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Frequently Asked Questions

• What age groups are Pet Care Courses designed for?

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  Pet Care Courses cater to multiple age groups. Children aged 4-12 can attend programs like Virtual Barn Experience and Baa, Cluck, Neigh. Ages 7-12 have access to farm animal interaction courses. Ages 10-14 can participate in Tricks for Treats and RSPCA Inspector for a Day. Secondary students in years 9-12 can attend Animal Career Discovery Day. Adults aged 16 and above can enroll in Pet First Aid and Beginners Guide to Dog Grooming. Courses for ages 14 and above include We Bought a Farmlet and Equine Excellence.

• Are there hands-on or practical components in these courses?

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  Yes, the majority of courses include practical, hands-on elements. Pet First Aid features a blended delivery model with an online theory module followed by a practical workshop where participants apply bandages, administer CPR, and perform physical assessments. Beginners Guide to Dog Grooming covers nail trimming, ear cleaning, and de-shedding techniques. Farm-focused courses like We Bought a Farmlet and Equine Excellence are led by experts with hands-on experience. Wildlife programs like Zoo Experience with Chris Humfrey include live demonstrations and personal zoo tours with a maximum of 15 students per session to ensure interactive engagement.

• What topics are covered in dog behavior and training courses?

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  Dog behavior courses address specific behavioral challenges. Reactive to Responsive seminars teach fear-free methods to reduce reactivity to environmental triggers. The Bark Stops Here course identifies causes of excessive barking and provides targeted solutions. Barking Management Seminar is designed for animal industry professionals. Good Dog Masterclass courses cover keeping dogs mentally stimulated and teaching relaxation techniques. Managing Aggression Between Dogs helps owners understand and modify aggressive behaviors. Cat and Dog Body Language teaches recognition of fear, anxiety, and aggression signals in both species.

• Do courses require participants to bring their pets?

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  No. Several courses specifically note that pets are not required or not permitted. Reactive to Responsive seminars explicitly state 'This is a human only event. You do not bring your dog,' though service and assistance dogs are excepted. Virtual Barn Experience is completed from home without animals present. Most RSPCA facility-based programs for children are delivered by qualified staff without requiring parent attendance. However, courses like Caring for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs and Backyard Chooks for Families are hands-on workshops where participants interact with animals on-site.

• What formats are available for pet care learning?

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  Courses are offered in multiple formats to suit different preferences. Online learning modules include Rabbits and Guinea Pigs care and microchipping education. Blended delivery combines online theory with in-person workshops, such as Pet First Aid with approximately 1 hour of pre-learning followed by practical sessions. Live webinars with Q&A components include Feline Harmony Project (4-part series), RSPCA Horse Welfare Evenings, and various expert-led sessions on cattle and equine health. In-person workshops and seminars are available for hands-on learning. Recorded webinars provide on-demand access to content on topics like biosecurity and livestock care.

• Are there specialized courses for specific animals beyond dogs and cats?

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  Yes, courses cover a range of animals. Rabbit and guinea pig care is addressed through both online modules and practical workshops like Caring for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs. Equine courses include Equine Excellence for horse and pony owners, and RSPCA Horse Welfare Evenings covering laminitis, hoof care, and dental health. Livestock management is covered in We Bought a Farmlet (sheep, goats, cattle, alpacas, pigs) and hand-rearing young livestock webinars. Farm animal interaction programs include Virtual Barn Experience and Baa, Cluck, Neigh. Backyard chicken and guinea pig family workshops provide practical husbandry knowledge. Cattle health webinars address body condition scoring and feeding management.