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FdSc Applied Canine Behaviour and Training

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Subject

Animal Sciences

Level

Foundation Degree (Level 5)

Study Mode

Part-Time

Duration

3 years

Start Date

September 2025

The course

Transform your love for dogs into a rewarding career in canine behaviour and training.

This FdSc Applied Canine Behaviour and Training programme offers a unique blend of academic and practical knowledge of positive training reinforcement and health and well-being factors that relate to canine behaviour and training. This will give the next generation of canine behaviourists the opportunity to acquire detailed knowledge of behaviour, training, consulting and counselling of canines.

On this programme, you will have opportunities to develop the necessary industry based practical training skills with theoretical knowledge of anatomy and physiology of canines to enable creative approaches to solving canine behaviour problems. You will develop appropriate professional attitudes to meet the needs of clients ensuring a high-quality service within the field.

Key features of the programme include:

- Industry-ready knowledge, gaining a comprehensive blend of academic theory and practice, focusing on positive reinforcement training methods, applying this knowledge to real-world professional situations.

- Practical skill development, acquiring industry-relevant skills, honing your ability to solve canine behaviour problems while developing essential consulting and counselling skills.

- Enhancing professionalism, by developing a high standard of service, ensuring you are ready to meet client needs and manage a range of behaviour issues effectively.

- Research opportunities exploring and applying your knowledge in real-world settings, expanding your ability to be innovate and solve canine behaviour challenges.

Join our passionate community of aspiring canine consultants turning your dreams into a meaningful career. At University Centre Bishop Burton, you will gain the knowledge, skills and experience needed to make a real difference in your own business of canine consultancy or as welfare and rehabilitation officers, kennel managers or specialised training instructors; or progress to the BSc (Hons) Canine Behaviour Management (Top Up) level 6 programme.

Click on the Apply now button below and get your journey at UCBB started. If you would like more information about the programme, click the Enquire today button and a member of the team will be in touch.

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Course Information

  • Allow you to develop the necessary practical training and theoretical skills to enable a creative approach to solving behaviour problems.
  • Encourage appropriate professional attitudes such as initiative and motivation as benefits the needs of contemporary employers.
  • Develop your understanding of canine learning and humane training techniques to enable flexible and adaptable solutions to training both people and dogs.
  • Encourage professional training and advising ethics and integrity to ensure a high-quality service to customers and other professionals within the field.

Year 1

  • Academic Professional Skills
  • Principles of Canine Psychology and Basic Training
  • Professional Skills in the Industry
  • Canine Health and Wellbeing

Year 2

  • Progressive Dog Training
  • Canine Development
  • Leadership Skills in the Industry
  • Inappropriate Canine Behaviour

Year 3

  • Advanced Dog Training
  • Canine Welfare and Legislation
  • Research Skills for Animal Scientists
  • Consulting and Coaching

You will need:

A minimum of 72 UCAS points OR a relevant BTEC Level 3 and significant industrial experience

Plus:

GCSE English 4 or above or equivalent and a suitable reference

UCAS points may be from qualifications such as T Levels, A Levels, BTEC Level 3 Extended Diplomas, Access to Higher Education Diplomas, and City and Guilds Advanced Technical Diplomas amongst others. Please use the UCAS Tariff points calculator to determine the UCAS points value of your qualifications.

Life and/or experience of non-traditional students will be taken into account when considering applications. The successful completion of an entry task may be required when considering applications without the required formal entry qualifications.

If an applicants first language is not English, or a Tier 4 student visa to study is required and GCSE English at grade 4/C or equivalent is not held, they will need to evidence their English language proficiency level, such as International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 6.0 overall (with a minimum 5.5 in each skill).

Advanced entry may be possible due to prior experience or certificated learning; applicants will be invited to complete the recognition of prior learning approval process.

Blended learning is a flexible approach to education that combines online and in-person classroom experiences. You will attend interactive online lectures accompanied by asynchronous tasks, and you are encouraged to join on-campus for block weekends for in person sessions. Alternative online options are available for those students unable to attend in person.

This programme is delivered with a variety of learning and teaching approaches to include all students learning styles and preferences.

For all modules, theory lectures are delivered that aim to deliver the core content and provide the underpinning knowledge. Using the webinar software, staff are able to monitor engagement to ensure participations.

To complement all theory lectures, you will have asynchronous seminars that are used to reinforce concepts delivered theoretically. Online webinars focus on facilitating a student-centred approach to enhance the independent learning that takes place outside of the webinar lecture sessions.

Lectures are delivered online in three-hour sessions per week in the evenings, 6-9pm. On occasion, this may be split over two evenings. You can expect to receive your timetable during induction week.

In addition to the three hours in class, you will have additional asynchronous tasks set each week which need to be completed at a time to suit you during that week.

In total, contact time will be approximately eight hours a week to include lectures, seminars, asynchronous sessions and support sessions. Additional to this you will book individual tutorials with your Programme Leader. You will have four individual tutorials in an academic year.

You are also expected to carry out private study in addition to contact time (as a guide, each 20-credit module requires 200 hours of study time inclusive of lecture time).

Attendance is also required at block sessions. You are encouraged to attend onsite at University Centre Bishop Burton, however alternative online options are available for those students unable to attend in person.

Dates for the 2025/26 academic year are as follows:

- Thursday 18 September 2025 (Induction)

- Friday 19 September 2025 (Induction and first lectures)

- Saturday 20 September 2025 (First lectures)

- Saturday 21 March 2026 and Sunday 22 March 2026 (Lectures)

There is no formal work experience required as part of this programme, however relevant extra-curricular activity and/or work experience is encouraged to enhance your learning.
A blend of assessment methods are used, to include written assignments, presentations, practical demonstrations and project work. These varied assessment methods are designed to keep the learning experience exciting and engaging while ensuring comprehensive skill development. There are no formal examinations. This multifaceted assessment approach helps sharpen analytical and research skills, boost confidence and professional communication skills and demonstrate training techniques showing proficiency. These ensure synthesis of students learning tackling real-world canine behaviour issues, challenging understanding pushing students to apply theoretical knowledge developing industry readiness. Opportunities for feedback on assessments are available prior to the final submission to support your development and achievement. Staff aim to return assessed work within a 20-working day timeframe (not including holidays) so that you can most benefit from the feedback.
  • Students require regular access to a computer with access to a reliable broadband internet connection to participate in webinars, download learning materials, watch recorded webinars and submit assignments.
  • A headset with microphone will be required for participation in webinars and on-line tutorials. Appropriate software is required: Microsoft Office and OpenOffice (freeware) are the only office suites supported.
  • Students must have regular access to a dog to enable them to progress through the training modules.
  • Dogs are not required to attend the college for this programme and therefore are not permitted on the college campus.
  • For any student that requires the use of an assistance dog, please make prior arrangements with your programme leader to ensure suitable facilities and provision is provided.
  • Appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear suitable for practical sessions is required.
  • Training equipment will be required (i.e. clicker and target stick) for the training related modules.
  • The college has a strict policy of not allowing work boots inside college buildings you will need to have alternative footwear (shoes or trainers) to attend lectures.
  • Students have the opportunity to engage with possible study tours, visits and trips, with additional add on certificates over the duration of the programme which are at cost to the student.
  • Block sessions are incorporated into the programme, delivered on site in person. Face to face attendance is encouraged, however for those unable to attend onsite, alternative provision with online delivery can be accessed. Students will need to fund their own travel, accommodation and food if attending onsite.
  • On successful completion of the programme, you will have the opportunity to graduate at a ceremony wearing formal dress. The hire of the formal dress is an additional cost.
On successful completion of the programme, you may choose to progress to the BSc Canine Behaviour and Management (Top Up) (distance learning) or BSc Applied Animal Behaviour and Training (Top Up) (delivered on campus) elevating your career, where you will delve deeper into advanced concepts and specialised techniques. Later successful graduates can progress to an MSc programme at University Centre Bishop Burton.
You can pursue a variety of careers, such as: Dog trainer, behaviour consultant, assistance dog trainer, detection dog trainer, service dog trainer, Customs and Excise handler, training dogs for commercial work, rescue and rehabilitation work.

Validated by University of Hull

We are proud to collaborate with University of Hull on the validation of this course.

This includes transforming our programmes to ensure that we meet the evolving needs of the sector, giving you the best opportunities for success when you graduate by having a competence-based focus. Find out more about competence-based higher education.

View the policies and procedures you would be agreeing to comply with by registering for this programme. This encompasses University of Hull Quality and Standards, including a Guide for Collaborative Provision students.

Financial Information

Find the full details of the fees associated with this programme and the financial support available.

Careers this course could lead into

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