Animal Behaviourist Psychologist Job
For many people, working with animals is a dream held since childhood. If you are interested in why animals behave they way they do, and how animals interact with humans, then a career as an animal behaviourist may be right for you.
Animal behaviour consultants work in several different areas of animal care. The most well-known is with domestic pets who display challenging behaviour towards their owners or other animals. The behaviourist will observe and assess the pet, and work with the owners to change their behaviour and that of their pet to benefit everyone involved. Animal behaviourists in this field work predominantly with dogs, but can also be asked to intervene with cats and birds as well along with more exotic animals.
Animal behaviour consultants are also used by animal welfare charities to assess the suitability of rescue animals for re-adoption and to supply professional evidence in court actions for mistreatment. This can be particularly emotionally draining on the individual behaviourist, and can expose them to extremely dangerous animals.
If you are interested in this line of work, then obtaining experience of a wide range of animals is essential. Volunteer work with animal rescue shelters, city farms or grooming parlours is a good place to start. Many behaviourists will specialise in particular types of animal such as dogs or primates, so if you have an interest then try to tailor your work experience to that animal. You will also need experience of dealing with people, in a customer service setting or in administration. Most animal behaviourists work on a self-employed basis, so some knowledge of business and bookkeeping is also very useful.
There are many different animal care courses available at Further Education (FE) colleges across the UK. Most of these will cover the basics of anatomy and physiology, biology, handling, grooming and care. You can begin with an EdExcel BTEC course at either First or National level to gain some good practical experience and basic knowledge. Many colleges have animal departments with one or two exotic animals as well as the traditional rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas.
University courses in animal behaviour and/or psychology in the UK typically require previous experience and educational achievement. Foundation degrees, which generally offer the same classes as the first two years of a standard degree, are often more vocational in their emphasis. Students will be expected to obtain a certain amount of work experience during the course, and will be exposed to more complex biology and scientific observation topics. There may be options to focus on native British animals or companion animal behaviour.
Honours degrees are available at several UK Universities in animal behaviour and psychology, including the University of the West of England at Bristol, Oxford Brookes University and Bangor University in Wales where students can also study zoology. These courses typically require students to submit a dissertation in their final year as a piece of personal research into an aspect of animal behaviour. Upon graduation, it may be possible to study at a Master's level.
While gaining a structured education in animal behaviour is the best way to find employment with an established animal welfare organisation, it is not essential if you wish to become self-employed. Developing your interpersonal skills and the ability to be at ease with troubled animals is of far greater importance.
