Animal Behaviourist Science & Engineering Professionals

The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.

Recommended Books

2 books

Routledge Handbook of Animal Welfare

Andrew Knight, Clive Phi…

2022

Preview

Animal Welfare and Animal Protection Law - A Practitioner’s Guide

John Goodwin, Samuel Mar…

2026

Safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, …

The evolutionary history of animals and the development of species and their behaviour through domestication.

Recommended Books

1 book

The Behavior of Animals

Johan J. Bolhuis, Luc-Al…

2021

Preview

Awareness of hygiene and bio-security measures when working with animals, including causes, transmission and prevention of diseases and use of policies, materials and equipment.

Types, methods and use of enrichment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, including the provision of environmental stimuli, feeding activities, puzzles, items for manipulation, social and training …

The study of the central and peripheral nervous system of animals, including its components such as the fiber tracts and the visual, sensory, auditory and motor pathways.

Recommended Books

2 books

An Introduction to the Finer Anatomy of the Central Nervous System Based Upon That of the Albino Rat

E. HORNE CRAIGIE

2025

Animals Nervous Systems

The Open The Open Course…

2019

The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.

The natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.

Universally recognized animal welfare needs as applied to species, situation and occupation. These are: need for a suitable environment need for a suitable diet need to be able to exhibit …

The study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.

Physical, behavioural and environmental signs of health and ill health in various animals.

Animal responses to specific conditions or stimuli. Animal behaviour, ethology, learning theory, training methods, equipment, as well as communicating and working with animals and humans.

The specialism of veterinary medicine dealing with the study of the functioning of the nervous system of animals, including the functioning of nerve conductions and ion channels, the massed responses …

Prepare and provide information to individuals or groups of people on how to promote the health and well-being of animals, and how risks to animal health and welfare may be …

Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, …

Observe and evaluate the behaviour of animals in order to work with them safely and recognise deviations from normal behaviour that signal compromised health and welfare.

Direct, control or restrain some or part of an animal's, or a group of animals', movement.

Work safely and communicate effectively with individuals and groups of people who are in challenging circumstances. This would include recognition of signs of aggression, distress, threatening and how to address …

Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.

Provide exercise opportunities that are suitable for respective animals and meet their particular physical requirements.

Plan and use appropriate biosafety measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure effective overall biosecurity. Maintain and follow biosecurity procedures and infection control when working with animals, including recognising …

Plan and use appropriate hygiene measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure an effective overall hygiene. Maintain and follow hygiene procedures and regulations when working with animals, communicate site …

Plan, manage and evaluate the application of the five universally recognised animal welfare needs as appropriate to species, situation and own occupation.

Take responsibility for lifelong learning and continuous professional development. Engage in learning to support and update professional competence. Identify priority areas for professional development based on reflection about own practice …

Monitor animals' physical condition and behaviour and report any concerns or unexpected changes, including signs of health or ill-health, appearance, condition of the animals' accommodation, intake of food and water …

Provide an enriching environment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, and including adjusting environmental conditions, delivering feeding and puzzle exercises, and implementing manipulation, social, and training activities.

Provide training in basic handling, habituation, and obedience to enable the completion of day-to-day tasks while minimising the risks to the animal, the handler, and others.

Ensure work harmony between humans and animals, regarding to physical characteristics, capacity, temperament and potential.

Gather information about the animal behaviour issues, interpret relevant information about the animal, assess the impact of external factors, and assess husbandry/management practices on the animal to develop a plan …

Assess the training needs of the animal and select appropriate methods and activities to meet training objectives.

Develop programmes to train humans and animals work together. Set objectives and targets. Evaluate the implementation of the training programme and progress by both the person and animal concerned.

Implement training programmes for animals for basic training purposes or to meet specific objectives, following a developed training programme, and reviewing and recording progress against set objectives.

Promote good practice and work with compassion to sustain and promote high standards of animal welfare at all times by adapting personal behaviour and managing environmental factors.

Ensure a safe and humane interaction with the animal avoiding factors that will negatively affect their behaviours. This includes the use of humane training aids/equipment, as well as explaining their …

Select animals for training using selection criteria including intended outcome of training, age, temperament, species and breed differences. Selection of animals for training includes basic training or training to meet …

Train animals and individuals to work together, including the match between individuals and animals, the design of integrated training programmes for people and animals, implementation of integrated training programmes, evaluation …

Animal nutrition, agronomy, rural economics, animal husbandry, hygiene and bio-security, ethology, protection and herd health management.

Spelling and meaning of commonly used terminology of veterinary terms.

Change approach to situations based on unexpected and sudden changes in people's needs and mood or in trends; shift strategies, improvise and naturally adapt to those circumstances.

Analyse data that interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.

Inspect the animal for any external signs of parasites, disease or injury. Use this information to determine own actions and report your findings to owners.

Collaborate with veterinary and other animal related professionals through communication of animal details, case records and summary reports orally or via written or electronic transfer.

Analyse, transform and model data in order to discover useful information and to support decision-making.

Ask questions appropriate to the setting and purpose, with the aim to elicit accurate information on the animal's health condition, in order to facilitate a correct diagnosis.

Make sure animal enclosures such as habitats, terrariums, cages or kennels are in the appropriate and hygienic condition. Clean the enclosure and provide new bedding material if called for.

Create and maintain clinical records for animals according to national regulatory requirements.

Make a choice from several alternative possibilities that promote the animal's well-being.

Identify root causes of problems and submit proposals for effective and long-term solutions.

Guide and support less knowledgeable or less experienced colleagues.

Use different channels and learning styles such as journals, courses, and conferences to obtain new information, knowledge, skills, and know-how in relation to working with animals.

Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

Ensure good relations with other animal welfare establishments and agencies.

Adhere to veterinary professional codes of practice and legislation.