog Trainer Course

This training course provides useful insights, tips and advice on the knowledge, skills and attributes that you need to start a career as a dog trainer. Dog trainers are always in demand and there are a range of specializations available to those interested.

The course describes the career prospects, ethics and values while providing useful information on how to train dogs.

The course includes the following information:

• An introduction to pursuing a career as a dog trainer, as well as information on personal and professional ethics.
• Introduction to different training techniques, procedures and equipment required to be able to train dogs, with explanations regarding the uses and benefits of each.
• How to train puppies, including crate training, teaching them to stay quiet and avoid whining or howling and training them to come when called.
• How to train older dogs with regard to socialization issues, overcoming anxiety/shyness, controlling aggression and teaching proper behaviour in general.
• How to train dogs to stop nuisance barking, submissive urination and regulate eating behaviours.
• Training techniques to train rescued/abused dogs and how to train dogs for security, companionship and therapy purposes.
• Information required to kick-start your career, including licenses, permits and certifications and how to offer your training services and get your business off the ground.

Benefits of Studying this Course

You can look forward to a number of advantages by studying this course. Here’s a closer look at the benefits:
• You get a clear idea of the permits, licenses and certifications required to get your career in dog training started.
• Learn how to train dogs to behave in the correct manner.
• By developing the required skills and learning the right techniques, you can effectively train dogs.
• You learn the specializations in dog training and can offer niche dog training services.

Introduction to Cat Behaviour Course

While cats can be a mysterious group, there is a lot you can learn about them by observing and analysing their behaviour. This information can help you train your cats to behave well, while also giving you strategies you can use in the event they misbehave. Understanding what is normal for each stage of a cat’s life and what you can expect in the future are key aspects of responsible pet ownership, as well as tenants of proper feline care.

This course introduces you to cat behaviour, giving you a solid foundation you can build from. We begin by talking about what type of behaviour you can expect from cats throughout their lives, breaking this topic down by stage. Next, we discuss ways you can manage your cat’s behaviour, including training tips and steps you can take to help improve your cat’s temperament. A shortlist of things you should never do when trying to manage a cat’s behaviour is also included.

You Will Learn

• The specific type of behaviour that is considered normal for cats at each age
• The possible causes of bad behaviour in cats
• Ways you can prevent unwanted actions from occurring
• Tips you can use in the event the cat engages in those behaviours
• Information about training cats

Benefits of Taking This Course

• If you are a pet owner, learn more about what kind of behaviour your cat should be demonstrating
• If you are a professional who works with cats, you can gain valuable information worthy of passing along to your clients about cat ownership
• Learn more about the reasons why negative reinforcement does not work with cats and what you can do instead
• Gain a more thorough understanding of how factors like age and pre-existing health can impact a cat’s demeanour
• Learn more about the limits of training so you have more realistic expectations of the cats in your care

Introduction to Cat Grooming and Health Course

Cats spend nearly half of their waking lives engaged in some form of grooming behaviour. It is easy to dismiss this as cats simply being clean creatures, but there are bigger reasons for grooming habits than just aesthetics. Understanding more about grooming and its connection to a cat’s health, as well as the greater health issues cats may face, is a huge part of being able to provide good feline care.

This course gives you an overview of grooming and feline health, with topics spread out across two modules. The first discusses grooming and grooming habits in detail. We talk about the reasons why cats display this behaviour and what changes to grooming habits may mean. The second module discusses feline health, giving you an introduction to the common ailments cats can suffer from, along with symptoms and what can be done to help. The course finishes with a discussion of veterinary care, stressing the importance of regular check-ups.

You Will Learn:

• The specific reasons why cats groom themselves and others
• The physical and emotional benefits your cat receives from grooming
• How you can help cats with underdeveloped grooming habits
• Information about diseases and other health concerns you may see when working with cats
• Information about the importance of vaccines for all cats, not just outdoor ones

Benefits of Taking This Course

• Gain a better understanding of normal grooming habits, so you can be on the lookout for any changes
• If you are a professional who works with cats, you can obtain useful information about ailments and vet selection you can pass on to your customers
• If you work with animals or you hope to as a future career, this course tells you what you need to know regarding grooming and its link to health
• If you are thinking about getting a cat, you can learn more about how to keep them safe, happy and healthy
• Learn more about the potential health issues cats can face in advance of interacting with them, so you can be prepared

Introduction to Feline Care Certificate Course

Cats can be an elusive bunch. They have a reputation for being self-reliant, hard to read and reluctant to seek out human help in times of crisis. This can sometimes make proper feline care a bit of a challenge for the uninformed. Cats have specialised needs depending on age. Learning how to provide proper care for the felines in your life means understanding what those needs are and finding ways to meet them. Anyone who works with cats often, either in their home or professional lives, should spend the time learning more about proper feline care.

This course gives you an overview of cat care, starting with a detailed discussion of the six stages of a cat’s life. After giving you an overview of what you can expect behaviour wise from each life stage, we discuss what a cat’s nutritional requirements are at each one. Next, we move on to talk about the importance of regular vet visits.

You Will Learn:

• How to identify a cat’s life stage based on age
• What to expect from cats at each stage in their lives
• When you should seek medical treatment for cats
• Why cats need professional medical care more than dogs
• How to meet a cat’s nutritional needs

Benefits of Taking This Course

• Understand the importance of regular vet visits for all cats, both indoor and outdoor
• Learn more about what to expect behaviour wise from cats at each stage of their lives
• If you are a current cat owner, you can gain valuable insight into your cat’s behaviour, life stages and the best way to keep them healthy
• If you are interested in a career in animal care or management, you can gain a valuable foundation of knowledge about cat care
• If you are interested in fostering or adopting a cat, you can learn more about what to expect and how to properly care for them

Introduction to Kennel and Cattery Management Certificate Course

For an animal lover, there is no better way to earn a living than spending it with the critters you adore. This makes kennel and cattery management a very attractive career choice for so many across the UK. Having a solid understanding of both the business aspect of running a business as well as health and hygiene topics will give you the perfect start to your new career. Training in this area is something you can use throughout your life.

This course tells you what you need to know about kennel and cattery management, dividing the information across two modules. The first reviews the business side of things, covering your role at the kennel or cattery and introducing you to the various types of facilities you may encounter. Our second module covers the animal health and hygiene topics you need to be familiar with in order to properly look after the animals in your care.

You Will Learn:

• The specific tasks kennel and cattery managers are responsible for
• Information about commercial or boarding kennels or catteries
• The difference between a breeding kennel and a hobby kennel
• Information about the three main pieces of legislation you need to be familiar with
• How to comply with your local authority’s record keeping requirements

Benefits of Taking This Course:

• For those thinking about a career in animal care, learn more about what you can expect from management
• If you currently work with animals, gain additional skills and knowledge you can use to ask for a promotion or raise
• If you are a pet owner, learn more about how the kennels and catteries you bring your pets to are run
• Volunteers at kennels and catteries can learn more about accepting increased responsibilities
• If you are thinking about breeding cats or dogs, learn more about how to keep the animals safe and well cared for

Introduction to Reptile Care Course

While certain species of reptiles can make fantastic pets, even for beginners, knowledge about their unique environmental, dietary and medical needs is crucial. Caring for a reptile differs from other types of pet care, as reptiles have very different requirements than birds or mammals. Reptiles that do not have these needs addressed often fall sick and may not be able to enjoy long lifespans.

This course gives you a thorough introduction to proper reptile care split into two modules. The first module addresses general environmental needs, while also providing a brief overview of reptile ownership. Our second module dives into the medical issues that your reptile may face, along with the nutritional requirements that responsible reptile owners must fulfil if they are to raise happy and healthy reptiles.

You Will Learn:

• The specific things you should keep in mind when picking out a reptile
• General information on popular reptile species
• Recommendations on which reptiles are ideal for beginners and which ones first-timers should avoid
• Rules and regulations regarding reptile ownership, and how to make sure that you do not violate any UK laws
• An overview of the environmental needs that you must meet, to ensure that the reptiles in your care stay healthy

Benefits of Taking This Course:

• Learn about the ailments that reptiles frequently suffer from, along with how to identify the symptoms of each one
• Learn general strategies that you can use, to prevent illness from occurring and reduce the risk of it spreading to your other pets
• Learn how to complete a health check, along with what to do, if you notice that something is wrong
• If you work in reptile sales, you can learn more about the environmental conditions that you need to maintain, to ensure optimal health
• If you are a reptile owner, work in reptile sales or care for reptiles, learn more about recommended cleaning techniques and the frequency with which these techniques should be implemented

Pet Psychology Diploma Course

Pet Psychology is currently an in-demand industry with pet owners around the world looking for behavioural experts to assist them with their beloved family pet. This course is designed to deliver the knowledge you require to enjoy a successful and enjoyable career in pet psychology; making a difference to many pet owners and their furry friends on a daily basis. The course has been designed to provide you with a wealth of knowledge and information regarding animal behaviours and how to deal with them.

This online course will help you to progress in your chosen career; with the ability to study any time and anywhere, using any device. Videos are included in this course to summarise the information in each module. The Pet Psychology Diploma has been broken down into manageable modules, which should take no more than thirteen hours to complete; this is combined with online support to provide you with added confidence during your learning experience.

What You Will Learn

The Pet Psychology Diploma is broken down into 25 modules, each one providing you with valuable information and insight; helping you learn what you need to succeed in this career moving forward.

• Understand what animal psychology is and why you need to know more about it.
• Learn the historical background of pet psychology and how it can be used today.
• Identify why you should learn about animal behaviours.
• Identify the visual abilities of different animals.
• Learn about concept formation; what it is and how to use it.
• Compare the brains of humans to dogs and see what sets them apart.
• Learn more about the brains of cats and dogs.
• Understand the emotions exhibited by pets and how to handle them.
• Attain an understanding of conditioning, its history, what it is and past experiments.
• Identify spatial abilities in animals and also learn how they navigate.
• Learn more about pet communication.
• Attain an understanding of human language training in working with pets.
• Learn about animal training and its history.
• Understand typical dog behaviours and how they change as the pet gets older. Identify with puppy behaviours and more.
• Understand how dogs learn.
• Understand more about dog communication and dog aggression, fears and phobias.
• Identify with psychiatric dog behaviours and how to work with them.
• Learn about cat communications and actions.
• Learn the psychiatric challenges in cats.
• Learn about cat aggression and fears.
• Attain an understanding of aggression and fears in rabbits.
• Learn about gerbils and working with them.

Benefits of the Pet Psychology Diploma

There are numerous benefits to completing the Pet Psychology Diploma online. These include:

• Study from anywhere using any device with an internet connection.
• Approximately twelve to thirteen hours to complete, which you can study online at your own pace; enabling you to work full time and study after hours to complete your diploma.
• Enjoy online support throughout your studying experience.
• Comprehensive modules designed to provide you with all you need to know when it comes to pet psychology.
• Easy to manage modules.
• Industry recognised certification on successful completion.
• Download and print your certificate as soon as you receive confirmation that you have passed.
• No entry requirements.
• Affordable price.
• In-demand profession – fast track your career.

Rabbit Care Course

Caring for rabbits can be very rewarding, but it is a dramatically different experience than looking after cats or dogs.

Rabbits have specific dietary, health and environmental needs. It is important that anyone responsible for their care knows how to meet those requirements. Doing so can lead to a long and happy life for your furry friend.

This course goes over everything you need to know about providing adequate rabbit care, split across two modules. 

The first module talks about rabbit care in general, including a discussion of common rabbit breeds those engaged in animal welfare may encounter. An overview of the environmental needs of rabbits is also included.

The second module dives into healthcare, talking about grooming and behavioural habits while also reviewing major ailments you should be aware of.  

You Will Learn:

• Specific strategies you can employ to provide the rabbits in your care with an enriched environment
• How often toys must be cycled out to continue enriching your rabbit’s playtime
• The specific foods rabbits can eat on a daily basis
• The specific foods you should never feed a rabbit
• The reasons why hay is such an important part of your rabbit’s habitat as well as diet

Benefits of Taking This Course

• Learn the benefits of getting involved with your rabbit’s grooming schedule, as well as a few tips on how to improve the bonding experience
• Learn about the difference in popular domestic rabbit breeds, to help you better choose a pet suitable for your lifestyle
• If you work in animal care, learn more about the specific health challenges facing rabbits and how you can spot the signs earlier
• If you work in pet sales, learn what kinds of conditions are required to ensure that rabbits in your care thrive before being placed in their forever homes
• If you are a prospective pet owner, learn everything you need to prepare your home for your rabbit’s arrival

Rat/Mouse/Hamster Care Course

Rats, mice and hamsters all make excellent pets for those who lack the space required to raise larger domestic animals, such as cats or dogs. These rodents also make excellent first pets for young children, university students, who are on their own for the first time, and even classrooms. However, proper knowledge of the animal’s needs is required to ensure that the rodent stays as healthy as possible. Rats, mice and hamsters have very different needs to cats or dogs.

This course goes over everything you need to know to keep the rats, mice and hamsters in your care happy and healthy. We begin by introducing you to rodent ownership, letting you know the differences between common household pets. This first module also reviews the environmental needs that each rodent has. The second module talks about the ways in which you can keep your rodent in good health by talking about their dietary needs. A discussion about spotting signs of illness is also included.

You Will Learn:

• The difference between caring for a rat, mouse or hamster and which rodent is best for you
• How to meet a mouse’s need for social interaction
• Why you should never give a hamster a bath
• Why your rat may love bath time
• The best kinds of foods to use for dietary staples and occasional treats

Benefits of Taking This Course:

• Learn why you should never use cedar chips, standard hamster cages or seed-based foods
• Learn how to set up the perfect habitat for each type of rodent, including the type of bedding you should use
• If you work in animal care, learn more about the specific ailments facing rodents
• If you work in pet sales, learn what kind of conditions you should keep each type of rodent in to ensure that they are in good health when taken to their future homes
• If you are a prospective pet owner, learn more about how to raise a rat, mouse or hamster in a way that prolongs their lifespan and keeps them healthy

Stray and Feral Welfare Management Certificate Course

There are millions of stray and feral animals in the UK, making it a major concern, especially among animal lovers. Communities of stray and feral animals can pose a threat to the country’s wildlife, not to mention its domestic pet population.

Learning more about why these animals become stray or feral along with recommended solutions can go a long way to help you ensure the welfare of stray and feral animals in your area. This course introduces you to the idea of stray and feral welfare management. We begin by talking about the difference between stray and feral animals.

This knowledge gives you a better idea of how to approach the situation should you encounter a seemingly wild cat or dog. A discussion of the problem and possible solutions follows. Finally, we end the course by giving you practical tips you can use should you encounter a stray or feral animal.

You Will Learn:

• The difference between a stray animal and a feral one
• The types of animals that can be rehabilitated and successfully returned to domestic life
• The reason for the stray and feral animal population problem facing the UK
• How stray and feral animals pose a risk to domestic pets and humans
• Information about what to do should you encounter a stray or feral animal

Benefits of Taking This Course:

• How stray and feral animals pose a risk to domestic pets and Gain a thorough understanding of the importance of spaying and neutering animals
• Learn what to do if you are faced with a stay or feral animal
• If you are concerned about the stray and feral animal population in the UK, learn more about why it exists and what steps you can take to help
• If you are thinking about fostering, adopting, or volunteering with animals, learn about the special needs and concerns that surround stray and feral creatures
• If you are interested in a career working with animals, learn about the specific needs stray and feral ones have

The course is broken down into 0 individual modules. Each module takes between 20 and 90 minutes on average to study. Although you are free to spend as much or as little time as you feel necessary on each module, simply log in and out of the course at your convenience.

You can study the course any time you like. Simply log in and out of the web based course as often as you require. The course is compatible with all computers, tablet devices and smart phones so you can even study while on the move!

Once you have completed all 0 modules there is a multiple choice test. The questions will be on a range of topics found within the 0 modules. The test, like the course, is online and can be taken a time and location of your choosing.

The pass mark for the test is 70%.

If you don’t pass the test first time you will get further opportunities to take the test again after extra study. There are no limits to the number of times you can take the test. All test retakes are included within the price of the course.

Once you have completed your test you can log in to your account and download/print your certificate any time you need it. If you would prefer us to post you a certificate to a UK address, there will be an admin charge of £10 (certificates sent internationally may cost more).

You can either use your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Solo cards or PayPal account to pay for the online course. Our site uses the latest SSL encryption to ensure your safety. All payments are handled securely by PayPal.

You can begin the course immediately after your payment has been received. You will create your login details during the checkout process. We will also send you an email confirming your login details.

We estimate that the course will take about 5 hours to complete in total, plus an additional 30 minutes for the end of course test.

Once you have been awarded your certificate it is valid for life. The certificate does not expire or need renewing.