Applied 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 trainers the opportunity to acquire detailed knowledge of behaviour, training, consulting and counselling of canines and their owners.

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 basic 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.

What will I study?
Year 1:

• Academic Research and Professional Skills

• Principles of Canine Psychology and Basic Training

• Employment Skills in the Industry

• Progressive Dog Training

Year 2:

• Canine Development

• Consulting and Coaching

• Inappropriate Canine Behaviour

• Canine Science

Year 3:

• Management Skills in the Industry

• Advanced Dog Training

• Research Design and Statistical Analysis

• Canine Health Welfare and Legislation.

Learning and Teaching Approach
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, students 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.

Contact Time
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), which equates to approximately 10 hours of study per week over the duration of the module, of which you will be taught two modules per semester.

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 2026/27 will be confirmed in due course.