Companion Dogs · NICS-05
Canine Behaviour Specialist
90-day specialist canine behaviour course from NICS. Master formal risk assessment and complex behaviour modification for aggression, severe anxiety and multi-pet cases. Professional capstone programme.
- Specialist
- 90 days
- ₹89,999
- Onsite · Indore
About this course
Canine Behaviour Specialist is a 90-day capstone professional programme covering complex and higher-risk canine behaviour cases: established aggression with a bite history, severe separation anxiety, complex multi-pet aggression involving injury, fear-based aggression, and generalised anxiety and phobia presentations such as noise sensitivity.
Learners develop formal risk and bite-severity assessment methodology, structured programme design for higher-risk cases, and the professional judgement to work alongside veterinary professionals where medical or pharmacological support may be a necessary part of a case. Case supervision — reviewing and being reviewed on live casework — is a defining feature of this programme, reflecting how complex behavioural cases are genuinely managed in professional practice.
The responsibility carried at this level is that of an independent professional: learners are trained to hold full accountability for a complex case, including its safety management, its documentation, and the judgement of when a case requires input beyond their own expertise. This is a materially different responsibility from the supervised casework of Advanced Canine Behaviour.
As the terminal course in the NICS Canine Behaviour pathway, this programme also introduces the elements of independent practice: consultancy structure, professional ethics and boundaries, referral networks, and — where relevant — advisory work for shelters, rescues and other organisations.
Who this is for
- Graduates of Advanced Canine Behaviour seeking full professional behaviour-consultant competence
- Experienced trainers whose practice regularly surfaces complex or higher-risk behavioural cases
- Shelter and rescue professionals responsible for behaviour and safety policy
- Learners intending to establish an independent canine behaviour consultancy practice
What you will learn
Theory
- Formal risk and bite-severity assessment methodology
- Complex case analysis, including multiple co-occurring presentations and contributing medical factors
- The role of veterinary and pharmacological support in behaviour modification, and appropriate collaboration boundaries
- Professional ethics, scope of practice and liability considerations in independent behavioural consultancy
Practical
- Conducting a formal risk assessment and bite-severity classification
- Designing and delivering a full behaviour modification programme for a complex or higher-risk case
- Structured case supervision — presenting and reviewing live casework
- Advisory report writing for organisational clients such as shelters or rescues
Professional Application
- Structuring an independent behavioural consultancy practice
- Collaborating professionally with veterinary clinics on combined-management cases
- Advising organisations on behaviour and safety policy
Safety & Welfare
- Formal risk management for cases with a genuine bite or injury history
- Recognising when a case's risk profile requires management beyond behaviour modification alone
- Duty-of-care and liability considerations specific to independent practice
Problem Solving
- Managing a case that is not resolving despite a well-designed, well-implemented programme
- Recognising when a case requires multi-professional management rather than behavioural intervention alone
- Applying formal case supervision to identify blind spots in the learner's own case management
Curriculum highlights
- 1 Established Aggression with a Bite History
- 2 Severe Separation Anxiety
- 3 Complex Multi-Pet Aggression (Injury History)
- 4 Fear-Based Aggression
- 5 Generalised Anxiety & Phobia Presentations
Programme structure
The 90-day programme is organised into four phases.
| Days | Focus | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1–15 | Phase 1 — Specialist Assessment Methodology | formal risk and bite-severity assessment, complex case analysis, veterinary collaboration principles, case documentation standards, and case supervision practice introduced. |
| 16–60 | Phase 2 — Core Complex Casework | structured casework across all five specialist case types — established aggression with a bite history, severe separation anxiety, complex multi-pet aggression, fear-based aggression, and generalised anxiety and phobia presentations — each addressed in a dedicated block of approximately nine days covering assessment, programme design, implementation practice and case supervision review. |
| 61–80 | Phase 3 — Independent Practice Skills | consultancy structure, organisational advisory practice, referral network development, realistic prognosis communication, and professional ethics and liability. |
| 81–90 | Phase 4 — Capstone Case Portfolio & Final Assessment | learners assemble a documented portfolio covering a case from each specialist category, present it for formal case supervision, and complete the final theory and practical assessment. |
Outcomes
- Conduct a formal risk and bite-severity assessment for a complex behavioural case
- Analyse a complex case involving multiple contributing factors, including possible medical involvement
- Design and implement a complete behaviour modification programme for established aggression, severe separation anxiety, complex multi-pet aggression, fear-based aggression, and generalised anxiety or phobia presentations
- Collaborate professionally with veterinary practitioners on combined-management cases
- Communicate a realistic case prognosis, including lifetime-management or negative-outcome recommendations, honestly and constructively
- Document a case to a professional, referral-ready standard
- Participate in and lead structured case supervision
- Advise an organisation such as a shelter or rescue on behaviour and safety policy
Frequently asked questions
Who can join this course?
This course is for graduates of Advanced Canine Behaviour, experienced trainers whose practice surfaces complex or higher-risk cases, and shelter or rescue professionals responsible for behaviour and safety policy.
Is previous experience required?
Yes. Completion of Advanced Canine Behaviour, including demonstrated competence in case history-taking, ABC analysis and graduated intervention planning, is required before starting this course.
How much practical training is included?
This capstone course combines seminar-style instruction with sustained, supervised applied casework and continuous structured case supervision throughout its 90 days.
What theory is taught?
Learners study formal risk and bite-severity assessment, complex multi-factor case analysis, the boundary between behavioural and veterinary scope of practice, and professional ethics and liability.
What training methods are used?
This course uses formal risk-based programme design, systematic desensitisation and counter-conditioning, and structured case supervision. All methods remain reward-based and welfare-first; punishment-based and confrontational methods are not taught.
Does this course cover dangerous or bite-history aggression?
Yes. This is the NICS course specifically designed for established aggression with a bite history, alongside severe separation anxiety, complex multi-pet aggression, fear-based aggression and generalised anxiety presentations.
How is the course assessed?
Assessment is competency-based, covering theory, formal risk assessment and programme-design practical skills, and a capstone case portfolio presented for formal case supervision.
Where can these skills be used professionally?
Graduates apply these skills in independent professional behaviour consultancy practice, shelter and rescue advisory roles, veterinary-collaborative case management, and supervisory roles overseeing other professionals' casework.
What is the next course in this pathway?
This is the culminating course of the NICS Canine Behaviour pathway. Graduates may pursue lateral professional development through other NICS specialisms, including the Aggressive Behaviour Control pathway.
What professional pathway does this course support?
This course completes the NICS Canine Behaviour pathway: Introduction to Obedience → Advanced Obedience → Introduction to Canine Behaviour → Advanced Canine Behaviour → Canine Behaviour Specialist.
Does completing this course guarantee employment or a consultancy business?
No. This course provides structured, professional-level training in specialist canine behaviour skills. It does not guarantee employment, income or business outcomes, which depend on the individual's further practice, experience and effort.
How much does Canine Behaviour Specialist cost?
The course fee for Canine Behaviour Specialist is ₹89,999.
How long does Canine Behaviour Specialist take to complete?
Canine Behaviour Specialist runs for 90 Days.
What level is Canine Behaviour Specialist?
Canine Behaviour Specialist is a Specialist-level capstone course, the most advanced stage of its NICS pathway.
Which NICS pathway does Canine Behaviour Specialist belong to?
Canine Behaviour Specialist sits within the Companion Dogs pathway at the National Institute of Canine Studies.
Is Canine Behaviour Specialist conducted online or in person?
Canine Behaviour Specialist is delivered onsite through hands-on, in-person training at NICS.
What topics are covered in Canine Behaviour Specialist?
Canine Behaviour Specialist covers: Established Aggression with a Bite History, Severe Separation Anxiety, Complex Multi-Pet Aggression (Injury History), Fear-Based Aggression, Generalised Anxiety & Phobia Presentations.
What will I be able to do after completing Canine Behaviour Specialist?
By the end of this course, students will be able to: Conduct a formal risk and bite-severity assessment for a complex behavioural case Analyse a complex case involving multiple contributing factors, including possible medical involvement Design and implement a complete behaviour modification programme for established aggression, severe separation anxiety, complex multi-pet aggression, fear-based aggression, and generalised anxiety or phobia presentations Collaborate professionally with veterinary practitioners on combined-management cases Communicate a realistic case prognosis, including lifetime-management or negative-outcome recommendations, honestly and constructively Document a case to a professional, referral-ready standard Participate in and lead structured case supervision Advise an organisation such as a shelter or rescue on behaviour and safety policy
Who is Canine Behaviour Specialist designed for?
Graduates of Advanced Canine Behaviour seeking full professional behaviour-consultant competence Experienced trainers whose practice regularly surfaces complex or higher-risk behavioural cases Shelter and rescue professionals responsible for behaviour and safety policy Learners intending to establish an independent canine behaviour consultancy practice Completion of Advanced Canine Behaviour, including demonstrated competence in case history-taking, ABC analysis and graduated intervention planning, is required before starting this course.
Do I need to complete another course before Canine Behaviour Specialist?
Yes — Advanced Canine Behaviour is the recommended course to complete before starting Canine Behaviour Specialist.
What is the NICS course code for Canine Behaviour Specialist?
Canine Behaviour Specialist is listed under NICS course code NICS-05.
How do I enrol in Canine Behaviour Specialist?
You can enrol in Canine Behaviour Specialist by selecting it in the NICS course catalogue and sending your enquiry via WhatsApp, or by using the enquiry button on this page.
Ready to enrol in Canine Behaviour Specialist?
Enquire now, or add this course to a learning package. Package discounts of 5–20% are calculated automatically in the catalogue.