Postgraduate Course: Clinical Animal Behaviour (AWAB11036)
Course Outline
| School | Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course is an introduction to the field of clinical animal behaviour with a particular focus on dogs and cats. |
| Course description |
In this course, students will gain an appreciation of the interaction between health and behaviour in domestic/captive animals and build on their understanding of the development, diagnosis and management of behavioural disorders and conflicts in a range of companion animal species.
Course Objectives:
- Critically evaluate the interaction between health and behaviour in companion animals and be able to recognise the impact of nutrition and medical disorders, especially the role of pain on behaviour.
- Discuss the theories underlying a range of behaviour problems and be able to gather information relevant to a case, in order to critically evaluate and appraise it.
- Demonstrate how a scientific understanding of the biology and normal species specific behaviour can be applied to training and the treatment of problematic behaviour in a range of companion animal species
- Be able to critically appraise a broad range of training techniques and training aids and evaluate treatment and training options based on the principles of learning theory
- Evaluate the scientific basis and assess the ethical implications of a range of adjuncts used in the management of problem behaviour, including behavioural therapy, psychopharmacology, pheromonatherapy and dietary interventions
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | Nil |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
MVM Online Learning Block 2 |
| Course Start Date |
05/01/2026 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Online in-course assessments will incorporate a variety of activities constituting 100% of the overall course mark. These in-course assessments provide the opportunity to give students feedback on their performance during the course, and will include:
- written assessment (40%)
- individual animal training assignment (60%)
|
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided using compulsory discussion boards in weeks 1-3 on a topic aligned to the first assignment (due week 6).
Alongside feedback on both summative assessments, feedback will be provided on a compulsory formative task related to Assessment 2. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate and apply knowledge of learning theory and training aids to real life scenarios via the development of training protocols
- Critically review relevant literature within the field of Clinical Animal Behaviour
- Critically evaluate the scientific basis for and assess the ethical implications of a range of adjuncts used in the management of problem behaviour and make informed judgements as to their practical application
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Reading List
| Available via TALIS Aspire |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
1) Aspiration and personal development - Students are encouraged to build and reflect on existing practical/clinical skills and knowledge in a number of different ways relevant to the field of clinical animal behaviour.
2) Research and enquiry - Students will further hone their critical reading and writing skills within the field of clinical animal behaviour, fostering an ethos of evidence based practice.
3) Personal effectiveness - Students will be able to demonstrate autonomy in their ability to apply knowledge gained within this course to a practical task. This will require problem solving skills as well as an ability to adapt to the challenges of working with animals while maintaining animal welfare and ethical integrity.
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| Special Arrangements |
None |
| Keywords | Dog behaviour,cat behaviour,behavioural medicine,psychopharmacology |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Amy Miele
Tel: (0131 6)51 7396
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Elizabeth Wright
Tel: (0131 6)50 6272
Email: |
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