FdSc Canine Behaviour, Training and Performance

About this course

Canine behaviour, training and performance is a discipline that applies scientific understanding of animal cognition, learning theory and behaviour to the practical challenges of working with dogs across a wide range of contexts, from companion animal training and behaviour therapy to working dog performance in police, assistance and detection roles. Dogs have a more complex and varied relationship with human societies than almost any other animal, and understanding how they learn, communicate, experience stress and achieve high performance requires rigorous scientific knowledge as well as practical skill. At Wrexham University, this three-year full-time programme gives you a grounded understanding of canine cognition and behaviour alongside the practical training and assessment competencies that professional work with dogs demands. You will study the science of animal learning and behaviour, including conditioning, reinforcement, motivation and the assessment of animal welfare, as well as the applied skills of training dogs for different purposes and modifying behaviour in response to problems that clients present. The programme develops both the scientific literacy to evaluate evidence about training methods and the practical competence to apply that knowledge effectively with real dogs in real contexts. A typical entry tariff of 56 points makes this programme accessible to students coming from a wide range of backgrounds, and the practical emphasis means you will develop hands-on competence alongside your academic understanding. Graduates pursue careers as dog trainers, canine behaviourists, behaviour consultants, kennel managers, dog handlers in working dog services, assistance dog trainers and animal welfare officers. The scientific grounding the programme provides is increasingly valued in a profession that is moving towards evidence-based practice and away from methods that are not supported by research. Some graduates go on to further study in applied animal behaviour, animal cognition or veterinary nursing, while others build careers in the rapidly growing pet industry or in public sector working dog services.

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