Pet behaviour consultant
Pet behaviour consultants help pet owners deal with animal behaviour problems.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a pet behaviour consultant, you could:
- take referrals from vets
- talk to owners and observe their animal's behaviour
- investigate the nature of the problems and likely causes
- create a training plan tailored to individual animals
- make sure training takes place in a safe environment
- monitor the animal's progress
- advise owners on how to manage their pet's behaviour once training ends
- keep up to date with animal welfare regulations
Working environment
You could work at a client's home, in a therapy clinic or at a veterinary practice.
Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time and you'll travel often.
Career path and progression
With qualifications and experience, you can apply for Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist status. This recognises your skills and expertise and will allow you entry onto the Register of Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourists.
You could set up your own practice, work for an animal welfare organisation or get involved in animal behaviour research.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- knowledge of animal psychology
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to work on your own
- the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- customer service skills
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to work well with others
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
- specialised training with a professional body
You could take a degree that includes the study of animal behaviour, though it is not essential. Relevant courses include:
- animal behaviour and welfare
- animal management
- zoology with animal behaviour
If you want to become a member of a recognised professional or industry body you should check their preferred degree subject requirements.
As well as your degree, you will also need knowledge of different types of animals and animal breeds, and some experience of animal handling and training.
Postgraduate qualifications in subjects like animal welfare and behaviour, or applied animal behaviour and welfare, are also available.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More Information
You could take a course at college that would give you some of the skills and knowledge you need to start in an animal care role. From there, you could work towards further qualifications in animal behaviour.
Courses include:
- animal care
- companion animal behaviour and training
- practical animal care skills
- canine welfare, training and behaviour
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
More Information
You could apply to do an Animal Training Instructor Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.
This takes around 2 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More Information
You could start out as an animal care assistant, with:
- a dog kennels
- a vet's practice
- a riding stables
- an animal welfare centre
With experience and the support of your employer, you may be able to train on the job to become a pet behaviour consultant.
Voluntary work with an animal welfare organisation, veterinary surgery or a pet rescue centre can be a useful way to get experience. This could help when you're looking for paid positions.
You can find out about volunteering opportunities from:
You can find specialist courses on animal behaviour with animal welfare and training organisations. It may help to work towards national standards or membership of a professional body, such as:
Further information
You can get more advice about working in pet behaviour through the:
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