Animal Care and Dog Psychology Pathway
Turn what you love into what you do
Our comprehensive program delves deep into the world of canine psychology, communication, and obedience training, equipping you with the essential skills needed to thrive in the animal care industry.
From understanding the intricacies of canine behavior to learning how to start your own canine care business with intelligent financial management, our pathway covers it all.
Whether you’re aspiring to be an animal welfare officer, animal trainer, or if you’re looking to support your own pet, our program ensures that you’re fully equipped and career-ready for whatever path you choose to pursue.
I FEEL LIKE I HAVE FOUND MY PASSION!
Proud partner of...
Find a career you'll love
- Animal welfare officer
- Groomer
- Pet Shop staff member / Business owner
- Vet assistant
- Animal trainer
A proud SPCA Partner
SPCA helps protect over 33,000 animals in New Zealand every year. TCA donates a portion of all course proceeds to the SPCA, with the funds going towards supporting their mission of helping animals who are sick, injured, abused or vulnerable.
Here are just some of the benefits...
- Understand the scope & nature of canine psychology
- Increase your knowledge on canine psychology & obedience techniques
- Learn to prepare a business plan for your canine care business
- Gain a certificate of achievement
- Understand essentials around planning for profit & GST
- Master the fundamentals of payroll & financial statement analysis
- Enjoy one-to-one mentoring with a dedicated business coach
What you'll learn about
This qualification comprises three components:
- Nature and Scope of Canine Psychology
- Canine Senses and Communication
- Understanding Natural Canine Behaviour
- Canine Behavioural Development
- Canine Behavioural Disorders
- Basic Dog Training Principles
- Dog Obedience Training
- Controlling a Dog’s Movement
- Training Working Dogs
- Introduction to Animal Care
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Husbandry of Dogs
- Husbandry of Other Species
- Common Diseases of Dogs
- Common Diseases of Other Species
- First Aid, Accidents and Emergencies
- Handling and Safety
- Veterinary Health Care and Procedures
- Training and Behaviour
- Starting Up
- Preparing your Business Plan
- Marketing and Social Media
- Budgeting, Forecasting, and Cashflow Management
- Planning for Profit
- Fundamentals of Payroll
- Fundamentals of VAT
- Financial Statement Analysis
- One hour of one-to-one mentoring with a Business Coach
POPULAR
PAY IN FULL AND SAVE $500
Discounted price
Pay your course fees upfront and benefit from a $500 discount, with a 7 day money-back guarantee.
- Save $500 on course fees
- Best value option
- No deposit
- No credit checks
- Pay weekly, fortnightly, or monthly
Opportunities
Why The Career Academy?
We’re an internationally recognised online education provider, who partners with industry to deliver you the latest and most up to date content. We have over 15 years experience in online education and help change the lives of over 20,000 students every single year.
- Upskill and be awarded with a certificate of achievement to help you reach your potential & earn more.
- Flexible online learning so you can study whenever and wherever you want.
- Get free access to the career centre who will review and improve your CV to help you succeed.
- 83% of our graduates say our qualifications improved their ability to get a new job or promotion.
Receive unlimited tutor support
Our professional tutors at The Career Academy are industry experts who are passionate about helping students succeed. They’re committed to providing exceptional online course support and personal tutoring to help you succeed. Throughout your course, you’ll receive unlimited tutor support via phone and email.
Rachel has over 20 years’ experience in the animal industry. She has owned her own grooming and training business and worked in a number of veterinary clinics throughout Melbourne. She has trained and been a mentor for many people who wished to learn to become professional dog groomers. Rachel is all about positive handling techniques and loves to see people succeed and follow their passion for working with animals.
Really enjoying my course. The feedback is great. My tutor Rachel is wonderful and always there if I need her. I’m working on my last assignment now and considering taking another course.
Be awarded with an industry recognised certificate
Upon successful completion of your course, you’ll be presented with a Professional Certificate by The Career Academy. This an industry recognised certificate which will go a long way to helping you get a new job or promotion. You’ll also be given access to our exclusive Career Centre and be eligible for a free CV Review.
Opportunities
Career Opportunities
The Career Academy’s Animal Care program sees many graduates launching their own businesses in the field. Additionally, our graduates have found employment in diverse settings such as animal charities, veterinary practices, zoos, and wildlife centres. Our dedicated team ensures that you are fully equipped and career-ready. Therefore, upon graduation, you can anticipate qualifying for job titles such as:
- Animal welfare officer
- Groomer
- Pet Shop staff member
- Vet assistant
- Animal trainer
Career Projections
In New Zealand, an estimated 64% of households own companion animals, as reported by Companion Animals New Zealand (CANZ). This high rate of pet ownership, coupled with increasingly busy lifestyles, is expected to boost the demand for animal attendants and trainers. This trend is likely to lead to:
- A growing need for services provided by animal attendants and trainers.
- Opportunities for animal carers are commonly found in sectors such as Arts and Recreation Services, Agriculture, Forestry, and Conservation Industries.
Sources: Salary Expert, MDPI
The Career Centre
The Career Academy is committed to helping you on your pathway to success. We believe by utilising The Career Centre’s resources and connections, you’ll gain confidence and the networks you need to get a new job or promotion.
Once enrolled with us, you will get instant access to our Career Centre and benefit from:
- Access to CV Templates – freshen your current CV with one of our professional templates
- A free personalised CV review – we’ll review and provide feedback on your CV to ensure it stands out from the crowd
- Useful job tips and resources – we’ll outline a clear five step job success process for you to follow
- Help getting ready for interviews – will give you tips & tricks on how to succeed
JANET’S DOG DAYS AREN’T OVER
Janet was a stay-at-home mum until a friend made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. She wanted Janet to come and work with her in her dog grooming salon, but before Janet got her hands on the tools of the trade, she knew it would be invaluable to get some study under her belt to bring her skills and theoretical knowledge up to date.
So Janet jumped online, searched for dog grooming courses, and found The Career Academy.
She worked her way through the Advanced Certificate in Dog Grooming, which covers both general care of our furry friends, as well as an in-depth view of grooming itself.
‘It’s a great course, very informative and I do feel like I am learning heaps, it’s helped me understand the industry better and expand my existing knowledge about different dog breeds, coats, and skin conditions. It’s also helping me to learn what to do and what not to do when working closely with dogs. Every dog is different and it can be a challenge.’ Janet says.
Before her course even ended, Janet landed her dream role at a friend’s dog grooming salon. The practical experience that she is getting on the job is allowing her to take her knowledge from the course even further.
‘I feel like I have found my passion, I’ve gone from working in a pathology office to now hanging out with some super cute dogs!’ Janet’s journey is far from over, and she has big plans to take her career even further. Ultimately, she hopes to help expand her friend’s business to include mobile grooming, a must-have for many clients in today’s busy world.
Janet studied the Advanced Certificate in Dog Grooming, this 200-hour course is designed to give you the skills you need to handle and groom both dogs and other pets.
Get all the info you need
- Course duration, qualifications and module details
- Pricing and payment options
- Compare other related courses
- Receive a free course consultation
Prefer a call? Talk to our friendly staff on 0800 342 829
Frequently
Asked
Questions
There are no entry requirements or prerequisites to enrol on this course. You can enrol online directly by clicking on “Enrol Now” and following the prompts. Alternatively, you can enrol over the phone with our friendly student advisors – call 0800 342 829 or email them at info@careeracademy.co.nz
This course costs $1,750.00 + GST or only $25 per week on a no-deposit, interest-free payment plan. Click here to get started now.
This course takes approximately 400 hours, and you’ll have up to 18 months to complete. Study in your own time, at your own pace. Most of The Career Academy courses are designed so that you do one module a week, but if life gets busy, you can apply for a course extension if you need more time.
Upon completing this course, you could obtain work as an Assistant Dog Trainer or move into a practical work experience position with a professional Dog Trainer.
Contact a friendly student advisor on 0800 342 829 to learn about potential career outcomes and where our courses could take you. Employers often approach The Career Academy looking for students and advertise jobs in our Career Centre, which you can access once enrolled. You’ll also receive a FREE CV review.
Your course is delivered through our online learning platform, which you can access from any web browser 24/7 to work whenever and wherever you want. You can also interact with your tutors and other students within the learning environment. Online learning allows you to make the best use of your time and puts all the necessary resources at your fingertips. There are no set course start dates; you can start whenever you are ready, and your tutors and student services will check in on your progress and help you every step of the way.
Watch this video to see how online learning works:
Absolutely! You’ve got a 7 day cooling off period (or trial period) at the start of your course. Take that time to look through all your learning material and get a feel for online learning. If you decide the course isn’t for you within the trial period, you’ll get a full money back guarantee*.
The Career Academy Animal Care and Dog Psychology Pathway is a great starting point if you want to learn to care for your animals or work towards a role alongside canine care specialists.
