Whether you are applying for an Animal Activities Licence, working in the pet care industry, or looking to strengthen your professional knowledge, this comprehensive course provides the essential foundation every pet professional should have.
Designed to meet the knowledge areas recommended within Animal Activities Licensing guidance in England, this course is suitable for dog walkers, pet sitters, groomers, daycare staff, boarding providers, breeders, trainers, retail staff, rescue workers, veterinary support staff, and anyone responsible for the care and welfare of animals.
Through practical, easy-to-understand learning, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to provide safe, compassionate, and professional care while supporting the highest standards of animal welfare.
What You’ll Learn
Throughout the course you’ll explore:
Animal Welfare – Understanding the Five Welfare Needs, recognising good welfare, and promoting positive physical and emotional wellbeing.
Animal Handling – Safe, low-stress handling techniques for a range of situations while protecting both animals and handlers.
Health & Safety – Managing risks, maintaining safe working practices, manual handling, PPE, and preventing accidents in animal care environments.
Biosecurity – Preventing the spread of infectious diseases through effective hygiene, cleaning, disinfection, quarantine, and infection control procedures.
Behaviour & Communication – Recognising normal and abnormal behaviour, understanding body language, reducing stress, and communicating effectively with animals and owners.
Animal Feeding – Meeting nutritional requirements, understanding different diets, safe food preparation and storage, and recognising feeding-related concerns.
Disease Prevention & Control – Vaccination awareness, parasite control, disease transmission, early recognition of illness, and implementing preventative measures.
Recognition of Sick & Injured Animals – Identifying common signs of illness, injury, pain, and distress, understanding when veterinary intervention is required, and responding appropriately in an emergency.
Who This Course Is For
This course is ideal for:
Licensed Animal Activities businesses
Dog walkers
Pet sitters
Home boarders
Daycare providers
Dog groomers
Animal trainers and behaviour professionals
Breeders
Pet shop staff
Rescue and rehoming organisations
Veterinary care assistants
Students beginning a career in animal care
Anyone wanting to improve their knowledge of responsible animal care
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Understand the legal and ethical responsibilities of caring for animals.
Apply best practices for maintaining high standards of animal welfare.
Handle animals safely and confidently using low-stress techniques.
Maintain a safe working environment and minimise risks.
Implement effective biosecurity and infection prevention measures.
Recognise animal behaviour and communicate appropriately with both animals and owners.
Meet animals’ nutritional and feeding requirements.
Help prevent disease through good management practices.
Recognise signs of illness, injury, pain, or distress and know when veterinary care is required.
Demonstrate knowledge aligned with the recommended subject areas within Animal Activities Licensing guidance.
Why Choose This Course?
This course has been developed to support professional standards across the pet care industry. While it reflects the knowledge areas recommended for Animal Activities Licensing, it is equally valuable for all pet professionals seeking to enhance their competence, confidence, and commitment to excellent animal care.
Whether you’re new to the industry or an experienced professional looking to refresh your knowledge, this course provides practical, evidence-based learning that can be applied immediately in everyday practice.
