Caring for Animals in Kennels and Catteries Course

This course is designed to equip current or aspiring pet care professionals with the expertise they need to deliver a high standard of care in kennels and/or catteries.

This extensive six-unit course covers everything from record keeping and law to health, ensuring students are prepared to handle any situation they might face in a kennel or cattery environment.

A Student Training Programme, Special Study and Evolution Study must be completed during this course.

We send your first unit upon enrolment, so you can start whenever you want, and progress through the course at your own pace, studying when and where you choose.

Unit 1 

• Record keeping
• Law relating to small animals
• Customer service
• Hygiene
• Health and safety
• First aid

Unit 2 

• Anatomy of the dog and cat
• Skeleton, musculature, growth, skin, coat, senses, blood, lymphatic, nervous, urino-genital and digestive systems

Unit 3 

• Nutrition
• Diets
• Feeding for pregnancy, at weaning and for geriatrics
• Stock control

Unit 4 

• Health
• Basic animal nursing and first aid
• Use of drugs
• Diseases
• Infections
• Vaccination
• Parasites
• Veterinary attention
• Care of older animals

Unit 5 

• Kennel routines
• Grooming
• Special needs and requirements of: quarantine, rescue, welfare, showing, breeding, veterinary, hunting and other specialist centres

Unit 6

• Animal welfare issues
• Human support dog work and organisations
• Job applications and conditions of employment: first aid (human)

A Student Training Programme will be sent with your first two units. This will contain your course outline, and is designed to ensure that practical elements are assessed and completed to the required standards. Workplace managers, supervisors or proprietors can assess occupational competencies in the workplace.

A Special Study and an Evolution Study must be completed during this course

On successful completion of this course you’ll receive the Animal Care College Certificate* in Caring for Animals in Kennels & Catteries, graded to show the standard you have reached. There are no exams.

You will also receive the Certificate of Achievement at QLS Level 2 when you complete this course**.

Quality Licence Scheme endorsement involves robust and rigorous quality audits by external auditors to ensure quality is continually met. A review of courses is carried out as part of the endorsement process.

* The Animal Care College Certificate will be issued once you have successfully completed your course and finished your course payments.

**QLS registration fees included.

We classify our courses by level to guide students towards the best course based on their experience. However, we strongly believe open study should be just that. If you’re open to challenging yourself, our tutors will be on hand to help.

Your practical competencies need to be assessed for this pathway through a minimum of 30 hours’ working within kennels/catteries – this can be in a voluntary capacity. We can advise you and help you secure relevant placements.

This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress your career in the animal care sector, or better understand your own pet.

If you are looking to set up your own business then you should consider obtaining insurance cover. Further information is available on request.

If you’d like to turn what you’ve learned into a career, or you’re wondering how best to apply it to your existing role, get in touch with one of our tutors, or contact our support team from 9am – 5pm.

Your first unit will be sent to you when you enrol, you can start as soon as you want and progress through the course at your own pace, studying when and where you choose.

Your course materials are broken down into manageable units and will include helpful guidance and advice as well as additional reading lists and tools to signpost where you can source further information. We would encourage you to carry out wider reading and research on topics covered in the course materials.

Your learning materials have been developed by experts so studying is easy and enjoyable. At the end of each unit, there will be an assessment to complete and submit to your tutor.

A Student Training Programme is sent with the first two units of the Caring for Animals in Kennels and Catteries course. This contains the outline of the course, and is designed to ensure that the practical elements of the course are assessed and completed to the required standards. Workplace managers, supervisors or proprietors assess occupational competencies in the workplace.

A Special Study and an Evolution Study must be completed during the Caring for Animals in Kennels and Catteries course.

Studying with the Animal Care College is a great place to start your learning journey and will give you a solid grounding in animal care subjects.

The Animal Care College’s courses promote the best care of pets at all stages of their development. We believe working and engaging with animals is a deeply rich and rewarding experience. Although the theory learning is important, being able to put your skills into practice beyond the theory is even more so. We are here to help you every step of the way as you build meaningful bonds with animals and gain in-depth knowledge that can only be obtained by working directly with animals. We can help advise on potential placements and work experience where necessary.

There are no deadlines for this course. Simply study in the comfort of your own home, and in your own time.

Distance learning is designed to be flexible, but as a guide, students who can spend 4-6 hours a week studying tend to complete a single unit within a month.

You can contact our support team who are here to help you Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, at any point during your studies – to ask questions or for advice. Your tutor will mark your lessons, giving valuable, constructive feedback – helping you to master each step before moving on to the next. You can contact them for support or advice throughout your studies.