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pam 17 years, 3 months ago.
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Karen this is mainly aimed at you, but if anyone else has any opinions or advice then please dont hesetate. The thing is that I have been planning on going off to university to do an animal behaviour course, the thing is that I might no longer be able to go, due to financial problems and family stuff, the only unis that do the course are a few hours away at least. I was wondering if there is any other way that anyone can think of for me to become an animal behaviourist? I have a bit of experience behind me. My life goal is to open a pet resort, which accepts all sorts of animals, and a training and advice centre. Thanks for reading
find a trainer or behaviorist locally & see if they will let you apprentice with them. Get a job or volunteer at your local shelter. Get some real hands on experience with animals.
I have experience. I worked with animals for over 2 years at a small farm/zoo, but can no longer afford to do so.
Sorry didnt finish, I could try to see if I can get an apprentiship type thing, Ill have a look into it this week if i get chance, thanks for your help.
working with animlas at a small farm/zoo is hardly beneficial to doing behavior/training for a dog. What I was suggesting would give you valuable relative experience with dogs.
good luck, let us know how you make out
Im not just aiming at dogs though, I would love to help owners understand all their animals, offer advise and try to learn more about the animals I have worked with and wish to have in my future, I dont want to just work with dogs, even though i do want to work with them. Thanks for your help
After much descussion with my parents and partner (well been screamed at by my Dad, and talking to mum and boyfriend) I have decided that my first choice (if i get the grades) is to go to a uni about an hour or so away to do Animal Behaviour as a MBiolSci, which is a four year course, a year of which is reseach/hands-on. Thanks for all your advice and views.
I take it that means your major is biology & science? I fail to see any connection. How does disecting dead animals prepare you for behavior training? altho you mentiond a year of "hands on" experience, what exactly is that? What will you be doing that year. I am not knocking the course you have chosen, I just don’t see any relationship at all with what you want to do.
i think i understand what you want to do and there is a great need for it! where such talents are needed most is at a shelter as a "Pet Adoption Specialist". Unfortunately though, that’s not a job that’s recognized as important enough to warrant a college degree. it seems the only qualifications required currently are that you’re over 18 and like animals. hardly the qualifications needed in my opinion to decide whether an animal is "safe" to be adopted by the public, especially since many times children are involved. best of luck to you though – don’t give up!
an animal behavorist is not an adoption specialist or even close. A behavorist addresses behavior problems that have developed with a pet. Trains the owner & the pet at the same time. Teaches the owner how to overcome the problems. There would be no way of knowing what the problems would be before adoption. Most certified behavorists are vets.
The course does not involve disecting, Im really dont know where you got that from, the course which I am wanting to do is Animal Behaviour, it is just a step up from a BSc. Im sorry if I gave the impression I was doing something else, as for the years hands-on, its mainly reseach, learning how to record and study behaviour of variours animals. The year can be spent working at a zoo, farm or even in a rainforest, depends on preference, number of places and grades. Hope I explained my self a little better. And as for the rescue centre/animal behaviourist thing, I agree that it would be better for a trained and experienced animal behaviourist was the one who decided if the dog (pet) was suitable for rehoming. Are they not trained to notice the signs animals give before they become aggressive? Sorry subegone but I dont agree with you on that point.
i do understand what an animal "behaviourist" is and what it takes to become one. suebgone is right that vet school is normally required and then years more experience/additional training. i was just pointing out where i think there is a need for people with talent and at least some training in animal behaviour.
many shelters do temperment testing to determine whether a dog is suitable for adoption at all. They have people trained to do so, however they are not certified behavorists. The behaviorists only come into the picture when there is a problem. Behaviors OTHER than obedience issues, such as aggression, fears, that sort of thing. How a dog will behave when it gets into a new home is not predictable before it goes there. Most undesirable behavior does not come out until after a couple months – when it gets comfortable & the honey moon is over.
perhaps either the "Temperment Test" needs to improve or the people interpreting the results needs to improve, which is my point. in either case, it doesn’t take two or three months to recognize a problem. it always existed and to someone with a trained eye, it definitely can be caught beforehand. it’s not good enough to just hire someone off the street, pay them minimum wage, and then after a few hours of training expect them to be "Pet Adoption Specialists". I’m not saying they need to be a Vet or a Behaviourist, just that some kind of formal training/qualification should be required and the position should be more respected because it really is important.
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