Course Category: Single Course

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.

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

“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.

11. 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.

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

• Abrantes, R. (1997) Dog Language – An Encyclopedia Of Canine Behavior. Wakan Tanka Publishers, Naperville.
• Abrantes, R. (2016) Animal Training My Way—The Merging of Ethology and Behaviorism. Wakan Tanka Publishers.
• Dehasse, J. (1994) Sensory, Emotional and Social Development of the Young Dog. The Bulletin for veterinary Clinical Ethology, vol.2, n°1-2, pp 6-29.
• Fox, M.W. (1971) Integrative development of the brain and behavior in the dog. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
• McFarland, D. (1982) The Oxford Companion to Animal Behaviour. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
• McFarland, D. (1998) Animal Behaviour. Benjamin Cummings. 3rd ed.
• Scott J.P., Fuller J.L. (1965): Dog Behavior: The Genetic Basis. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

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 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.”

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.

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.

• Abrantes, R. 1997. Dog Language – An Encyclopedia of Canine Behavior. Wakan Tanka Publishers.
• Abrantes, R. 1997. Dog Language – An Encyclopedia of Canine Behavior. (eBook edition).

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

• Abrantes, R. (1997) The Evolution of Canine Social Behavior. Wakan Tanka Publishers.
• Abrantes, R. (2004) Evolution of Canine Social Behavior, 2nd edition. (eBook edition)
• Case, L. P. (2005) The Dog: Its Behavior, Nutrition and Health. Wiley-Blackwell.
• McFarland, D. (1982) The Oxford Companion to Animal Behaviour. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
• McFarland, D. (1998) Animal Behaviour. Benjamin Cummings. 3rd ed.
• Zimen, E. (1981) The Wolf: His Place in the Natural World. Souvenir Press.

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 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.

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.

“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.

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, 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.

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!

“EFR for Animals”

by M. J. Cunha, DVM.

Book contents

• What is EFR—Emergency First Response?
• The ABC of EFR.
• Common injuries.

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 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.

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

“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.

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.

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 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!

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

“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

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.

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

• Although not mandatory, we recommend that you supplement your readings with:
• Abrantes, R. (2016). Animal Training My Way—The Merging of Ethology and Behaviorism. WT Publishers.
• Chance, P. (2008). Learning and Behavior: Active Learning Edition. Cengage Learning; 6 edition.
• McFarland, D. (1982) The Oxford Companion to Animal Behaviour. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
• McFarland, D. (1998) Animal Behaviour. Benjamin Cummings. 3rd ed.

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 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.

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

“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.

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.