This course provides an excellent foundation for working with animals in any situation: farms, zoos, veterinary practices, pet shops or even in the wild.

This course can provide a very sound foundation for understanding animals and what causes them to act the way they do. With this understanding you have a very sound foundation for dealing with animals in any situation. An understanding of animal behaviour is important in any situation where a person works with animals, from farmers to animal keepers at zoos, and from horse trainers to kennel owners.

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction.
2. Genetics and Behaviour
3. Animal Perception and Behaviour
4. Behaviour and the Environment
5. Social Behaviour
6. Instinct and Learning
7. Handling Animals
8. Behavioural Problems

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

• Identify factors affecting animal behaviour.
• Describe the influence of genes on animal behaviour.
• Explain how animals perceive and how they respond to various stimuli.
• Explain the influence of environment factors, such as circadian rhythms, on biological clocks, reproductive cycles, orientation and other animal behaviours.
• Explain the social influences on animal aggression, play, sexual behaviour, communication and other behaviours.
• Describe different ways that animals learn (such as conditioning and habituation) and some effects of learning on behaviour.
• Discuss psychological implications of different handling techniques.
• Identify abnormal animal behaviour (eg. psychotic, neurotic behaviour) and ways to reduce dependence on humans.