Companion dogs start their training after weaning.
Individuals with a passionate love of animals and a desire to understand animal response and behavior may choose to follow a career path leading to employment as companion animal behaviorists. Animals that react appropriately and obediently with their masters fare well as companion animals. However, animal behavior therapists also have to work with animals displaying undesirable or aggressive traits. Behaviorists work with both the animal and owner to develop a life-enriching bond of trust and loyalty. Animal Assisted Therapists (AATs) must have a broad understanding of both human and animal behavior. Therapists perform a variety of tasks and typically report to a supervisor or case manager.
Instructions
1. Gain practical, hands-on experience. Volunteer at your local animal shelter or rescue facility. Seek a job at a veterinary clinic, pet grooming salon or pet store. Become a zoo guide. If you plan to pursue a career as an animal behavior specialist, you should first have extensive experience around all kinds of animals in a multitude of settings before determining if working with animals under stress is a correct career choice.
2. Graduate from high school or complete an approved GED program to obtain your diploma. Enroll in an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)-accredited vocational technical institute, junior or community college offering courses in the veterinary sciences. Students can earn a diploma and certification with a two-year junior or community college program. Universities and colleges offer four-year bachelor's degrees in veterinary science.
Online, distance learning colleges offer programs that allow students to work at their own pace. Animal professionals pursuing secondary academic classes in animal behavior realize the best employment opportunities and opportunities for advancement.
3. Develop communication skills. Effective communication is required to convey information and understanding to animal owners and to clearly give voice commands and the proper body language to motivate an animal's response. Practice your skills in volunteer situations such as an animal rescue shelter, spay and neuter outpatient clinics or community dog training classes. Attend workshops for animal trainers to learn the techniques and approaches other therapists employ.
4. Join animal rights organizations and rescue leagues. Participate in workshops and continuing education opportunities. Attentively observe animal behavior in a variety of settings such as farms, circuses, zoos and in the wild. Educational observation is an ongoing, career-long habit of successful animal behavior therapists. There is always new information to learn and retain for integration into a therapist's work.
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