Canine Behavior Course

Lesson 1 • Hormones, Genetics, and Behaviour

Examines how hormones and genetic predispositions influence temperament and reactivity. Links biological variables to individual behavioural differences.

Lesson 2 • Evolutionary Origins of the Domestic Dog

Traces domestication from wolf ancestors to modern breeds. Connects evolutionary pressures to innate behavioural tendencies observed today.

Lesson 3 • Basic Ethology and Species-Typical Behaviours

Introduces fixed action patterns, instinctive sequences, and species-normal behaviours. Establishes what is natural versus abnormal in canine conduct.

Lesson 1 • Motivation, Drive, and Reinforcer Hierarchy

Analyses what motivates dogs and how to rank reinforcers effectively. Enables practitioners to select optimal rewards for each individual dog.

Lesson 2 • Classical Conditioning Principles

Explains Pavlovian association formation and its role in emotional responses. Foundational for understanding fear, arousal, and conditioned cues.

Lesson 3 • Habituation, Sensitisation, and Desensitisation

Distinguishes between response decrease and increase through repeated exposure. Essential for designing protocols addressing fear and reactivity.

Lesson 4 • Operant Conditioning and Reinforcement

Covers the four quadrants of operant conditioning and schedules of reinforcement. Directly informs training strategy selection and behaviour maintenance.

Lesson 1 • Facial and Ocular Signals

Analyses ear position, eye softness, lip tension, and facial muscle changes. Provides fine-grained emotional state assessment beyond gross body posture.

Lesson 2 • Calming Signals and Stress Indicators

Identifies subtle stress signals and conflict-resolution behaviours in social contexts. Critical for early intervention before escalation occurs.

Lesson 3 • Vocal Communication and Acoustics

Categorises barks, growls, whines, and howls by acoustic properties and context. Enables practitioners to distinguish warning signals from social vocalisations.

Lesson 4 • Tail and Appendage Communication

Interprets tail carriage, wag asymmetry, and limb positioning as emotional indicators. Complements facial reading for complete behavioural assessment.

Lesson 1 • Developmental Periods and Critical Windows

Maps neonatal, socialisation, juvenile, and adolescent stages with behavioural milestones. Identifies sensitive periods where experience has lasting behavioural impact.

Lesson 2 • Canine Social Hierarchy and Group Dynamics

Examines resource-based social relationships and fluid dominance concepts in dogs. Replaces outdated dominance theory with evidence-based social models.

Lesson 3 • Socialisation Principles and Protocols

Defines quality socialisation versus mere exposure and its long-term behavioural outcomes. Guides practitioners in designing effective early socialisation programmes.

Lesson 1 • Separation Anxiety and Isolation Distress

Differentiates true separation anxiety from isolation distress and boredom. Provides diagnostic criteria and graduated departure protocol design.

Lesson 2 • Counterconditioning and Desensitization Protocols

Applies CC and DS systematically to reduce fear and anxiety responses. Builds practical protocol design skills for real-world fear cases.

Lesson 3 • Fear Classification and Trigger Identification

Categorizes fear by stimulus type, intensity, and generalization pattern. Enables precise trigger mapping for individualized treatment planning.

Lesson 4 • Environmental Management for Anxious Dogs

Uses physical and contextual modifications to reduce anxiety triggers. Complements behavior modification with immediate quality-of-life improvements.

Lesson 1 • Aggression Ladder and Escalation Sequences

Maps the full aggression ladder from subtle signals to bite. Enables early identification of warning signs before escalation.

Lesson 2 • Medical Contributions to Aggression

Identifies pain, neurological, and endocrine conditions that trigger or worsen aggression. Establishes veterinary referral criteria within the behavior practitioner's scope.

Lesson 3 • Inter-Dog Aggression Evaluation

Assesses aggression between dogs in household and social contexts. Distinguishes normal conflict from pathological inter-dog aggression.

Lesson 4 • Structured Behavioral Risk Assessment

Applies standardized tools to evaluate bite history, severity, and recurrence risk. Produces defensible risk profiles for case management decisions.

Lesson 1 • Functional Assessment and Behavior Analysis

Uses ABC analysis and functional assessment to identify behavior function. Ensures interventions target the correct maintaining variable.

Lesson 2 • Positive Reinforcement Training Mechanics

Develops technical precision in marker timing, reinforcer delivery, and criteria setting. Mechanical skill directly determines training effectiveness.

Lesson 3 • Management Tools and Environmental Modification

Integrates physical management tools with behavior modification for safety and success. Prevents rehearsal of problem behaviors during the modification process.

Lesson 4 • Behavior Modification for Reactivity

Combines BAT, LAT, and CC/DS to reduce leash and environmental reactivity. Provides structured protocols adaptable to varying reactivity severity.

Lesson 1 • Client Education and Instruction Delivery

Applies adult learning principles to teach owners behavior modification skills. Effective client instruction is the primary determinant of case success.

Lesson 2 • Ethics, Scope of Practice, and Professional Standards

Defines ethical obligations, scope boundaries, and professional conduct standards. Protects dogs, clients, and practitioners through principled practice.

Lesson 3 • Behavior Plan Design and Goal Setting

Translates assessment findings into measurable, prioritized behavior plans. Ensures plans are realistic, safe, and aligned with owner capacity.

Lesson 4 • Comprehensive Behavioral History Intake

Designs and conducts thorough intake interviews capturing medical, environmental, and behavioral history. Quality intake data directly determines diagnostic accuracy.