Animal Behaviour
The purpose of the course is to equip learners to acquire the knowledge, skill and competence to understand the behavioural strategies of a variety of domestic and wild animal species and to care for and handle domestic and pet animals appropriately.
| Award Name | Level 5 Component Award (Level 5 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Minor |
| Awarding Body | QQI |
| NFQ Level | Level 5 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 5 Component Award (Level 5 NFQ) | Minor | QQI | Level 5 NFQ |
Duration
10 Weeks Tuesday & Thursday 6.30 - 9.30
Entry Requirements
Education: Applicants seeking entry to the programme should have achieved a minimum of a QQI Level 4 Major Award or its equivalent prior to entry to the programme.
Aptitude: Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential, including verbal and written command of the English language. CERFL proficiency at B2 is required for access to this course for those whose first language is not English.
Previous Experience: No Previous Experience necessary however Applicants should, where possible, have some previous experience working in a Animal care environment. This exposure will help to establish an applicants suitability for Animal Care as an occupation.
Further information
Start Date 15/09/2026
End Date 19/11/2026
If you love animals and would like to understand more about them, then this course will be for you.
The purpose of the course is to equip learners to acquire the knowledge, skill and competence to understand the behavioural strategies of a variety of domestic and wild animal species and to care for and handle domestic and pet animals appropriately.
The course is taught by our experienced instructor who will work with learners from all walks of life, those with previous qualifications, and those returning after a long time, or for the first time.
Learning Outcomes Learners will be able to:
1 Explain how animals have adapted to best suit their environments through the process of natural selection
2 Describe the natural groupings of animals, categorising as either social, solitary or gregarious
3 Discuss the natural habitats and housing environments including native species to global continents, exploring the suitability of animals to specific climate and making recommendations for housing these animals in captivity
4 Summarise the different courtship behaviours of animals and explain why courtship is important
5 Discuss different reproductive and nurturing strategies performed by a variety of species to include examples of annelids, molluscs, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
6 Explain the main functions of juvenile behaviour, differentiating between instinct and innate behaviour, classical and operant conditioning
7 Comment on the different ways animals orientate to include responses to local stimuli as well as stimuli for more elaborate forms of navigation, homing and migration
8 Explore predatory and prey responses so as to appropriately approach, handle and restrain a variety of animals
9 Apply a variety of ethological sampling techniques to record general or specific behaviours performed by captive animals
10 Investigate the behavioural strategies of a specific domestic animal comparing to those recorded through studying a wild captive equivalent
11 Produce a timeline of predicted domestication dates of a variety of specie and detail related wild animals and predicted extinct ancestors
12 Interpret physical, physiological, behavioural and social adaptations of a variety of animals and how they aid those animals, survival as either predatory or prey species
13 Interpret the visual, vocal, chemical and tactile inter and intra-specie communication of a variety of domestic and wild animal specie
14 Examine stereotypical behaviours in animals, including making recommendations for behavioural and environmental enrichment
15 Summarise a behavioural study or experiment
16 Contribute personal input to discussions on animal behaviour without forming anthropomorphic views.
Animal Behaviour (5N0751)
Animal Behaviour (5N0751)
Contact
Evening Course Recruitment
Phone: 01 4275400
Email: taevening@ddletb.ie