Animal behaviourist

An Animal Behaviourist is a specialist who studies the behaviors of animals, seeking to understand the causes, motivations, and evolutionary significance of how animals act in different environments. They work to assess, modify, and manage behavioral issues in animals, whether in domestic settings, zoos, research facilities, or in the wild. Their expertise is crucial in enhancing animal welfare, improving human-animal interactions, and helping animals adapt to their environments. Animal behaviourists work with a range of species, including household pets, wildlife, farm animals, and captive animals in zoos and aquariums.

Animal behaviourists typically do the following:

• Observe and analyze animal behavior in various settings to understand underlying causes and patterns.
• Assess behavioral issues in domestic or captive animals and develop strategies to address problems such as aggression, anxiety, or fear.
• Conduct research on animal behavior to better understand how animals communicate, socialize, and respond to their environments.
• Collaborate with veterinarians, trainers, and zookeepers to improve animal welfare and ensure ethical treatment.
• Implement behavior modification plans using techniques such as positive reinforcement and desensitization.
• Educate pet owners or caretakers on animal psychology and effective training techniques.
• Study the evolutionary and environmental factors that influence animal behavior.
• Participate in conservation efforts by studying the behavior of endangered species in the wild.
• Publish research findings and present at conferences or educational workshops.

The following job titles also refer to animal behaviourist:

ethologist
animal behaviour expert
animal behavior expert
animal behaviourist
animal behaviour specialist
animal behaviour therapist
animal behaviorists
animal behavior specialist
animal behavior therapist

Animal Behaviourists work in diverse environments, depending on their area of specialization. They may work in research laboratories, zoos, wildlife reserves, animal shelters, veterinary clinics, or private homes. Fieldwork may involve observing animals in their natural habitats, which can require travel and exposure to various outdoor conditions. For those working with domestic animals, consultation may take place in clients’ homes or training facilities. The role can be physically demanding, especially when working with large or aggressive animals, and may require patience and skill in handling animals with behavioral issues.

A bachelor’s degree in animal behavior, zoology, psychology, or a related field is typically required to become an Animal Behaviourist. Many pursue advanced degrees (master’s or PhD) in animal behavior, biology, or veterinary sciences, especially for research or academic positions. Practical experience working with animals is crucial, often gained through internships, volunteer work, or employment in veterinary clinics, shelters, or zoos. Specialized certifications, such as from the Animal Behavior Society (ABS), can also enhance credentials. Strong observational, analytical, and communication skills are essential, along with a deep understanding of animal psychology and behavior modification techniques.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Animal behaviourist is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to animal behaviourist.

animal chiropractor
animal physiotherapist
animal osteopath
official veterinarian
specialised veterinarian

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of animal behaviourist.

• Biosecurity related to animals: 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.
• Signs of animal illness: Physical, behavioural and environmental signs of health and ill health in various animals.
• Neuroanatomy of animals: 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.
• Animal evolution: The evolutionary history of animals and the development of species and their behaviour through domestication.
• Animal welfare legislation: 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.
• Animal welfare: 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 normal behaviour patterns
  • need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals
  • need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
• Physiology of animals: The study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.
• Animal training: 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.
• Environmental enrichment for animals: 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 activities.
• Safe work practices in a veterinary setting: 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, equipment and working environment.
• Neurophysiology of animals: 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 of nerve trunks, fiber tracts and nuclei, and inhibitory and excitatory synaptic functions, as well as neuromuscular junctions, different motor unit types and motor control, and the cerebellum.
• Anatomy of animals: The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.
• Animal behaviour: 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.

These skills are necessary for the role of animal behaviourist.

• Control animal movement: Direct, control or restrain some or part of an animal’s, or a group of animals’, movement.
• Manage animal biosecurity: 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 potential health issues and taking appropriate action, communicating site hygiene control measures and biosecurity procedures, as well as reporting to others.
• Design training programmes for individuals and animals: 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.
• Safely interact with animals: 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 use to owners/keepers, to ensure they are used appropriately and the welfare of the animal is protected.
• Provide an enriching environment for animals: 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.
• Assess the compatibility of individuals and animals to work together: Ensure work harmony between humans and animals, regarding to physical characteristics, capacity, temperament and potential.
• Design training programmes for animals: Assess the training needs of the animal and select appropriate methods and activities to meet training objectives.
• Manage animal welfare: Plan, manage and evaluate the application of the five universally recognised animal welfare needs as appropriate to species, situation and own occupation.
• Design plans to address undesirable behaviour in animals: 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 which tackles undesirable behaviour.
• Select animals for training: 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 specific objectives.
• Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting: 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, chemicals, equipment and work environments.
• Manage animal hygiene: 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 hygiene controls and protocols to others. Manage the safe disposal of waste according to destination and local regulations.
• Manage personal professional development: 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 and through contact with peers and stakeholders.
• Implement exercise activities for animals: Provide exercise opportunities that are suitable for respective animals and meet their particular physical requirements.
• Handle veterinary emergencies: Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.
• Monitor the welfare of animals: 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 and environmental conditions.
• Assess animal behaviour: 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.
• Provide animal training: 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.
• Implement training programmes for animals: 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.
• Advise on animal welfare: 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 reduced. Provide recommendations for corrective actions.
• Train animals and individuals to work together: 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 of integrated training programmes for people and animals against agreed outcomes and evaluating the compatibility between individuals and animals in relation to physical characteristics.
• Promote animal welfare: 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.
• Deal with challenging people: 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 them to promote personal safety and that of others.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of animal behaviourist. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Veterinary terminology: Spelling and meaning of commonly used terminology of veterinary terms.
• Animal production science: Animal nutrition, agronomy, rural economics, animal husbandry, hygiene and bio-security, ethology, protection and herd health management.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of animal behaviourist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Take advantage of learning opportunities in veterinary science: 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.
• Treat animals ethically: Carry out activities according to accepted principles of right and wrong, including transparency in work practices and conduct towards clients and their animals.
• Collaborate with animal related professionals: 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.
• Cope with challenging circumstances in the veterinary sector: Maintain a positive attitude during challenging situations such as a misbehaving animal. Work under pressure and adapt to the circumstances in a positive manner.’
• Exercise patience: Have patience by dealing with unexpected delays or other waiting periods without becoming annoyed or anxious.
• Maintain veterinary clinical records: Create and maintain clinical records for animals according to national regulatory requirements.
• Provide mentorship: Guide and support less knowledgeable or less experienced colleagues.
• Practise veterinary professional codes of conduct: Adhere to veterinary professional codes of practice and legislation.
• Use different communication channels: 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.
• Adapt to changing situations: 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.
• Assess animal’s condition: 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.
• Make decisions regarding the animal’s welfare: Make a choice from several alternative possibilities that promote the animal’s well-being.
• Analyse environmental data: Analyse data that interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.
• Maintain relationships with animal welfare establishments: Ensure good relations with other animal welfare establishments and agencies.
• Maintain animal accommodation: 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.
• Interview animal owners on animals’ conditions: 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.
• Inspect data: Analyse, transform and model data in order to discover useful information and to support decision-making.
• Provide improvement strategies: Identify root causes of problems and submit proposals for effective and long-term solutions.

2131 – Biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals

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References

1. Animal behaviourist – ESCO
2. How to become an Animal Behaviourist? | Indeed.com UK
3. Featured image: By Lamiot – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0