Pet Sitting, Training, and Grooming Microcredential

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Program Description:

In this microcredential students will learn key skills and knowledge needed for pet sitting, training, and grooming services. Students will also learn how to successfully start a business to offer these services and the business skills they will need.

Required Courses:

VTS 159 Restraint & Handling

VTS 250 Behavioral Medicine for Animals

VTS 147 Pet CPR, Recognizing Emergencies, & First Aid

BUS 161 Principles of Management and/or BUS 115 Entrepreneurship

Learning Outcomes - at the end of the microcredential, students will be able to:

Pet Sitting

Describe the role and tasks of pet sitters along with an understanding of the different care needs of dogs and cats
Demonstrate learning about feeding, watering, and exercising pets
Describe emergency situations, such as a lost pet, how to handle these, along with when to seek veterinary care
Analyze strategies for dealing with pet behavioral issues

Pet Training

Identify the components of canine training, know commands to teach dogs basic obedience, and use of dog-training support equipment and food
Analyze common behavioral problems and strategies for prevention and treatment; develop behavior modification plans for dogs
Identify canine commands (e.g. sit, down, stay, come, heel, off, and no) and know how to use them and train for response, as well as recreational activities for dogs

Pet Grooming

Identify the duties of a pet groomer and how to establish a grooming business
Identify grooming tools and demonstrate understanding of their uses and how to bathe, dry, and prepare a dog for grooming
Demonstrate learning of grooming dogs from all groups, mixed breeds and puppies
Describe strategies for grooming dogs who have health or behavioral problems

Entrepreneurship

Create a business plan for a pet business including start-up costs as well as the ongoing costs of running a pet business, target audience, marketing, customer service, licenses, contracts, and insurance.