USA SITE
 
Penn Foster Career School - Home
Home : All Programs : Animal Care - Dogs Certificate, Program Outline
Enroll Now
Request FREE information
Speak with a Penn Foster Enrollment Advisor, 1-800-275-4410

Animal Care: Dogs
Certificate

PROGRAM OUTLINE

Instruction Sets
Your program consists of Instruction Sets designed to take you step-by-step through the techniques and skills you'll use with your dog. Here's how it works: Your first Instruction Set is sent immediately after your enrollment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so you will always have training materials to work with.
Here is an overview of what you'll learn and the order in which you'll receive your lessons:

Introduction to Dogs

Dog Breeds
Origination of individual breeds; physical and temperamental characteristics; the AKC's seven major groups of breeds

Puppies
Ensuring a positive human-dog bond at an early age; puppy house training; socialization and how to prevent problems in adult dogs

Learning Aid:
DVD: Puppy Love

References:
The Right Dog for You
Simon & Schuster's Guide to Dogs

Dog Training, Part 1

How Dogs Learn
How dogs learn; identifying and employing scientific theories of psychologists and behaviorists; using a dog's learning abilities to teach and motivate

Conditioning
Conditioning and how it relates to dog obedience training; the difference between classical and operant conditioning; drive theory and its application

Housetraining and Crate Training
Proper housetraining techniques; training a dog to go on command, in a litter box, or in one place; how to choose and use a crate

Dog Training, Part 2

Commands
Basic obedience training

Teaching Tricks
Instructing clients to teach tricks to their dogs; positive reinforcement techniques for the dog and handler; fun and useful tricks

Training through Play
Understanding play behavior; play in the context of obedience training; increasing the dog's motivation for training

Learning Aid: DVD: Basic Obedience

Behavior and Veterinary Issues

Behavior Problems
Common behavior problems; strategies for prevention and treatment

Veterinary Issues
Recognizing signs of illness or distress; how to respond in the case of an emergency; addressing behavioral problems; reproductive science; medications; care for dogs in old age

Reference:
The Dog Behavior Answer Book

Online Library and Librarian
Students in Penn Foster Career School have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and assist students in research activities during their studies with Penn Foster Career School.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.
Enroll Now Request FREE information
Speak with a Penn Foster Enrollment Advisor, 1-800-275-4410
BACK TO TOP