Work in a Pet Shop – Canine

This pathway has been designed to give those working in pet shops (or looking to work in pet shops) the skills they need to provide members of the public and their pets with knowledgeable service and a high standard of care.

The content of this pathway has been curated to enable students to provide consistent high-quality care and service within the pet shop environment, by focusing on the following areas:

• Working and Caring for Animals in Pet Shops
• Health, Safety, Legal and Associated Issues
• Advanced Canine/Feline Care

This career pathway combines 3 of our individual courses, providing students with a clear and comprehensive path towards a career in animal care. What’s more, when you take this pathway, you’ll save £140*, compared to taking each course on its own.

Working and Caring for Animals in Pet Shops

Unit 1

• The Animal Welfare Act
• The five freedoms
• Responsibility for serving customers and looking after the animals in a pet shop
• The retail environment
• Contact with the general public
• Animals and their care
• Health and Safety at Work Act
• Employer’s duties
• The Pet Animals Act

Health, Safety, Legal and Associated Issues

Unit 1

• Customer Service and Care
• Client Distress
• Personal Safety
• Health and Safety
• Prevention of Ill Health and Accidents
• Risk Assessment
• First Aid
• Legal Issues
• Environmental Issues
• Insurance

Advanced Canine and/or Feline Care

Advanced Care and Management

Section 1 looks at the physical aspects of kittens and puppies from conception to old age including their growth and development. It also discusses the expressive language used by dogs and cats, grooming needs and essential equipment.

Section 2 concentrates on their mental development, how socialisation and play affects them and also considers the dangers that lie within various environments. Boarding and veterinary insurance are also discussed.

Advanced Health Care

Section 1 looks at general health care, preventative medicine, the effects of spaying and neutering, poisons and the effects and alleviation of hereditary defects and diseases. It also examines the increasingly popular alternative medicines in the form of homeopathy, flower remedies, osteopathy and chiropractice.

Section 2 considers the common ailments of dogs and cats and their treatment as well as first aid and emergencies, including those which may occur during whelping and kittening.

Advanced Nutrition

Section 1 discusses food and the digestive system and how it works and investigates the constituents and merits of the various feeding regimes, labelling and packaging.

Section 2 investigates the nutritional requirements of dogs and cats from birth to old age. Also considered are feeding the pregnant and lactating bitch and queen, the special needs of the veteran dog or cat, feeding the sick or convalescent animal and special dietary regimes.

You will have opportunities to complete Special Studies on topics of your choice, relevant to the course subjects.

On successful completion of this pathway you’ll receive the Animal Care College Certificate* in our ‘Work in a Pet Shop – Canine’ programme, graded to show the standard you have reached. There are no exams.

You will also receive the Certificate of Achievement at QLS Level 3 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.

There are no prerequisites for this pathway. As a general guide, we recommend students looking to take one of our pathways should have some experience in their chosen field. However, we strongly believe open study should be just that. If you want to challenge yourself, our tutors will be on hand to help.

This pathway can help you progress in your career in the animal care sector.

Once it’s completed, you may wish to further your study. If that’s the case, we’d suggest:

• Anatomy and Physiology of Cats and Dogs
• Canine First Aid
• Transport and Restraint

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.

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 pathway. 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.

When you take this pathway, you’ll save*, compared to taking each course on its own.