Whether you're a big dog lover or own a dog themed business, continuing education courses provide ample opportunities to learn more about the animal. The best part of attending a secondary school is the chance to choose your own courses and go at your own pace.
When enrolling to classes about dogs, there are numerous choices. Find out about five classes specifically catered to dogs and improving your knowledge on the animal.
Dog Trick Courses
A dog trick course is a fun class where your pet can actually attend. An advanced trick course like this is a great follow up to an obedience class. You will take many skills you learned from training your dog and turn them into fun tricks. Each week one or two tricks are typically learned.
- Waving & High-fives: Learn how to have your dog give a greeting. This can be in the form of a high-five or a simple wave from a distance. This trick is a lot easier for larger dogs that can support their weight easier.
- Take a Bow: Dogs will learn to bow down for their owners. This is a great encouragement tool to help dogs earn treats.
- Treat on the Nose: Teach your dog discipline by learning the treat on the nose trick. This trick involves putting a treat on a dog's nose and then having them wait for your signal before they are allowed to snap it down and eat it.
Dog Psychology Courses
Understanding dog behaviors can help you predict actions and understand when something is wrong. During dog psychology courses, you will learn about different breeds of dogs and specific behaviors that they go through.
This course is especially helpful if you're around multiple dogs. You can learn about alpha dogs, introducing dogs to new situations, and adapting their behavior based on your own actions. Some of these psychology courses also look into the history of dog psychology and how it can be used today. For example, the classic conditioning test by Pavlov is often discussed and applied to dog behaviors.
Animal Massage Classes
Learn the art of animal massage and techniques to help relax and ease tension in dogs. These classes are different depending on the exact school. Some of the classes feature an instructor and featured pet to practice on. Other courses allow you to bring your own pet to practice with.
Each class in a massage course will focus on different areas and different dog breeds. For example, longer dogs like dachshunds are more prone to back problems. Massage techniques for these dogs will help focus on the spine and back muscles to improve circulation and muscle tension.
Canine First Aid Courses
Dealing with a dog emergency can be a scary thing. Learning basic first aid for dogs can help heal minor problems and ease major problems until the dog is brought to a vet.
While taking a first aid course or an ABES animal care course, you will learn about common health problems in dogs and other animals. This includes pulled muscles, hearing problems, vision problems, and signs of dehydration. A lot of the course will focus on older dogs and signs to look for. This includes dogs hiding pain, signs of arthritis, and tooth problems.
Basic first aid treatment learned during the course includes proper preventative care, wound care, and healing paw problems. Some courses will provide you with a first aid kit while others give out a recommended list of supplies to purchase.
Dog Grooming
Long haired dog owners understand what a pain it can be to deal with shedding and overgrowth of hair. By attending a dog grooming class, you can learn how different types of fur work and ways to properly cut or style it.
The grooming classes feature multiple types of cutting including scissors, razors, and styling accessories. You can often bring your own dog to the class to practice on. The grooming class is not just about styling though. The training also involves relaxing the dogs and making them feel comfortable while their hair is cut.
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