| QEL | 879 |
| CPD | 10 |
| Estimated Study Time | 10 Hours |
| Start Date | Anytime |
| Study mode | Online |
| Assessment Method | Short answer questions to confirm your knowledge |
Course fees £149
The first unit defines aggression and explores potential risk factors, early recognition and various ways of categorising aggression.
This unit considers how dogs communicate and explores thresholds and stress and the various influences on dog behaviour such as nature versus nurture. A look at dog breeds and underlying issues that may contribute to aggression completes this unit.
The two unit certificate course is relevant to anyone involved with dogs. It is of particular interest to trainers and behaviourists, breeders, rescue workers and groomers.
Abuse, neglect, or general poor welfare are all factors that can contribute to aggression and violent behaviour in dogs. Dogs who are starved, or who suffer physical abuse or mental intimidation, can seemingly “snap”; however often the frustration has been building long before an attack ever happens.
From a human point of view there are two types of canine aggression, desirable and undesirable.
Human safety must always be the primary consideration when discussing aggression.
Does our society have a problem with canine aggression? If so, how big is the problem? If the problem is not as frequent or severe as is commonly believed, why is it perceived otherwise? Is the perspective different for society, owners, and dog professionals?
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 introduced penalties such as the destruction of various breeds of dog. Penalties for owners include being disqualification from owning a dog for a period to be specified by the court. The Act has failed to stop the increase in dangerous dog breeds and has not prevented or reduced the number of bites by dogs, currently estimated to be around 200,000 each year. In December 2013, The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) published the most comprehensive multi factorial study of dog bite-related fatalities (DBRFs) to be completed since a study of the subject in the 1970s.
It is based on investigative techniques not previously employed in dog bite or DBRF studies and identified a significant co-occurrence of multiple potentially preventable factors. The researchers identified a striking co-occurrence of numerous, controllable factors. Four or more of these factors were present in 80.5% of cases; the breed of dog was not one of those factors.
This course explores the subject of understanding and preventing dog aggression.
