Dog Care

Learn about Dogs

An ideal course for anyone wanting to understand the needs of dogs. For example -

• Dog owners
• People considering a business or career in the pet industry.

Lesson Structure

There are 9 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction to Dog Care
   • What dogs need.
   • Food.
   • Water.
   • Physical and psychological environment.
   • Exercise.
   • Hygiene.
   • Importance of routine.
   • Potential problems and owner error.
   • Uncertainty of pack position.
   • Neglect.
   • Escape.
   • Attacking other people and animals.
   • Physical damage.
   • Illness.
   • Which breed is best.
   • Choosing a puppy or adult dog.
   • Outside living or inside pet.
   • Restricting and confining a pet.
   • Dealing with holidays.
   • Training dogs.
   • Socialising with other animals.
   • Scope of Dog care industry.
2. Canine Biology
   • Anatomy.
   • Mouth.
   • Teeth.
   • Ears.
   • Eyes.
   • Skeletal system.
   • Digestive system.
   • Normal physiological values.
   • Circulation.
   • Respiratory rates.
   • Thermo-regulation.
3. Dog Health Part 1 - Nutrition
   • Introduction to nutrition and feeding.
   • Nutritional components.
   • Carbohydrates.
   • Proteins and fats.
   • Minerals.
   • Vitamins.
   • Water.
   • Changing requirements through different life stages.
   • Growth period.
   • Working and high performance period.
   • Pregnancy and lactation period.
   • Geriatric period.
   • Feeding patterns - time controlled or free choice.
   • Feed products.
   • Commercial foods.
   • Medicinal/veterinary foods.
   • Home cooked foods.
   • Snacks and treats.
   • Foods to avoid.
   • Common nutritional disorders.
   • Allergies.
   • Poisoning.
   • Preventative health.
   • Diet supplements.
   • Immunisation.
   • Worms, tick and flea prevention.
   • Exercise.
   • Dental care.
   • Skin and nail care.
4. Health Part 2 - Illnesses and treatments
   • Introduction.
   • Haemobartonellosis.
   • Babesiosis.
   • Von Willebrand’s Disease.
   • Aortic Stenosis.
   • Heart failure
   • Heart murmurs and arrhythmias.
   • Hypertension (high blood pressure).
   • Heartworm.
   • Vomiting.
   • Diarrhoea.
   • Giardia.
   • Intestinal worms.
   • Enteritis.
   • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
   • Diabetes Mellitus.
   • Cushing’s Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism).
   • Hypothyroidism.
   • Postpartum Hypocalcaemia (Eclampsia).
   • Conjunctivitis.
   • Glaucoma.
   • Cataracts.
   • Ear mites.
   • Deafness.
   • Anaphylactic Shock.
   • Lupus.
   • Hip Dysplasia.
   • Osteoarthritis.
   • Epilepsy.
   • Canine Degenerative Myelopathy (CDM).
   • Canine Distemper.
   • Infectious Canine Tracheobronchitis (Kennel Cough).
   • Asthma.
   • Mange.
   • Ringworm.
5. Dog Breeds
   • Gun dogs, Hounds, Pastoral, Terriers, Toy, Utility, Working.
   • English Setter.
   • Irish Setter.
   • German Pointer.
   • Golden Retriever.
   • Labrador Retriever.
   • Cocker Spaniel.
   • Hungarian Vizsla.
   • Beagle.
   • Dachshund.
   • Greyhound.
   • Irish Wolfhound.
   • Bassett Hound.
   • Bassett Hound.
   • Australian Cattle Dog.
   • Border Collie.
   • German Shepherd.
   • Old English Sheep Dog.
   • Corgi.
   • Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
   • West Highland Terrier.
   • Parson (Jack) Russell Terrier.
   • Australian Terrier.
   • Scottish Terrier.
   • Chihuahua.
   • Bichon Frisé.
   • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
   • Pomeranian.
   • Dalmatian.
   • Poodle.
   • Schnauzer.
   • Shih Tzu.
   • Alaskan Malamute.
   • Great Dane.
   • Mastiff.
   • Newfoundland.
   • St Bernard.
6. Breeding
   • Introduction.
   • Female reproductive system.
   • Male reproductive system.
   • Sexual behaviour.
   • Mating interaction.
   • The management of reproduction.
   • Desexing/neutering/spaying/castrating.
   • Pregnancy and birth.
   • Parturition (labour).
   • Suckling.
   • Weaning.
   • Factors influencing puppy size.
   • Puppy development.
   • The breeding industry.
   • ‘Back-yard’ breeders & breeding for fun.
   • Illegal commercial puppy breeding enterprises (puppy mills).
   • Breeding for profit.
   • Legislation and licensing.
7. Dog Behaviour and Training
   • Understanding dog behaviour.
   • The importance of training.
   • Practical training techniques.
   • Technique for recall.
   • Technique for sit (in front).
   • Technique for sit (at the side).
   • Technique for stand (beside).
   • Technique for stand (beside).
   • Technique for leave.
   • Technique for down/lay.
   • Technique for stay (beside).
   • Technique for heeling.
   • Behaviour problems present opportunities for business.
   • Attributes of successful dog trainers.
   • Practical for business start-up.
8. Grooming
   • The importance of grooming.
   • Grooming tools and equipment.
   • What to groom, why and how.
   • Skin.
   • Bathing.
   • Coat (hair).
   • Brushing.
   • Claws (nails).
   • Teeth.
   • Teeth brushing.
   • Ears.
   • Professional grooming.
   • Long haired dog breeds.
   • Short hair breeds.
   • Other breeds.
   • Styles and clips.
9. Other Dog Services
   • Health and related services.
   • Training and related services.
   • Day care and long term stay services.
   • Assistance dog services.
   • Professional dog handling.
   • Retail related services.

Aims

• Determine the typical daily needs of a dog, both physical and psychological. Discuss the nature and scope of services available to dog owners.
• Describe the internal and external anatomy of a dog. Explain the standard physiology of a dog.
• Identify common health issues that impact on a dog’s health, wellbeing and longevity.
• Determine appropriate measures to prevent problems arising or respond to problems in the first instance when they do arise.
• Describe common ailments and optional treatments for those ailments.
• Compare differentiating characteristics across breeds of dogs, including both desirable and undesirable characteristics.
• Describe how dogs are bred and how the purity of breeds is controlled. Discuss the dog breeding industry and how to operate a dog breeding business.
• Explain ways in which dogs can be trained. Discuss how to successfully operate a dog training or behavioural consultancy business.
• Explain how to groom a dog.
• Determine how to successfully operate a dog grooming business.
• Explain the scope and nature of a wide range of products and services involved in the dog industry.
• Determine how to successfully operate a range of different dog service businesses.

Career Opportunities

The dog industry is a lot bigger than what many people might realize. People spend a lot of time and money on dogs, and opportunities for working in this industry are diverse. For example -

• Working in a pet shop
• Working in an animal shelter
• Dog Grooming
• Dog Breeder
• Dog Walker
• Boarding Kennel
• Veterinary Assistant
• Dog Trainer
• Dog Behaviourist
• Greyhound/Racing Dog Trainer
• Dog Handler - e.g. sniffer dogs, sheep dogs and other working dogs.

Enrol today - learn all about caring for dogs

You can enrol on Dog Care today. You study by distance learning, with the support and guidance of our specialist tutors.

You can enrol on the course now, but if you have any questions about the content of the course or studying with ACS, then please get in touch with us today - use our FREE COURSE COUNSELLING SERVICE to get in touch with our expert tutors. They will be pleased to help you!