Aims of the Course
The course aims to help provide students with a good understanding of dog behaviour, training and canine communication and to encourage an empathy for the dog. Handling and recognition of the dog’s needs are of paramount importance. Students will be encouraged to be creative and to develop critical analysis of research material including books, ideas and techniques. Emphasis is on the practical, although theoretical issues will also be covered in detail. Practical work does not exclusively imply working with dogs, but working through case studies is a part of the majority of areas of study. Students will be expected to participate in group and pair assignments with or without dogs, along with discussion and the occasional short presentation. However, no pressure will be put on students to “perform” and tutors are particularly sensitive to both student and dog limitations.
There is an extensive reading list and students are encouraged to read as widely as possible. Many of the suggested books will provide facts and theories that can be used and adapted during this course.
The main aims of the course are to get students to think for themselves, to assess dogs, to question and analyse, to be logical and critical and to work on the premise that each dog, each situation and each scenario is different.