Dogs and Children

by Roger Abrantes

Dogs and children—a Natural Relationship (DogsAndChildrenCourse-1-1024x538)

Course Description

Dogs and Children is the course that everyone should take independently of whether one has children, dogs, both or none. It is our (adults) duty to protect them, who need it most, our children and our animals. Dogs and children are wonderful together when all goes well. Learn how to prevent serious problems from occurring and how to give your child and dog some fun and meaningful activities so they can develop a good and respectful relationship.

Course Level

Beginner. This course is for everyone.

Course Textbook

“Dogs and Children”

by Roger Abrantes, Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and Ethology.

 

Book contents

  • Dogs and children
  • Choice of dog
  • Safety rules for babies born into a home with a dog
  • Teaching the child
  • Teaching your dog
  • Prevention is better than cure
  • The first conflicts
  • Rules and feeling safe
  • Children and other animals
DogsAndChildrenBookCover-384x563

Online Studying and Tutoring

Watch the movie(s) and read the book(s). Join the course forum where you can read our tutors’ answers to questions previously posed by your colleagues. If you have a new question, do not hesitate in posting it.

The course forum is solely for academic questions. For administrative matters or difficulties accessing the functionality of the site, please submit a ticket.

Once you’re ready for it, take the quizzes. You may take a quiz as many times as you like. We recommend you re-take quizzes once a year as a self-imposed quality control.

All About Puppies

by Roger Abrantes

AllAboutPuppiesCourse

Course Description

All About Puppies deals with everything you need to know about puppies, except illness and feeding, which we leave for the veterinarians. Choice of puppy, imprinting and socialization, creating good habits and preventing misbehavior, training and stimulating the puppy, house rules and much more. This is the course everyone should have before acquiring a dog, the course all dog trainers should recommend their clients to take when they show up to a class with a puppy.

This course is based on “All About Puppies—The Little Handbook” by Roger Abrantes, an ethologist with a vast experience in breeding and raising puppies. It is a much revised and updated edition of “Hundehvalpen,” the original in Danish from 1997. It appears here for the first time in English, exclusively for this course.

“Hundehvalpen” (The Puppy) is a little no-nonsense book, full of good advice and DIY instructions. It was an immediate hit when it was launched in 1997 and has helped thousands of dog owners to raise happy puppies. The book was the basis for the many puppy courses we held at the Institute as well as “Puppy Parties” organized by many instructors and vets in Denmark.

Hundehvalpen

Course Level

Beginner, since everyone can take it. However, it contains so much information that it is recommendable for more advanced trainers, vets, and vet nurses.

Course Textbook

“All About Puppies—The Little Handbook”

by Roger Abrantes, Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and Ethology.

 

For this course, you’ll get the text of the book especially edited as seven lessons, each with a quiz.

 

  1. Course content and structure

    * indicates practical skill with DIY detailed instructions.

    Lesson One:
    1. A dog is a lifestyle.
      1. Are you prepared to have a dog?
      2. Your responsibilities.
    2. Choice of Dog.
      1. Should I have a puppy or an adult dog?
      2. Should I get a dog from a shelter?
      3. Should I get a dog with a pedigree?
      4. How big should the dog be?
      5. What dog breed should I pick?
      6. Should it be a male or a female?
    3. The Right Puppy.
      1. Mix or purebred?
      2. Kennels and breeders.
      3. Rule of thumb for choosing a puppy.
    Lesson Two:
    1. Sensitive periods.
      1. Imprinting.
      2. Socialization.
    2. Play behavior.
      1. Function.
      2. Types of play behavior.
      3. How you can play with your puppy.
    3. Stimulating plan for the puppy.
      1. Communicating.
      2. Nose work.
      3. Problem solving.
    Lesson Three:
    1. How puppies learn and FAQ.
      1. * Bongo.
      2. * Bongo-Come-Free.
      3. * Pendulum.
      4. * Bongo-Sit-Free.
    Lesson Four:
    1. Yes and No—The Magic Words.
      1. Yes and No.
      2. * Puppy-yes.
      3. * Puppy-no.
    2. Nose Work for Puppies.
      1. Creating a bond with the puppy.
      2. * Find-food.
    3. Problem-solving.
      1. * Overturned cup.
      2. * Tennis ball.
    Lesson Five:
    1. Consistency: good and bad behavior.
      1. The first Night. * The dog bed.
    2. Home Alone.
    3. House Rules.
      1. House rules.
      2. Car driving.
      3. Children and toys.
    4. Safety.
      1. Safety indoors.
      2. Safety outdoors.
    Lesson Six:
    1. Walking the Puppy.
      1. The collar/lead.
      2. * Walking the puppy.
      3. * The belly-button routine.
      4. * Heel.
    2. Nose Work: Intermediate level.
      1. * Find person.
      2. * Find target scent.
    Lesson Seven:
    1. Dog and People in the 21st century.
    2. Epilogue.
AllAboutPuppiesBookCover-384x563

Supplementary Literature

Although not mandatory, we recommend that you supplement your readings with:

Online Studying and Tutoring

Watch the movie(s) and read the book(s). Join the course forum where you can read our tutors’ answers to questions previously posed by your colleagues. If you have a new question, do not hesitate in posting it.

The course forum is solely for academic questions. For administrative matters or difficulties accessing the functionality of the site, please submit a ticket.

Once you’re ready for it, take the quizzes. You may take a quiz as many times as you like. We recommend you re-take quizzes once a year as a self-imposed quality control.

Canine Behavior

by Roger Abrantes

CanineBehaviorCourse

Course Description

Canine Behavior studies dog behavior in the natural and human environment, reviewing the behavior of the domestic dog, feral dogs, and the related species, wolves, dingos, African wild dogs, and jackals.

This course relies on facts and knowledge acquired through scientific studies. It will dispel many misconceptions and unfounded, common sayings. It is not a dog training course—it is a dog behavior course. Since training implies modifying an animal’s behavior, it is essential to first understand its natural behavior before beginning to change it. Therefore, we recommend you take this course before any other concerned with behavior modification. 

  • Lesson 1: The Origin and Evolution of the Dog,” “Surviving Strategies,” and “Wolf-Dog Comparative Study”.
  • Lesson 2: “Social Behavior and Cooperation,” Parental Behavior,” “Play Behavior,” “Becoming Social,” “The Function of the Pack,” and “Pacifying Behavior.”
  • Lesson 3: “Competition” “Agonistic Behavior,” and “Dominant-Submissive Behavioral Strategies.”
  • Lesson 4: “Dog Language.”

Course Level

Beginner-Intermediate. This is an important course for all dog trainers. We have to understand the normal behavior of the dog before we can expect to be able to implement successfully any behavior modification technique. Dog training is full of myths and old wives’ tales bearing little or no resemblance to the reality that contributed to the evolution of canine behavior. This course will clarify it for you.

Course Textbook

The lessons in this course give you all the text you need to complete the quizzes, including the final one, and earn your certificate. The course textbook is supplementary. It gives you more details about some behaviors we do not cover in the course. Since the book appeared in 1997, the author has implemented many revisions and updates to the text. Therefore, whenever there is a discrepancy, go for the updated text in the regularly updated lessons.

 

“Dog Language—An Encyclopedia of Canine Behavior”

by Roger Abrantes, Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and Ethology.

 

Book contents

  • A review of dog language from A to Z.
  • The evolution of canine behavior.
  • Dog language.
  • Facial expressions.
  • Bodily postures.
  • Normal canine behavior.
  • Problem behavior.
  • Social behavior.
  • Agonistic behavior
  • Human–dog relationship.
    
and much more.

The book is not included in the course. You can purchase it by clicking one of the links below.

DogLanguageBookCover-398x563

Supplementary Literature

Although not mandatory, we recommend that you supplement your readings with:

Online Studying and Tutoring

Watch the movie(s) and read the book(s). Join the course forum where you can read our tutors’ answers to questions previously posed by your colleagues. If you have a new question, do not hesitate in posting it.

The course forum is solely for academic questions. For administrative matters or difficulties accessing the functionality of the site, please submit a ticket.

Once you’re ready for it, take the quizzes. You may take a quiz as many times as you like. We recommend you re-take quizzes once a year as a self-imposed quality control.

Anatomy and Physiology

by Alessandra Bourquin

Anatomy&PhysiologyCourse

Course Description

Anatomy and Physiology study the body plan and physical functions of animals. Behavior is closely associated with the anatomy and physiology of an animal. Each species has particular characteristics that define the way it enters the global struggle for survival.

Course Level

Beginner. This is a course anyone can take. It is informative and will help you to gain a deeper insight into the various aspects of animal behavior, its processes, and functions.

Course Textbook

“Anatomy and Physiology”

by Alessandra Bourquin (BSc in Biology and Postgraduate in ABT).

 

Book contents

  • Chapter 1 Introduction.
  • Chapter 2 The skeletal system.
  • Chapter 3 The muscular system.
  • Chapter 4 The circulatory system.
  • Chapter 5 The respiratory system.
  • Chapter 6 The digestive system.
  • Chapter 7 The urinary system.
  • Chapter 8 The reproductive system.
  • Chapter 9 The integumentary system.
  • Chapter 10 The nervous system.
  • Chapter 11 The sensory system.
  • Chapter 12 The endocrine system.
AnatomyAndPhysiologyBookCover-384x563

Online Studying and Tutoring

Watch the movie(s) and read the book(s). Join the course forum where you can read our tutors’ answers to questions previously posed by your colleagues. If you have a new question, do not hesitate in posting it.

The course forum is solely for academic questions. For administrative matters or difficulties accessing the functionality of the site, please submit a ticket.

Once you’re ready for it, take the quizzes. You may take a quiz as many times as you like. We recommend you re-take quizzes once a year as a self-imposed quality control.

EFR for Animals

by Alessandra Bourquin

EFRCourse

Course Description

EFR, Emergency First Response (or first aid), is the immediate care given to an animal that has been injured or is suddenly taken ill. The course covers the most important principles of EFR and taking it can be a lifesaver, should you one day need to help an injured animal.

Top 10 Common Dog Health Problems (and Solutions). Pet CPR: A Step-by-Step Guide for Dogs. How to take equine vital signs. What to do if your horse is colicing.
How to Tell if Your Cat is Healthy.

Course Level

Beginner. This is a course accessible to everyone and absolutely indispensable if you work with animals or you are a pet owner. Take this course now!

Course Textbook

“EFR for Animals”

by M. J. Cunha, DVM.

 

Book contents

  • What is EFR—Emergency First Response?
  • The ABC of EFR.
  • Common injuries.
EFRBookCover-384x563

Online Studying and Tutoring

Watch the movie(s) and read the book(s). Join the course forum where you can read our tutors’ answers to questions previously posed by your colleagues. If you have a new question, do not hesitate in posting it.

The course forum is solely for academic questions. For administrative matters or difficulties accessing the functionality of the site, please submit a ticket.

Once you’re ready for it, take the quizzes. You may take a quiz as many times as you like. We recommend you re-take quizzes once a year as a self-imposed quality control.

Animal Welfare

by Anabela Pinto-Poulson

Animal Welfare (AnimalWelfareCourse-1024x538)

Course Description

Animal welfare is a science with objective research approaches to understanding the needs of animals. Animal welfare deals with the interaction between science, ethics, and law. This is an easily accessible course that everyone can take—a must for everyone that works with animals.

Course Level

Beginner. This is an easily accessible course that everyone can take. A must for everyone that works with animals.

Course Textbook

“Animal Welfare”

by Dr. Anabela Pinto-Poulton, a fellow of the Wolfson College, Cambridge University, a leading authority on animal welfare (the latest 2021 update is edited by Dr. Roger Abrantes).

Book contents

  • Chapter 1 Introduction.
  • Chapter 2 Perceptions of animal welfare.
  • Chapter 3 Assessing animal welfare.
  • Chapter 4 Behavior as an assessment tool of animal welfare.
  • Chapter 5 Causes of poor welfare.
  • Chapter 6 The welfare of dogs.
  • Chapter 7 The welfare of cats.
  • Chapter 8 The welfare of horses.
  • Chapter 9 Animal welfare and the law.

Please note that the entire contents of the textbook are included in the various lessons and spread over multiple sub-topics (tabs). You need not buy the book separately.

AnimalWelfareBookCover-384x563

Online Studying and Tutoring

Watch the movie(s) and read the book(s). Join the course forum where you can read our tutors’ answers to questions previously posed by your colleagues. If you have a new question, do not hesitate in posting it.

The course forum is solely for academic questions. For administrative matters or difficulties accessing the functionality of the site, please submit a ticket.

Once you’re ready for it, take the quizzes. You may take a quiz as many times as you like. We recommend you re-take quizzes once a year as a self-imposed quality control.

Warming you up for the Animal Welfare course

To warm you up for the Animal Welfare course, we leave you here with “Animal Welfare vs. Animal Rights” by Jessi Knudsen Castañeda. As a sort of training your ability to observe (watch and listen), and become a critical thinker, we invite you to comment and discuss the topic on the Ethology Institute Group* on Facebook.

*You have free access to the Ethology Institute Group page on Facebook.

The 20 Principles

by Roger Abrantes

20 Principles Course

Course Description

The 20 Principles All Animal Trainers Must Know is an online course, (also available as a seminar, workshop, book, and video). It explains clearly and concisely how we can train animals independently of species—dog, horse, cat, Guinea pig, marine mammal, etc.

The course has four lessons. The first three lessons consist of videos that you have to watch and study. In the fourth lesson, you read the textbook. You have a quiz for each lesson and the final quiz after lesson four. After having taken the final quiz, you earn a certificate from Ethology Institute.

As soon as you complete the quiz successfully, you will be able to print your certificate, show it to your friends, post it on Facebook or display it at your business.

Go for it and enjoy!

Course Level

Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced. This is a course for everybody.

Course Textbook

“The 20 Principles All Animal Trainers Must Know”

by Roger Abrantes, Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and Ethology.

Animal training is a craft: half science and half art. This little book and course give you the most indispensable 20 principles with which you must be familiar to become a skilled animal trainer.

Book contents

  • Contents
  • Foreword
  • The 20 Principles All Animal Trainers Must Know
  • 16 More Principles for the Advanced Trainer
  • Best practice
  • A plan of action (POA) in animal training
  • Example 1 of a POA with troubleshooting section
  • Example 2 of a POA in SMAF
  • References and further recommended reading
  • Links
20PrinciplesBookCoverEN-384x563

The 20 Principles All Animal Trainers Must Know — In Five Languages

When you enroll in this course, you get access to the book, which you can read online anytime you like. You will also get all future updates, automatically. The book is available in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian.

20PrinciplesBookCoverEN-384x563
20PrinciplesBookCoverFR-384x563
20PrincipiosBookCoverPT-384x563
20PrinciplesBookCoverES-384x563
20PrincipiBookCoverIT-384x563

Supplementary Literature

Although not mandatory, we recommend that you supplement your readings with:

Online Studying and Tutoring

Watch the movie(s) and read the book(s). Join the course forum where you can read our tutors’ answers to questions previously posed by your colleagues. If you have a new question, do not hesitate in posting it.

The course forum is solely for academic questions. For administrative matters or difficulties accessing the functionality of the site, please submit a ticket.

Once you’re ready for it, take the quizzes. You may take a quiz as many times as you like. We recommend you re-take quizzes once a year as a self-imposed quality control.

Animal Training My Way

by Roger Abrantes

ATMWCourse

Course Description

Animal Training My Way (or Ethology and Behaviorism) explains and teaches you how to create a reliable relationship with any animal. This course analyses the way we interact with our animals, combines the best of ethology and behaviorism and comes up with an innovative, yet simple and efficient approach to communicate with an animal. It is a guide for creating harmonious, stable and balanced relationships.

Course Level

Beginner to advanced. This course is for everyone, independently of previously acquired knowledge or experience.

Course Textbook

“Animal Training My Way—The Merging of Ethology and Behaviorism”

by Roger Abrantes, Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and Ethology.

 

Book contents

Chapter 1 A pragmatic approach to animal training.
Chapter 2 Creating a relationship.
Chapter 3 The training toolbox.
Chapter 4 Training skills using ethology and behaviorism.
Chapter 5 Maintenance and reliability of behavior.
Chapter 6 Practical considerations.
Chapter 7 Elements of Ethology.
Chapter 8 A question of attitude.
Chapter 9 Brain and heart.

AnimalTrainingMyWayBookCover-384x563

Online Studying and Tutoring

Watch the movie(s) and read the book(s). Join the course forum where you can read our tutors’ answers to questions previously posed by your colleagues. If you have a new question, do not hesitate in posting it.

The course forum is solely for academic questions. For administrative matters or difficulties accessing the functionality of the site, please submit a ticket.

Once you’re ready for it, take the quizzes. You may take a quiz as many times as you like. We recommend you re-take quizzes once a year as a self-imposed quality control.

Evolution

by Roger Abrantes

EvolutionCourse-1024x538

Course Description

Evolution is the process of change in all forms of life over generations; evolutionary biology is the study of how evolution occurs. Behavior is as a tool in the struggle for survival and reproduction. Charles Darwin in his ‘The Origin Of Species By Means Of Natural Selection’ (1859) was the first who formulated the hypothesis that species evolved as a result of the struggle for life, i.e. as a result of natural selection, where the fittest had an advantage.

Course Level

Beginner. This course is an introduction to evolution and essential to the understanding of behavior, its development, and evolution.

Course Textbook

“Evolution—An Introduction”

by Roger Abrantes, Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and Ethology.

 

For this course, you’ll get the text of the book especially edited as four lessons, each with a quiz.

 

Course content and structure

 

Lesson One:

  1. Evolution; history of the theory of evolution; the theory of Evolution by natural selection.
  2. Variation; adaptation.
  3. Sexual selection.

Lesson Two:

  1. The algorithm of natural selection; evolution has no goal.
  2. The evolution of the eye.
  3. Phyletic gradualism and punctuated equilibrium.

Lesson Three:

  1. Life.
  2. Animals and taxonomy.
  3. The origin of life.

Lesson Four:

  1. Species and speciation. Darwin on species and speciation.
  2. The evolution of humans.
  3. Natural selection.
EvolutionBookCover-384x563

Supplementary Literature

Although not mandatory, we recommend that you supplement your readings with:

Online Studying and Tutoring

Watch the movie(s) and read the book(s). Join the course forum where you can read our tutors’ answers to questions previously posed by your colleagues. If you have a new question, do not hesitate in posting it.

The course forum is solely for academic questions. For administrative matters or difficulties accessing the functionality of the site, please submit a ticket.

Once you’re ready for it, take the quizzes. You may take a quiz as many times as you like. We recommend you re-take quizzes once a year as a self-imposed quality control.

Ethology Institute