Standards for Practitioners of Animal Training and Behaviour

The standards published in this document have been developed by the Animal Behaviour and Training Council, where available, appropriate National Occupational Standards as published by Lantra, the Sector Skills Council, have been taken into consideration.

Contents:

• Animal Trainer
• Animal Training Instructor
• Accredited Animal Behaviourist
• Cinical Animal Behaviourist
• Veterinary Behaviourist

These standards indicate the skills, knowledge and understanding required by an individual to competently carry out the applicable role. They should form the basis of all education and training designed to qualify students at a level appropriate to that role.

ABTC Standard - Animal Trainer

Overview

This standard is about planning and managing the training of animals. This may involve training the animal to undertake specific tasks, or more general training.

This standard covers your interactions with the animal, reinforcing desirable behaviours and ensuring training plans are developed, goals are met and the training is evaluated to ensure its continued appropriateness.

The Veterinary Surgeons Act limits the activities which may be carried out by those who are not qualified veterinary surgeons. All activities should be carried out within the constraints of the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

1. Assess how the needs of animals (see glossary) may be provided for whilst under your duty of care
2. Comply with current animal welfare legislation and professional responsibilities at all times
3. Approach all interactions with the animals in a manner that reinforces desirable behavioural patterns and avoids creating undesirable behavioural patterns
4. Create and implement a training plan with realistic targets for a desired behaviour based upon the principles of learning and the intended outcomes of the training
5. Evaluate and select appropriate methods and equipment to achieve the desired outcome
6. Assess the potential welfare consequences of the training method and chosen equipment
7. Obtain and interpret relevant information from the appropriate sources:
   • life history
   • physical capabilities
   • age
   • health
   • diet
   • sexual status
   • training history
   • temperament/characteristics
   • breed and parentage
   • desired appearance
   • medical history
   • motivational drivers and effects
8. Prepare the animal, resources and environment for the training session to aid the achievement of agreed learning outcomes.
9. Interact and apply humane training techniques with the animal in a manner that minimises stress and allows training to be carried out safely
10. Assess the progress of the training session against the plan at regular intervals and take action to resolve situations where training activities, methods or resources are found to be inappropriate
11. Modify the training plan as needed to take into account the response of the animal and handler to the training so far
12. Ensure records of the animal's progress are maintained
13. Communicate effectively with others
14. Implement and maintain current health and safety guidelines and legislation
15. Recognise own limitations and seek qualified professional advice as necessary

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

1. How the needs of animals under your duty of care may be assessed and addressed
2. Your responsibility and accountability for duty of care of animals under the current animal welfare legislation
3. Health and safety policy and legislation and how to carry out a risk assessment related to the training environment
4. The natural behaviour patterns, body language and communication methods of the animal
5. The suitability, action, welfare and ethical considerations of training equipment and techniques for the species' and animals' physical and mental capabilities
6. How training will impact on animal welfare and how to analyse whether it is in the best interests of the animal involved
7. How to assess when training might not be appropriate
8. The process of establishing measurable goals and objectives for the training of animals
9. How to formulate training plans based on the objectives agreed between trainer and handler/owner and available resources
10. The factors which may affect the progress and success of training
11. Learning theory including operant conditioning, its use, effects and practical application, including the differences between positive and negative reinforcement and positive and negative punishment
12. The practical effects and consequences of classical conditioning on animal learning and behaviour
13. Schedules of reinforcement and how they can be used to establish and maintain desired behaviour
14. The need to guard against unintentional classical and operant conditioning creating undesirable behaviour.
15. How behaviour can be extinguished by the removal of reinforcement and the principle of spontaneous recovery.
16. The importance of reviewing and revising a training plan to meet the objectives
17. The importance of establishing and maintaining training records

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ABTC Standard - Animal Training Instructor

Overview

This standard is about planning and managing the training of animals. This may involve training the animal to undertake specific tasks, or more general training.

This standard covers your interactions with the animal and the owner/handler. Teaching owners/handlers how to introduce and reinforce desirable behaviours, how to avoid and/or extinguish undesirable behaviours, ensuring that training progresses at an appropriate rate, goals are met and the training is evaluated to ensure each of the above. This role is teaching the owner/handler to train the animal.

The Veterinary Surgeons Act limits the activities which may be carried out by those who are not qualified veterinary surgeons. All activities should be carried out within the constraints of the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

1. Assess how the needs of animals (see glossary) may be provided for whilst under your duty of care
2. Comply with current animal welfare legislation and professional responsibilities at all times
3. Approach all interactions with the animals in a manner that reinforces desirable behavioural patterns and avoids creating undesirable behavioural patterns
4. Create and implement a training plan with realistic targets for a desired behaviour based upon the principles of learning and the intended outcomes of the training
5. Evaluate and select appropriate methods and equipment to achieve the desired outcome
6. Assess the potential welfare consequences of the training method and chosen equipment
7. Obtain and interpret relevant information from the appropriate sources:
   • life history
   • physical capabilities
   • age
   • health
   • diet
   • sexual status
   • training history
   • temperament/characteristics
   • breed and parentage
   • desired appearance
   • medical history
   • motivational drivers and effects
8. Prepare the animal, resources and environment for the training session to aid the achievement of agreed learning outcomes.
9. Interact and apply humane training techniques with the animal in a manner that minimises stress and allows training to be carried out safely
10. Assess the progress of the training session against the plan at regular intervals and take action to resolve situations where training activities, methods or resources are found to be inappropriate
11. Modify the training plan as needed to take into account the response of the animal and handler to the training so far
12. Ensure records of the animal's progress are maintained
13. Communicate effectively with others
14. Implement and maintain current health and safety guidelines and legislation
15. Recognise own limitations and seek qualified professional advice as necessary
16. Train an animal to do each and every exercises appropriate to the level of the class*/discipline of the class/duties required of the animal, in a number of different ways taking into account the animal's breed, type and physical capabilities.
17. Recognise stress/distress in an owner/handler and know ways of reducing it
18. Recognise when a class situation is not the best option for an animal, and be able to suggest more appropriate methods for the owner/handler to learn
19. Identify the information and knowledge people need and why they need it.
20. Identify how people prefer to receive information and knowledge and what media, styles, timing and pace are most appropriate for communicating with them.
21. Check that the information and knowledge you are communicating is current, accurate and complete.
22. Take action to minimise any interference or disruption to your communication.
23. Communicate clearly, concisely, accurately in ways that help people to understand the information and knowledge you are communicating and its relevance to them.
24. Use a variety of techniques to gain and maintain people's attention and interest and to help them retain information and knowledge.
25. Adjust and fine-tune your communication in response to both verbal and non-verbal feedback.
26. State the level of confidence that can be placed on the information and knowledge you are communicating; i.e. whether it is based on rigorously researched evidence, widely accepted facts or personal opinion.
27. Jargon, technical terms or abbreviations should be kept to a minimum, but where they need to be used they should be explained carefully to avoid any confusion as to their meaning.
28. Confirm that people have received and understood the information and knowledge you have communicated.
29. Comply with, and ensure others comply with, legal requirements, industry regulations, organisational policies and professional codes.

*Class – in this context 'class' means a person or persons with the animals they are responsible for. This can take place in any venue (eg home, hall, equestrian centre, outside venue at which such activities are allowed and required or requested)

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

1. How the needs of animals under your duty of care may be assessed and addressed
2. Your responsibility and accountability for duty of care of animals under the current animal welfare legislation
3. Health and safety policy and legislation and how to carry out a risk assessment related to the training environment
4. The natural behaviour patterns, body language and communication methods of the animal
5. The suitability, action, welfare and ethical considerations of training equipment and techniques for the species' and animals' physical and mental capabilities
6. How training will impact on animal welfare and how to analyse whether it is in the best interests of the animal involved
7. How to assess when training might not be appropriate
8. The process of establishing measurable goals and objectives for the training of animals
9. How to formulate training plans based on the objectives agreed between trainer and handler/owner and available resources
10. The factors which may affect the progress and success of training
11. Learning theory including operant conditioning, its use, effects and practical application, including the differences between positive and negative reinforcement and positive and negative punishment
12. The practical effects and consequences of classical conditioning on animal learning and behaviour
13. Schedules of reinforcement and how they can be used to establish and maintain desired behaviour
14. The need to guard against unintentional classical and operant conditioning creating undesirable behaviour.
15. How behaviour can be extinguished by the removal of reinforcement and the principle of spontaneous recovery.
16. The importance of reviewing and revising a training plan to meet the objectives
17. The importance of establishing and maintaining training records
18. What motivates owners/handlers generally and individually
19. How to adapt exercises to the physical limitations/constraints of the owner/handler
20. How to identify people's needs for information and knowledge and their motivations for acquiring it.
21. How to establish people's preferred communication media, styles, timing and pace.
22. The importance of checking the currency, accuracy and completeness of the information and knowledge you are communicating, and how to do so.
23. How to take action to minimise any interference or disruption to your communication.
24. The importance of structuring your communication in ways that facilitate people's reception and understanding, and how to do so.
25. Techniques to gain and maintain people's attention and interest and to help them retain information and knowledge, and how to use a variety of relevant techniques.
26. The importance of using verbal and non-verbal feedback to help you fine-tune your communication, and how to do so.
27. The importance of communicating the level of confidence that can be placed on the information and knowledge, i.e; whether it is based on rigorously researched evidence, widely accepted facts or personal opinion.
28. The importance of carefully explaining jargon, technical terms or abbreviations to avoid any confusion as to their meaning.
29. The importance of confirming that people have received and understood the information and knowledge you have communicated, and how to do so.

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ABTC Standard - Accredited Animal Behaviourist

Overview

This standard relates to the r etraining of animals' undesirable or inappropriate behaviour.

This standard involves understanding how to prevent or address inappropriate or problematic behaviours within individual animals through the development of suitable environments and management regimes . This may be for training rehabilitation or prevention purposes, when caring for the animal or when assisting another person or organisation with undesirable behavioural in their animal/s.

This standard is suitable for those working in the animal care sector, with responsibility for planning and managing the ‘humane' approach to the addressing of inappropriate behaviour of animals.

The Veterinary Surgeons Act limits the activities which may be carried out by those who are not qualified veterinary surgeons. All activities should be carried out within the constraints of the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

Performance Criteria

You must be able to:

1. Assess how the needs of animals (see glossary) may be provided for whilst under your duty of care.
2. Work within animal health and welfare legislation, associated codes of practice and other legislation related to animals as appropriate.
3. Promote the animal's welfare at all times and adapt own behaviour if necessary to avoid creating undesirable behaviour in the animal.
4. Interact with the animal in a humane manner that minimises stress and allows observation and assessment to be carried out safely.
5. Assess the animal's r emedial training requirements using a range of methods which could include observation, discussion with owner/keeper, assessment of veterinary surgeon, case history.
6. Assess the effect of physical factors on the animal's behaviour including species, breed, parentage, sex, age, medical conditions, physiological status, developmental history.
7. Assess the impact of external factors on the subsequent development of undesirable behaviour to include immediate surroundings, wider environment, environmental pressures, ethological requirements, previous experiences.
8. Assess husbandry/management practices in relation to the causation and development of the undesirable behaviour including presence/absence of environmental enrichment, social contact, physical activity, human interaction, diet.
9. Identify and liaise with other professionals (e.g. veterinary surgeons, breeders) and organisations involved in the care of the animals that you are working with to ensure a consistent and appropriate approach to remedial training that both promotes animal welfare and is legally compliant.
10. Formulate a remedial training plan to address the factors identified as the cause of the undesirable behaviour.
11. Discuss and agree the plan with the owner/keeper where appropriate and obtain informed consent.
12. Ensure the owner/keeper understands their role and the importance of maintaining the desired behaviour once it is reached.
13. Produce guidelines for owner/keeper where appropriate.
14. Implement and monitor the remedial training plan.
15. Evaluate the effectiveness of the remedial training plan and revise accordingly.
16. Maintain required records.
17. Maintain a high level of professional conduct including an awareness of own limitations and refer cases on when appropriate.
18. Plan, record and evaluate Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
19. Select and use appropriate training aids to assist in achieving the training goals; and be able to explain and demonstrate the use and potential for mis-use of training equipment to ensure owners/keepers protect the welfare of the animal.
20. Apply the principles of animal learning theory to humane training methods to achieve agreed goals.
21. Teach owners and handlers physical skills associated with good practice associated with the maintenance of desirable behaviour.

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

1. How the needs of animals (see glossary) under your duty of care may be assessed and addressed.
2. Your responsibility and accountability for duty of care of animals under current animal welfare legislation.
3. Relevant health and safety policy and legislation and how to carry out a risk assessment.
4. How to recognise and relate behavioural problems to species, breed, parentage, development, sex, environment, socialisation, habituation, social referencing, training, behavioural needs, medical conditions and other external or internal factors or antecedents.
5. How behavioural problems can arise from the provision (or lack of provision) of resources, exercise regimes, mental stimulus or enrichment factors specific to the behavioural needs of the animal.
6. The antecedents, triggers, indicators and anxiety/stress cycle of the animal that you are working with.
7. The antecedents, triggers and indicators of the cycle of anxiety/stress in humans.
8. The effects and implications of using aversive techniques in remedial training.
9. Appreciate the potential impact of physiological and pathological factors on behaviour.
10. The limitations and legal position when analysing behaviour and developing remedial training programmes.
11. The relevance and importance of identifying and liaising with other professionals (e.g. veterinary surgeons use and clinical animal behaviourists.) involved in the care of the animals that you are working with.
12. The availability, pros and cons of complementary treatments.
13. Appropriate CPD to include keeping up-to-date with advances in training and behaviour.
14. The principles of animal learning theory as applied to animal training, to include associative and non-associative learning, issues of stimulus control, the influence of different schedules of reinforcement, the effects of removal of reinforcement and extinction of response, the concepts and use of systematic desensitisation, counter-conditioning and flooding.
15. The range of equipment available to assist in animal training, including their action and potential for mis-use.
16. How to teach, support and motivate owners and handlers to develop the physical skills associated with good practice and the maintenance of desirable behaviour.
17. Legal responsibilities of owners/keepers and judicial consequences of legislation designed to protect the environment, other animals and people from harm by animals.
18. The importance of professional indemnity insurance.

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ABTC Standard - Clinical Animal Behaviourist

Overview

This standard relates to the clinical application of the science of animal behaviour, and the modification of the behaviour of animals that are demonstrating all types of undesirable, inappropriate, problematic or dangerous behaviour, including those with a potential link to pathologies that require diagnosis in collaboration with a veterinary surgeon.

This standard involves understanding how to evaluate, prevent or address inappropriate or problematic behaviours within individual animals, through the development of suitable environments and management/treatment regimes that are likely to be effective, based on best practice and scientific evidence. These may be for training rehabilitation or prevention purposes, when caring for the animal or when assisting and advising another person or organisation on undesirable behaviour in their animal/s.

This standard is suitable for those working in the animal care sector, with responsibility for planning and managing humane approaches to the addressing of inappropriate behaviour of animals, and who have an extensive understanding of clinical animal behaviour and the related scientific/clinical literature. The Veterinary Surgeons Act limits the activities which may be carried out by those who are not qualified veterinary surgeons. All activities should be carried out within the constraints of the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

Performance Criteria

You must be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the needs of a range of animal species and how these may be provided for whilst under your duty of care.
2. Identify the appropriate animal health and welfare legislation, associated codes of practice and other legislation relevant to the animals being worked with and take any action necessary to ensure these are followed.
3. Identify and act in ways that best ensures the well-being of the animal, protecting and promoting welfare both within the short and long term.
4. Gather evidence about the behaviour of the animal and the problem(s) for which advice is being sought from all sources identified as likely to provide relevant information. This could include direct observation, discussion with owner/keeper, assessments supplied by veterinary surgeons, case history. Critically evaluate the quality of this evidence and act appropriately to remedy any areas of concern or deficiency in it.
5. Critically evaluate the effect of physical factors on the animal's behaviour including species, breed, parentage, sex, age, medical conditions, physiological status, developmental history and identify those most relevant to the problem(s) and areas of concern identified and for those for which help is being sort.
6. Critically evaluate the impact of external factors on the behaviour of the animal, the problem(s) and areas of concern identified and those for which help is being sought, to include: immediate surroundings, wider environment, environmental pressures, ethological requirements, previous experiences.
7. Critically evaluate the impact that husbandry/management practices have had on the behaviour of the animal, the problem(s) and areas of concern identified and those for which help is being sought, including: presence/absence of environmental enrichment, social contact, physical activity, interactions and relationship with owner/keeper and other humans, diet. Critically judge the evidence gathered, distinguishing between competing causes, assumption and explanations for the behaviour, and identify the most appropriate treatment regime for the animal, that is likely to effectively address the problem(s) and concerns identified and the animal's particular set of circumstances.
8. Critically evaluate issues concerning the safety, efficacy and reliability of complementary and alternative or non-prescription or prescribed therapies or products.
9. Demonstrate skill and competency in the selection and use of a wide range of behavioural modification techniques and training aids to address undesirable and problematic and be able to teach others how to use these effectively as appropriate, to ensure their effective use, and protect against their misuse, and ensure owners/keepers protect the welfare of the animal.
10. Apply the principles of animal learning theory to humane training methods to achieve agreed goals.
11. Justify why a particular treatment regime has been selected to address the problem(s) identified, against any other possible regimes.
12. Devise and implement a structured treatment regimen, that identifies and sets realistic goals and time scales for monitoring of its progress and assessment of its success.
13. Discuss and agree treatment regime with the owner/keeper and others involved with the animal for which advice is being sought, rectifying areas of misunderstanding, confusion or concern where appropriate, and obtaining their informed consent.
14. Ensure the owner/keeper understands their role in the delivery of an effective programme of treatment and the importance of maintaining the desired change to behaviour once it is achieved. Identify and liaise with other professionals (e.g. veterinary surgeons, breeders) and organisations involved in the care of the animals for which advice is being sought to ensure a consistent and appropriate approach to resolution of the problem that both promotes animal welfare and is legally compliant.
15. Identify any professional, ethical or other issues that have arise when working with the animal, owner/keeper or other individual and take appropriate action to address these.
16. Explain to the owner/keeper of the animal, through written guidelines or other appropriate system of feedback, the areas of concern regarding their animal that have been identified, their possible causes and the rationale behind the treatment regime selected to remedy these and any other associated issues that have been identified.
17. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment regime through appropriate follow-ups which may include direct observation of the animal and/or liaison with the owner/keeper and others involved with the animal. As appropriate, revise the regime in response to this feedback to ensure its effectiveness and success.
18. Maintain required records on each animal so that it is possible to critically reflect on the appropriateness and success of different treatment regimes and identify any improvements to practice that could be made.
19. Maintain a high level of professional conduct including an awareness of own limitations and refer cases on when appropriate.
20. Identify gaps in own knowledge and understanding; and plan, record and evaluate a personal Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to address these.
21. Contribute to the development and progression of scientific knowledge in the area of behaviour modification and clinical animal behaviour.

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

1. The ethology of vertebrate animals, including perceptual abilities, maintenance and social behaviours and communication, their function and their motivational basis in the most commonly kept domestic species.
2. How to recognise, evaluate and report on the behavioural states of the most commonly kept domestic animals and those that most commonly contribute to the caseload of a clinical animal behaviourist, to include signals indicative of key behavioural states such as fear, nervousness, aggression, ill-health, threat-reduction, play and relaxation.
3. Behavioural ontogeny; to include sensitive periods, socialisation and attachment theory.
4. The interaction between biological and evolutionary influences and the environment in which an animal is kept, and their roles in the development of behavioural disorders for a range of the most commonly kept domestic animals.
5. The process of domestication and its effects on the behaviour of animals and the common interactions between animals and humans and how these can contribute to the development of problematic owner/animal relationship, to include animal abuse, abandonment, animal-hoarding.
6. The key ethological, psychological and physiological concepts that underpin animal welfare.
7. The physiological and behavioural indicators of welfare in vertebrate animals and their limitations and how to use these practically to assess welfare in the commonly kept domestic species.
8. • Welfare considerations in the management and training of animals and in clinical practice.
9. • The theory of animal learning to include habituation; sensitization, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, insight and social learning, animal cognition and the concept of consciousness.
10. The theory underlying learned problem behaviour and training techniques.
11. The principles and rational behind the use of the range of behavioural modification techniques, to include systematic desensitization, counter-conditioning and the use of clickers.
12. The techniques most appropriate for the treatment of a range of common behavioural disorders and learned problem behaviours, the rationale for their use/application, and the strengths and weaknesses of each.
13. The functional anatomy and physiology of the vertebrate nervous and endocrine systems and their role in mediating behaviour.
14. The concept of neural plasticity and the relevance and influence of environmental and genetic factors in the development of the nervous system.
15. The range of common behavioural disorders in animals to include phobias, aggression, stereotypies, anxiety related behaviours, and how to identify and critical evaluate contributing factors.
16. The appropriate application of the principles of ethology and learning theory to the diagnosis and treatment of common problems.
17. The signs of ill-health and common conditions influencing behaviour and associated veterinary terminology.
18. The interaction between health and behaviour in vertebrate animals.
19. The behavioural consequences of medical disorders.
20. The evidence for and against a medical component contributing to competing explanations of a behaviour.
21. Psychopharmacology and the mode of action of the major classes of drugs used in clinical animal behaviour, their role and correct application, and constraints and contra-indicators to their use.
22. The ethics of psychopharmacological intervention and legal position of the clinical animal behaviourist, veterinary surgeon and others regarding the diagnosis, prescription and use of drugs and provision of advice.
23. The key principles in human and family psychology, to include attitude theory, processes of inter-personal relationships, grief and bereavement.
24. The principles of effective counselling and how to apply to facilitate and maintain behavioural change.
25. The range of effective communication skills, both in the collection of relevant information and provision of advice in face to face consultations and communication via telephone, email, letters and reports with clients and relevant professionals, and how to assess and resolve issues relating to client understanding.
26. The interactions appropriate in professional relationships and how to apply these in practice.
27. The common professional, ethical or other issues that need to be considered or may arise before, during and after a consultation; and the action that is appropriate to address these, including an appreciation of the value of further referral.
28. Methods for gathering and recording information relevant to the diagnosis of a behavioural disorder and how to critically evaluate and appraise it.
29. The construction and delivery of appropriately structured treatment regimes that are likely to be effective for behavioural disorders identified.
30. How to identify situations where further action may be necessary, including ways in which compliance with an extended treatment regime may be encouraged.
31. Methods for the assessment of the effectiveness of appropriately structured treatment regimes, including the use of analytical tools and statistics.
32. UK and European legislation that relates to the ownership and use of animals and the role and duties of the clinical animal behaviourist, veterinary surgeon, paraprofessionals, owners and others within it; to include the legal implications and duties associated with the provision of advice and professional liability and client confidentiality.
33. Employment law, health and safety legislation and the Data Protection Act; and their implication for the clinical animal behaviourist, their clients and others.
34. The ethical guidelines that relating to the use of animals.
35. The design and implementation of programmes of original inquiry in which data are collected and subjected to appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative analysis and critical evaluation.
36. How to contribute to the science and knowledge base that underpins developments in the field of clinical animal behaviour.

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ABTC Standard - Veterinary Behaviourist

Overview

This standard relates to the clinical application of the science of animal behaviour, and the modification of the behaviour of animals that are demonstrating all types of undesirable, inappropriate, problematic or dangerous behaviour, or showing behavioural signs of compromised welfare. This includes those occurring through learnt responses to the environment as well as those caused or influenced by physiological or pathological changes. The standard includes the use of adjunctive methods of therapy including psychoactive medication.

This standard involves understanding how to evaluate, prevent or address behavioural signs within individual animals, through the development of suitable environments and management/treatment regimes that are likely to be effective, based on best practice and scientific evidence. These may be for rehabilitation or prevention purposes, when treating undesired or problematic behaviour in individual animals, when addressing environmental causes of compromised welfare, or when assisting and advising another person or organisation on any of these.

This standard is suitable for veterinary surgeons, with responsibility for planning and managing humane approaches to the addressing of inappropriate behaviour or compromised welfare in animals, and who have an extensive understanding of clinical animal behaviour and the related scientific/clinical literature. All activities should be carried out within the constraints of the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

Performance Criteria

You must be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the needs of a range of animal species and how these may be provided for whilst under your duty of care.
2. Identify the appropriate animal health and welfare legislation, associated codes of practice and other legislation relevant to the animals being worked with and take any action necessary to ensure these are followed.
3. Identify and act in ways that best ensures the well-being of the animal, protecting and promoting welfare both within the short and long term.
4. Gather evidence about the behaviour of the animal and the problem(s) for which advice is being sought from all sources identified as likely to provide relevant information. This could include direct observation, clinical examination, discussion with owner/keeper, assessments supplied by referring veterinary surgeons, case history and further medical examinations. Critically evaluate the quality of this evidence and act appropriately to remedy any areas of concern or deficiency in it.
5. Critically evaluate the effect of physical factors on the animal's behaviour including species, breed, parentage, sex, neuter status, age, medical conditions, physiological status, developmental history and identify those most relevant to the problem(s) and areas of concern identified and for those for which help is being sort.
6. Critically evaluate the health status of the animal, and its relevance to the presenting signs. Institute appropriate treatment strategies to address any health related concerns and refer on to other specialists if necessary.
7. Critically evaluate the impact of external factors on the behaviour of the animal, the problem(s) and areas of concern identified and those for which help is being sought, to include: immediate surroundings, wider environment, environmental pressures, ethological requirements, previous experiences.
8. Critically evaluate the impact that husbandry/management practices have had on the behaviour of the animal, the problem(s) and areas of concern identified and those for which help is being sought, including: presence/absence of environmental enrichment, social contact, physical activity, interactions and relationship with owner/keeper and other humans, diet.
9. Critically judge the evidence gathered, distinguishing between competing causes, assumptions and explanations for the behaviour, and identify the most appropriate treatment regime for the animal, that is likely to effectively address the problem(s) and concerns identified and the animal's particular set of circumstances.
10. Evaluate the influence of environmental causes of stress or distress on the physical health, susceptibility to, or recovery from disease, and utilise behavioural approaches to minimise the impact of stress on recovery and rehabilitation.
11. Justify why a particular treatment regime has been selected to address the behavioural or physical problem(s) identified, against any other possible regimes.
12. Devise and implement a structured treatment regimen, that identifies and sets realistic goals and time scales for monitoring of its progress and assessment of its success.
13. Discuss and agree treatment regime with the owner/keeper and others involved with the animal for which advice is being sought, rectifying areas of misunderstanding, confusion or concern where appropriate, and obtaining their informed consent.
14. Ensure the owner/keeper understands their role in the delivery of an effective programme of treatment and the importance of maintaining the desired change to behaviour once it is achieved.
15. Identify and liaise with other professionals (e.g. referring veterinary surgeons, breeders) and organisations involved in the care of the animals for which advice is being sought to ensure a consistent and appropriate approach to resolution of the problem that both promotes animal welfare and is legally compliant.
16. Identify any professional, ethical or other issues that have arisen when working with the animal, owner/keeper or other individual and take appropriate action to address these
17. Explain to the owner/keeper of the animal, through written guidelines or other appropriate system of feedback, the areas of concern regarding their animal that have been identified, their possible causes and the rationale behind the treatment regime selected to remedy these and any other associated issues that have been identified.
18. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment regime through appropriate follow-ups which may include direct observation of the animal and/or liaison with the owner/keeper and others involved with the animal. As appropriate, revise the regime in response to this feedback to ensure its effectiveness and success.
19. Maintain required records on each animal so that it is possible to critically reflect on the appropriateness and success of different treatment regimes and identify any improvements to practice that could be made.
20. Maintain a high level of professional conduct including an awareness of own limitations and refer cases on when appropriate.
21. Identify gaps in knowledge and plan, record and evaluate a personal Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to address these.
22. Contribute to the development and progression of scientific knowledge in the area of behaviour modification and clinical animal behaviour.
23. Demonstrate skill and competency in the selection and use of a wide range of behavioural modification techniques, training aids and medical interventions to address undesirable and problematic behaviour and be able to teach others how to use these effectively as appropriate, to ensure their effective use, and protect against their misuse, and ensure owners/keepers protect the welfare of the animal.
24. Apply the principles of animal learning theory to humane training methods to achieve agreed goals.
25. Thoroughly understand the appropriate use of a range of psychoactive medications, contraindications for their use, potential interactions with other prescribed and non-prescription products, and the appropriate use of polypharmacy.
26. Obtain informed consent from owners for use of agents outside of their licensed range of use, and be able to clearly explain to owners the expected side effects of drug use, and when and how to seek advice should signs occur which are unexpected.
27. Examine and interpret images relevant to behavioural change (e.g. MRI and CT scans of the cranial or spinal areas.
28. Critically evaluate scientific and published information, and using appropriate sources of information to inform clinical practice.

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

1. The ethology of vertebrate animals, including perceptual abilities, maintenance and social behaviours and communication, their function and their motivational basis in the most commonly kept domestic species.
2. How to recognise, evaluate and report on the behavioural signs of the most commonly kept domestic animals and those that most commonly contribute to the caseload of a veterinary behaviourist, including where normal maintenance or social behaviours are inhibited. Recognise how behavioural signs may relate to underlying emotional or motivational states, such as fear, anxiety, frustration, hunger or social solicitation. Understand how behavioural signs of emotional state may vary between individuals, and between contexts within individuals.
3. Behavioural ontogeny; to include the importance, biology and timing (where known) of sensitive periods of development, including the ‘socialisation period' and how experiences during this period may influence adult behaviour.
4. The interaction between biological and evolutionary influences and the environment in which an animal is kept and their roles in the development of behavioural disorders for a range of the most commonly kept domestic animals.
5. The process of domestication and an understanding of how this process may have influenced the behavioural repertoire of animal species.
6. The common interactions between animals and humans and how these can contribute to the development of problematic owner/animal relationship, to include animal abuse, abandonment, animal-hoarding.
7. The theoretical aspects of animal welfare science, including the importance of sentience, pain perception, emotional awareness and consciousness on animals' perception of their environment.
8. The welfare implications of maintaining animals in environments in which do not allow or enable the display of normal species specific behaviours.
9. The physiological and behavioural indicators of welfare in vertebrate animals and their limitations and how to use these practically to assess welfare in the commonly kept domestic species
10. Welfare considerations in the management and training of animals and in clinical practice.
11. The theory of animal learning to include habituation; sensitization, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, insight and social learning, animal cognition and the concept of consciousness.
12. An appreciation of how terms and definitions used in learning theory may be misused or misapplied in common parlance.
13. An understanding of the emotional and cellular changes underlying the processes of learning.
14. The theory underlying learned problem behaviour and training techniques.
15. The principles and rational behind the use of the range of behavioural modification techniques, to include systematic desensitization, counter-conditioning and conditioned reinforcers (e.g. clicker training).
16. The techniques most appropriate for the treatment of a range of common behavioural disorders and learned problem behaviours, the rationale for their use/application, and the strengths and weaknesses of each.
17. The functional anatomy and physiology of the vertebrate nervous and endocrine systems and their role in mediating behaviour.
18. The concept of neural plasticity and the relevance and influence of environmental and genetic factors in the development of the nervous system.
19. Psychopharmacology and the mode of action of the major classes of drugs used in clinical animal behaviour, their role and correct application, and constraints and contra-indicators to their use. This includes an understanding of appropriate regimens of treatment, a detailed understanding of the rationale for adjunctive medication in individual cases, appropriate protocols for withdrawal of drugs, and situations where polypharmacy may be appropriate.
20. The ethics of psychopharmalogical intervention and legal position of the clinical animal behaviourist, veterinary surgeon and others regarding the diagnosis, prescription and use of drugs and provision of advice. A full understanding of the limitations of use for licensed products, and the importance of informed consent for the use of products with are used outside of licensing guidelines, or which are unlicensed. The ability to fully explain to clients what side effects to expect, the timing of such effects, and when / where to seek advice if necessary.
21. Relevant health and safety issues concerning the use of psychopharmacological intervention, to include the animal, owner and domestic environment.
22. • The interaction between health and behaviour in vertebrate animals including the influence of environmentally induced stress on disease and recovery, as well as the influence of disease on behavioural signs.
23. The evidence for and against a medical component contributing to competing explanations of a behaviour An understanding of how learning may interact with physiological or pathological changes in the development of undesired or abnormal behaviours.
24. The behavioural consequences of medical disorders, both where behaviours are enritirely derived from pathology, and where pathological change may influence the threshold of response for behaviours.
25. How to identify relevant medical differentials in behavioural disorders.
26. The key principles in human and family psychology, to include attitude theory, processes of inter-personal relationships, grief and bereavement.
27. The principles of effective counselling and how to apply to facilitate and maintain behavioural change.
28. The interactions appropriate in professional relationships and apply these in practice.
29. The range of effective communication skills, both in the collection of relevant information and provision of advice in face to face consultations and communication via telephone, email, letters and reports with clients and relevant professionals and how to assess and resolve issues relating to client understanding.
30. The common professional, ethical or other issues that need to be considered or may arise before, during and after the consultation and the action that is appropriate to address these.
31. The range of common behavioural disorders in animals to include fear responses, aggression, abnormal behaviours (such as stereotypical or compulsive behaviours), and how to identify and critical evaluate contributing factors.
32. The appropriate application of the principles of ethology and learning theory to the diagnosis and treatment of common problems.
33. Methods for gathering and recording information relevant to the diagnosis of a behavioural disorder and how to critically evaluate and appraise it.
34. The construction and delivery of appropriately structured treatment regimes, including treatments for relevant health issues that are likely to be effective for disorders identified
35. How to identify situations where further action may be necessary, including ways in which compliance of an extended treatment regime may be encouraged.
36. Methods for the assessment of the effectiveness of appropriately structured treatment regimes, including the use of analytical tools and statistics.
37. UK and European legislation that relates to the ownership and use of animals and the role and duties of the veterinary behaviourist, veterinary surgeon, parapr o fessionals, owners and others within it, to include the legal implications and duties associated with the provision of advice and professional liability and client confidentiality.
38. The signs of ill-health and common conditions influencing behaviour and associated veterinary terminology.
39. The evidence for and against a medical component contributing to competing explanations of a behaviour.
40. The design and implementation of programmes of original inquiry in which data is collected and subjected to appropriate quantitative and qualitative analysis and critical evaluation
41. How to contribute to the science and knowledge base that underpins developments in the field of clinical animal behaviour.

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