Why You Should Study Our Practical Animal Courses 

Reading the title, you might be a little confused as to why we would be encouraging you to study practical animal courses, after all, we are an online animal course provider at heart! So, what’s the deal with our angle here? 

It’s true that we are indeed huge advocates of convenient online study. It’s also true that we boast a plethora of fascinating online animal courses that can change or advance your career working with animals. Though, there’s something to be said for hands-on training that can’t be ignored and makes it vital to particular careers in the animal industry.  

The Benefit of Practical Learning for Animal Jobs 

Many jobs in the animal sector require you to perform complex treatments or support animals through potentially dangerous means.  

Can you imagine getting a job in a zoo and being asked to feed the tigers without any practice beforehand? Or taking sharp scissors to a dog’s coat without first getting to grips with the best methods of cutting their fur? Not likely.  

When you and the animal could easily get into harm’s way, it’s imperative you have had the appropriate level of hands-on training to make sure you know what you’re doing. Not only will it keep you, your colleagues and the animals you work with safe, it proves to employers you have the confidence and abilities they are looking for.  

Other reasons why practical animal courses are so beneficial: 
 

• Practical work promotes experiential learning 
• Applying what you’ve learnt in real life helps you remember better 
• You learn a lot about yourself when you try something in a real-life situation 
• You’ll become familiar with the tools and equipment required to complete the job 
• Where applicable, you’ll get used to working in a team 
• Practising helps you hone your skills   
• You will get a chance to network 

In any case, practical animal courses are designed to help you hit the ground running as soon as you start a career in the animal sector. 

Is Practical Learning Better Than Theoretical Study? 

This might sound like a complete U-turn on the concept of distance learning and online education, but it isn’t. There are many instances where practical learning isn’t required to successfully complete an animal course. 

For instance, studying the biological makeup and defining factors of different species in a zoology course, or learning the law and administrative responsibilities behind running a kennel or cattery. These courses and others are more than effective in educating you in their field and preparing you for the next phase of education or employment.  

Where it takes place, practical learning isn’t ‘better’ than theoretical study because practical work is the application of that theory. So, both are of equal value. As such, this combination of intangible and tangible education is essential in many skills-based professions that must be supported by practice.  

Through the theory, you learn why certain animal care techniques work while others fail. You bypass the mistakes made by others, learn from their experiences and adopt tried and tested best-practice methods. You’ll also gain a deeper understanding of a concept because you understand the ‘why’ behind it. 

By completing the hands-on training in online animal courses, your knowledge becomes valuable as you learn to apply it for practical purposes. You begin to learn from your own experiences and understand the need to adapt animal care methods in ways that cater for real-world scenarios. This is certainly the case when working with animals who don’t always follow the rules of a textbook!   

How Online Animal Courses Can Be Practical Too 

You might now be wondering how an online animal course can have a practical element since your learning is completed at home. Unless you are very lucky or indeed rather extravagant, you probably don’t have lots of pets or exotic animals to practice your learning with.  

With Animal Courses Direct, we ensure you get the hands-on skills you need for animal jobs by providing you with the opportunity to work in some of the best training facilities in the industry. From top-of-the-range dog grooming training schools to award-winning zoos and established animal hydrotherapy centres, you will learn from experts in your chosen field.  

As an online animal course provider, we aim to ensure your education remains flexible and convenient. This is why our practical placements can be completed at numerous times of the year, so you can choose the ones that best suit your schedule.  

Run over a number of days or weeks, these sessions will be jam-packed with career critical training that will help you stand out against other applicants applying for jobs working with animals. 
 

An Overview of Our Practical Animal Placements 

To give you a quick insight into what’s in store, we’ve detailed some of the many fascinating courses we offer that include practical placements. 

Level 3 Diploma in Canine Massage

Gain vital hands-on experience ahead of a career in canine massage through 11 days of practical training in the Isle of Wight and Warwickshire. These sessions will be split into manageable blocks to fit around your lifestyle. Within them, you will put your learning into practice by conducting assessments for real-life canine patients and performing appropriate massage techniques. 

Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming 

Complete 25 days of practical training in a top-of-the-range dog grooming training school. During this time, you will learn first-hand from highly experienced canine tutors. 

Your training will further embed your learning of the fundamentals of dog grooming, the correct health and safety procedures and the management of a dog grooming salon in a working environment. 

Upon successful completion of this final phase of your online animal course, you be a qualified dog groomer and have the theoretical knowledge and practical skillset to manage a dog grooming business. 

Level 3 Diploma in Zookeeping 

In order to successfully complete your online zookeeping course, you will need to complete 1 week of hands-on training at one of our nominated zoos.  

These include: 
 

• Colchester Zoo 
• Blackpool Zoo 
• Jimmys’ Farm and Wildlife Park
• Dartmoor Zoo 

Each of the above zoos run well established practical training programmes and are home to an abundance of animal species from all over the world including: 
 

• Lions 
• Tigers 
• Elephants 
• Gorillas 
• Flamingos 
• Penguins 
• Owls, and more 

You will complete your practical training in small groups, and your learning will be tailored accordingly.  

Practical training sessions include: 
 

• Enclosure design – including Project Elephant 
• Primates – with a focus on enrichment and diets 
• Education – including conservation and sustainability 
• Animal training and behaviour – specifically elephant and sea lion 
• Reptiles and Invertebrates – with a focus on specialist care 
• Zoo administration – including ZIMs, EEPs, Stud book management, and Zoo licensing 
• Research – with allocated time for a personal project 

Level 3 Diploma in Small Animal Hydrotherapy 

Get trained and assessed by a team of experienced Vets, Physiotherapists and Hydrotherapists at Woozelbears, a well-established canine hydrotherapy company. This centre boasts top of the range equipment including: 
 

• Underwater treadmills 
• Large bespoke pools 
• A hydrotherapy spa 
• The 2nd gait analysis treadmill in the UK 

During your hands-on training, you will work with a variety of dogs who are in need of rehabilitation and sports conditioning. Highly qualified and experienced Hydrotherapists and Veterinary Physiotherapists will show you how treatments are performed in a working rehabilitation clinic.  

This includes pool hydrotherapy and hydrotherapy treadmill treatments, such as innovative advanced aquatic treadmill techniques. In addition to learning from experienced professionals in the industry, you will gain first-hand experience with a range of cases at different stages of treatment.  

Enrol on a Practical Animal Course Today! 

If you’re keen to get stuck into a career working with animals, our online practical animal courses can get you qualified quickly and equipped with the skills to get you hired.  

By studying the majority of the course online, you can work through the materials at your pace. Then, when you’re ready, complete the practical placement to gain evidenced skills and boost your confidence.  

Sound good? Found out more now by calling our Course Experts on 01202 006 040 or speaking with us online. Alternatively, you can read more in our blog or click below to view our online practical courses in more detail.  

Also, if you adore animals, you can keep track of all upcoming animal awareness days and events with our FREE calendar! Download it here.