Behaviour

Re: Behaviour

Ginnie13 — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:20:01 GMT

[quote user="Jo Mackenzie"]Im halfway through the Compass Canine Behaviour and Psychology diploma and plan to go on the the advanced course too when I finish this one, I love that I can pay per module and do it in my own time[/quote]

Hi Jo,

Literally just signed up to the compass behaviour and psychology dip. i thought once i paid that i'd be directed straight to where i do my studying but this hasnt happened- was it the same for you? I'm paying-per-module as well but by the looks of it they are sending me something out but i thought it was an e-course? so yeah a bit confused really just wondered when you got started??

Re: Behaviour

Jo Mackenzie — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:05:04 GMT

Im halfway through the Compass Canine Behaviour and Psychology diploma and plan to go on the the advanced course too when I finish this one, I love that I can pay per module and do it in my own time (although it can be difficult to motivate myself to study without deadlines!) But it was great over the xmas and new year period when I was really busy personally and at work, as I could just put studying on hold until life was a little less hectic! Personally I think working as a VN really helps, as many people come in with their dog for a medical problem then happen to mention in passing that "hes always grumpy and snaps at us if we try to move him off the sofa" or something similar. The vets at my work are really supportive of my interest in behaviour and when something like this is mentioned will tell the client "our vet nurse is studying behaviour, you can have a chat to her and see if she can help", so people who didnt realise they had problems can be helped. At the moment I am only charging a standard nurse consult fee as Im not qualified in behaviour, and I make sure the clients are aware of that, but most of them are more than happy with the situation as it is cheaper for them than going to a behaviourist and means they dont have to be referred to a behaviourist elsewhere. The other benefit of doing it through work is that if I feel a case would benefit from medication which I cant prescribe there is always a vet on hand who can prescribe for me. I would love to focus more on behaviour on the future but dont really see myself being able to make a living from it without working as a vet nurse at the same time, or at least still doing some OOH nursing shifts, I think for me behaviour will always be a supplementary rather than a primary income. A lot does depend on the other options available to people in your area as well, people often will go for the cheapest option rather than the best qualified.

Re: Behaviour

Purple_Hiccup — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:25:04 GMT

Thats brilliant thank you! definatly answered my question. think i might see if i can go for it. Looking at the courses on there they all seem ok, but didnt want to pay for one start it and realise ive done similar..... or worse its rubbish! thanks again. x

Re: Behaviour

funkyfish — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 22:03:37 GMT

Hi! Happy to answer any questions! Its not essay based- there are some module questions where you have to write a page or so about a topic- its more to prove you can research a subject, form and back up an opinion etc. Its quite hands off, you get sent a booklet with questions to answer and when you have done it you send it back for marking. Tutors will answer emails if you have questions, but there are no dead lines which can be good or bad (bad for me!) depending on how you look at it!

I don't know about funding, it is recognised as BVNA CPD which is good. You can pay for each module as you go I think.

I LOVE the work and the research, but struggle with finding the time to write it all up and sort the referencing etc. TBH at the mo I am struggling balancing work, life and studying! I should have finished the course a year ago, and I'm only just writing up module 5! It is my mission to finish it this year!!! All this is partly as before I started this course I asked the boss for a couple hours a week/fortnight to, in work time, do some reading/writing up of stuff if we were having a quiet week and we were fully staffed. This has now been stopped for no apparent reason! But saying that I have made the course fees back and more so far in consults and expanding puppy parties etc. So the practice had benefitted. Humm, must have a word with the boss again!

Hope this helps!

Re: Behaviour

Purple_Hiccup — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:51:11 GMT

Hi funkyfish,

was just wondering how your finding the compass course? it seems really good. are you aware of any funding that can be looked into? is it all essay based? Do you manage to fit it in with your job? sorry for all the questions... i love canine behaviour, have done the think dog cert, but didnt think enough of the course to do the next stage. the coape course last time i looked into it was too expensive.

sorry for all the questions,

Re: Behaviour

wendy scott — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 16:34:20 GMT

Hi there, any behaviourists i know other than RCVS certified behaviourists have another job as well as being a behaviourist as it does not pay well. I tried to do the nursing and behaviour as i love behaviour and would have loved to do the COAPE diploma but without backing was unable so went to uni instead to do a biology degree with the view to returning to an aspect of behaviour when i am done. At the moment with all the changes happening with the regulation of behaviourists it's not the best time to make a decision to become a behaviourist. It may be worth persevering with nurse placements until a decision has been made. I can be tricky juggling nursing and behaviour i ended up doing a lot of over time to fit it in around my duties sometime with no payment. Bit i loved it and the reward from seeing an animal turn around was in some cases reward enough.

Hope you find your way whichever you chose to follow.

Wendy :)

Re: Behaviour

funkyfish — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:49:06 GMT

HI! i've been running behaviour clinics at my practice for about 7 years now. I do this along side my nuring duties. Some times I'm mega busy - can be all day just phone calls and consults- then nothing for months as people can't/won't bring animals in for a consult.

The most important thing is to have a recognised qualification and aim to be accredited to set your self appart from the rest of the 'behaviourists/trainers' out there! There are some really 'special' people calling them selves behaviourists... One person near me walks dogs and is now a behaviourist as she has read all Caesar Milan's books.....

I am half way through a course with Compass Education- the Advanced Diploma in Canine behav. Management which has just been upgraded to a foundation degree and is recognised by the BVNA for CPD. It will hopefully get me affiliated with the Behaviour and training council after being registered by the UKRCB.

Behaviour can be very rewarding, but its mostly very frustrating! Most people want a magic pill to make their pet more acceptable to them. Few things I see are actual problems, just unacceptable for the owners-such as barking, chasing cars, interdog reactivity, resource guarding, scratching furniture etc.

I do a 1hr consult (history taking can take 30-40 mins), give some home work- write a full report to be received within 48yrs and a phone call 7 days later. I hear back from approx 20% of clients- even ones with severe probs that need months of work as people seem to think that just having the consult will sort the problem.

With your back ground I think you will find any good standard behaviour course (Compass or COAPE) interesting and many things will cross over as understanding neurobiology is a big help.

Try getting How Dogs Learn by Burch & Bailey off Amazon and have a read. Can give u a list of good books that help explain inherited breed traits and normal dog behaviour/ same with cats. That can help understand behaviour and give you and Idea of problems you might encounter.

Also look on the APBC (www.apbc.org.uk) for a practitioner near you that you could see practice with?

Re: Behaviour

Alison Clare Hickman — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 08:07:26 GMT

I do know a woman who does the dog behavioural thing (after getting a specific degree in animal behaviour). Says it doesn't really pay her enough compared to her dog walking business, and is far more time-consuming for the income received, but she does do some work as a supplement to her main business. She has said that as some vets have a qualification clients tend to refer to the vet and not her as they are usually the first port of call for the clients concerns, plus she cannot compete for price (hence the 'not paying enough' comment earlier). Might be a good idea to research who does what in your area first before launching into a new career choice and later finding you cannot compete? You would also find that as a Vet Nurse, at least in my experience, you would not be able to fully practice behavioural science, this tends to be the vet remit , or would be at least be only supplementary to your 'normal' nursing duties. Other nurses may differ?