Caring for Small Mammals, Reptiles & Non-Commercial Livestock
Caring for Small Mammals, Reptiles & Non-Commercial Livestock
Introduction
This is a Dog Business School Level 2 course designed for pet carers and for pet care professionals.
The course can be taken as a standalone or as an optional add-on to your other courses and qualifications. It is designed to boost your professional knowledge in caring for non-dog species, ensuring you’re well-rounded as a pet carer.
Course overview
This course focuses on the often-overlooked animals in pet care.
The animals covered include:
Cats, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Gerbils, Mice and Rats, Ferrets, Fish, Exotics and Birds including chickens
Learning Objectives
This Level 2 Dog Business School course is designed for pet carers and professionals seeking to expand their knowledge and skills in caring for non-dog species. It can be taken as a standalone course or as an add-on to other qualifications.
The course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the unique needs of various animals, including cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, ferrets, fish, exotics, and birds (including chickens).
You’ll learn about each species, with modules dedicated to their unique requirements:
Key learning objectives include:
- Health Monitoring: Recognize signs of illness or distress across a range of species.
- Exercise Requirements: Understand the specific activity needs and safe handling practices for different animals.
- Nutrition and Feeding: Learn about species-specific dietary needs, foods to avoid, and best practices for balanced nutrition.
- Grooming Techniques: Develop skills for maintaining cleanliness and comfort for each animal type.
- Hygiene and Cleaning: Ensure a safe and hygienic environment tailored to each species’ requirements.
- Behavioural Understanding: Interpret and respond to species-specific behaviours and communication signals.
- Emergency Preparedness: Gain practical knowledge to address urgent situations effectively, such as illness, injury, or environmental hazards.
This course equips participants to offer well-rounded and professional care for a diverse range of pets.
Assessment, Quizzes & Certification
Unlike our regulated qualifications, this course doesn’t have assignments. Instead, you’ll complete quizzes throughout the course to test your knowledge and ensure you’re prepared to care for each species. You must pass these quizzes to continue to the next lesson. Each lesson also includes links to videos and resources for further research, allowing you to deepen your understanding. Upon completing the course with an 80% or higher pass rate, you’ll receive a Certificate of Achievement. This credential marks your professional knowledge and commitment, setting you apart in the dog care industry.
Course Access & Timeline
You’ll have full access to the course materials through our e-learning platform, for 6 months to complete the course at your own pace. However, we recommend setting aside time to fully absorb each lesson and complete the quizzes without rushing.
How You Are Assessed
The qualification is assessed via online
Pass/Whoops (try harder!)
Online Quizzes
(80%+ Pass mark)
Why choose our course
We provide experienced and knowledgeable tutors – education professionals who are also licensed canine practitioners.
The comprehensive course content includes a range of mixed media to keep your learning journey interesting and to cater for different learning styles.
Our convenient online training platform lets you study anywhere, any place.
Unleashing Your Potential: Expert-led Training by Licensed Pet Care Professionals

£79.00
Course Features
Guided learning hours: 4 Hours
Total Qualification Time: 6 hours