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IABTC CERTIFIED COURSES
Canine Behaviour, Training & Modification

We hold this course each year so if you cannot manage all of the units in one year you can come back and study later or do some by distance learning.
Divided into a series of 8 units delivered via seminars and workshops with additional home study.
These courses are designed for Dog Training Instructors and Behavioural Trainers who want to know more about understanding behaviour and preventing, identifying and dealing with canine behaviour problems.

 

The units detailed below can be studied on their own if you already have an in-depth knowledge of the previous units.
All courses include learning materials and assessments with full support.


Unit 1 How Dogs Learn
2025 March 17th - 19th - 3 days plus assessment £225
Canine behavioural development stages, blocks, catalysts and influences

on learning, reward and motivation, nature versus nurture, temperament testing,

instinctive and innate behaviours, communication, social learning, survival 

instincts, natural responses, emotions, senses, social groups, the dominance

and hierarchy/pack order debate.
Helps KCAI Online Assessments 3 & 4
 

Unit 2 Evolution and Breeds
2025 April 16th - 17th - 2 days plus assessment £150
Understanding terms – Ethology, cynology, behaviourist. Evolution a
nd domestication - from ancient times to current breeds and influences. The wolf and its role in domestic dogs. Understanding breeds, breed-specific behaviours and psychological and physiological needs of breed, breed types and individuals. Why not make a week of it and come for unit 1 as well?

KCAI Online Assessments 3 & 4
 

Unit 3 Essential Solutions to Everyday Behaviour Problems
2054 May 19th - 21st - 3 days £225
Workshop with presentation, demonstration, practical and video. Everyday problems that instructors can prevent or solve. Covering: Noise, Biting, Growling, Lack of Recall, Chasing, Distraction, Mild Aggression, Excessive Pulling, Jumping Up, Stealing, Children and Dogs, Multiple Dogs, Separation, Hyper Activity, Fears and Phobias. Also proofing, generalisation, knowing your limitations, referral.

KCAI Online assessments 3 & 4 Plus aspects of practical modules
 

Unit 4 IABTC Instructing Pet Dog Owners
 

2025 July 28th - 31st  (Monday to Thursday) 4 Days & assessment £299
This course is Unit 4 of our Canine Behaviour and Training Course but also stands alone as a practical course for instructors of dog training

Helping you to teach pet dog training in today’s world. Up-to-date ideas and techniques, with emphasis on client-centred learning, motivational training and the welfare of dogs and their owners.
 

Open to all levels - whether you are thinking of becoming an instructor, just starting out, wanting to update or just a
boost of confidence and new ideas - this course is ideal. Practical Skills for those teaching classes but teaching one to one will also be taken into consideration. It explores the knowledge, exercises, skills and equipment needed to teach others the basic control of dogs and ensure progression. It will also cover basic problems and faults, first impressions, qualities of an instructor, expectations v reality, teaching techniques and roles, how people learn, effective communication, motivation, groups, planning sessions and courses, effects of training, blocks to learning, monitoring, evaluation, and limitations on advice. Relevant business laws, legal and financial responsibilities. Professional service and provision, organisational structures, code of practice, venues, facilities, resources, health and safety, incidents and accidents, insurance, equal opportunities. Ideal for those teaching dog training in classes, clubs, dog schools or individually. This course is a must for anyone dealing with behaviour problems to ensure that at least basic control skills can be taught.
 

You may bring your own dog along on these courses (although this is not compulsory). There will also be opportunities to handle other dogs (some trained - some untrained) as well as trying out your instructing skills (with the support of your course tutor where necessary) on especially invited clients – thus giving you the opportunity of working with real clients as part of the course.
 

Some students will attend to gain more knowledge, others will hope to gain an IABTC qualification, and therefore assessment is available but not compulsory. For students who wish to be assessed this will be ongoing throughout the week with a general assessment on the final day and an after-course assignment. Certificates will be graded depending on the level of ability at that time.
 

There are several levels that students can achieve with IABTC:
Most people will attend on more than one occasion to build on their knowledge and gain the best from this
course. Students Returning for a refresher or higher levels join the course as normal but are given additional individualized tuition and support. The level you go for will depend on previous experience (those with little or no experience will start at level 1).
KCAI Online assessments 7,8 & 9. Practical and Oral - a high percentage of aspects of the accreditation module Companion Dog
as well as an opportunity to gain feedback on your performance in relation to KCAI expectations.

 

 

 

 

 



Unit 5 Brain & Behaviour
2025 Date to be confirmed 4 days plus assessment £299
Brain - how the brain works and how this affects behaviour. Normal and abnormal behaviour. Common causes of problems, Behavioural and emotional states including aggression, separation, anxiety and stress and make links to intrinsic responses, psychopharmacology and complementary therapies. This unit builds on Units 1 & 2, therefore, those attending will be expected to have this knowledge.
Help towards KCAI Online assessments 2 & 3 & Accreditation Module Behavioural Training
 

Unit 6 Introduction to Behaviour Modification
2025 October 21st - 24th 4 days plus assessment £299
Those attending this course will be expected to have a good working knowledge of the subjects in all of
the above units. The unit covers the treatment of behaviour Problems - Case studies – learning how to analyse specific behaviour problems and produce modification programmes in the real world. Also covering: professionalism, counselling and advising. For this unit you will be able to bring your own case studies, work through past case studies of the tutors and the centre as well as work with real clients under the supervision of the course leaders.
 

Unit 7 Intermediate Behaviour Modification
2025 November 11-13,  3 days & assessment £225
Case studies – Building on your knowledge of how to analyse more complex behaviour problems and
produce modification programmes. Working with real cases and case studies. You will be expected to have
a good working knowledge of the subject areas in units 1-6.
 

Unit 8 Advanced Behaviour Modification
2025 December 9-11,  3 days & assessment £225
As Unit 7 Exploring more cases - Case studies - Building on your knowledge of how to analyse more
complex behaviour problems and produce modification programmes. Working with real cases and case
studies. You will be expected to have a good working knowledge of the subject areas in units 1-6.
Help towards KCAI Units 6, 7 & and 8 will cover aspects of all online modules plus accreditations modules Behavioural Trainer,
and the compulsory module Professional Practice

Unit 6-7-8 will show a gradual progression of your ability to deal with real behaviour problems

• IABTC Pet Dog TrainingPractical Competence(Assistant Instructor((L1)

• IABTC Pet Dog TrainingPractical Competence(Instructor) (L2)

• IABTC Pet Dog TrainingPractical Competence (L3)

• IABTC Instructor Clicker &Target Training (C&T4Inst.)

Two dogs
Instructors Unit 4 Oct 2013.JPG
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