Pet Sitter Certification Program

Lesson 1: The Impact of Fear, Anxiety and Stress

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Define fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS)
• Explain changes that occur in a body resulting from elevated levels of fear, anxiety, and stress
• Detail ways in which high stress alters normal thinking and functioning
• Explain some of the ways that chronic stress impacts the body

Lesson 2: Dog and Cat Body Language 101

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Recognize the importance of reading body language signals
• Explain the stress responses known as the “Four Fs”
• Note body language signals indicating rising FAS in dogs and cats

Lesson 3: Considerate Approach

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Define Considerate Approach and give examples of how to employ it while pet sitting dogs and cats
• State how underlying illness and pain impact the animal’s experience
• Describe common signs of pain in animals

Lesson 4: Gentle Control

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Describe Gentle Control and why it’s important
• Describe three strategies involved in positioning a pet for Gentle Control
• Identify at least two Gentle Control tools and why they are useful
• Explain Touch Gradient and how it’s incorporated into Gentle Control handling

Lesson 1: The Impact of Genetics on Behavior

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Describe ways genetics influence behavior
• Understand how key characteristics of different breeds such as Labradors and German shepherds influence their personality and behavior

Lesson 2: Life Stages of Dogs and Cats

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Indicate the timeframe of the socialization periods for dogs and cats
• Explain basic guidelines for successful socialization experiences
• List common challenges experienced during adolescence and how you can help adolescent dogs
• Describe various cognitive changes that senior animals commonly experience

Lesson 3: Enriching Animals’ Lives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Describe why enrichment for pets, especially those who might be stressed while their parents are away, is important
• Give examples of simple enrichment strategies to employ with the pets you are sitting, including food-based, scent-based, and exploration-based

Lesson 4: Training and Behavior Basics

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Describe how classical conditioning and desensitization can help pet sitters when they are working with fearful or anxious pets
• Explain how pet sitters can use capturing, targeting, and shaping with the pets they care for
• Describe the dangers of using punishment and why it should be avoided
• Demonstrate how positive reinforcement can be used to replace unwanted behaviors such as barking, jumping up, scratching the furniture, and more

Lesson 1: Client Intake: What You Should Ask

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• List at least three key pieces of information you should gather about the pet you will be sitting
• Define and give examples of a treat ladder
• Explain three details to secure when obtaining emergency contact information

Lesson 2: Greeting Pets Safely

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Recount two reasons why meeting the pet prior to care is important
• State three ways to reduce pets’ stress when you greet them
• List strategies to keep yourself safe while greeting overly exuberant dogs
• Relay different positives that can be integrated into a meet-and-greet scenario

Lesson 3: Settling In

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Explain stress-reduction methods to employ in the pet’s home
• List actions you can take to help a cat or dog settle in

Lesson 4: Calmer Car Rides and Carriers

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• List ways to prepare the vehicle ahead of time for a Fear Free car ride
• List three tips for encouraging a pet to move into the carrier by choice
• Describe strategies for encouraging a reluctant pet to feel more comfortable with their carrier
• Describe how a pet carrier is best positioned for car travel

Lesson 1: Applying Fear Free Concepts to Home Care

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Describe how the FAS Scale and FAS Spectrum can be incorporated into physical care to monitor and respond appropriately to FAS
• List three Considerate Approach strategies useful for setting up a soothing surrounding environment for the pet’s care
• State three ways Gentle Control can be incorporated for positioning an animal in a stationary position for an aspect of care, like removing a burr from a dog’s coat
• Explain how Touch Gradient helps you handle sensitive areas of the animal’s body, such as a paw or an ear
• Provide two tips for treating a pet with dietary sensitivities and limitations

Lesson 2: Distractions and How to Use Them

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Detail when distraction techniques are useful during home care
• List two limitations of distractions
• Provide two tips for calmer baths

Lesson 3: Touch = Treat

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Explain how a “touch = treat”-type method differs from distraction
• Elaborate on when “touch = treat” is preferable to distraction-based methods

Lesson 4: Accustoming Pets to Tools and Equipment

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Provide a step-by-step plan to introduce care equipment in a less stressful way to the dog or cat
• Incorporate Touch Gradient into bringing tools near the animal for delivery of care
• Relay three training steps for more calmly placing wearable equipment, like an Elizabethan collar (cone)

Lesson 5: Administering Medications

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• List three strategies for Fear Free delivery of topical medications
• List two ways to provide medications more successfully with a pet who dislikes taking pills
• State how distractions may be used while administering ear or eye medications

Lesson 6: Cooperative Care

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Define a Treat-Ment Station
• Explain two steps for familiarizing an animal to a Treat-Ment station space

Lesson 1: Unleashing a Calmer Walk

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• List recommended walking equipment that a Fear Free pet sitter might use for calmer, more controlled walks
• Offer some appropriate options for strong pulling dogs or reactive dogs
• Describe several safe walking strategies for Fear Free pet sitters
• Highlight more effective leash-holding techniques
• Suggest safe, effective ways to break up a dog fight

Lesson 2: Treating and Preventing Stress-Induced Illness

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Elaborate upon how change or lack of predictability can negatively impact pets
• Detail common signs of sickness cats and dogs present when stressed
• List some possible options for dealing with stress diarrhea

Lesson 3: Addressing Behavior Issues

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Explain a Fear Free pet sitter’s approach to being asked to use tools they’re not comfortable with
• List two examples of how management may help prevent problem behavior
• Describe one way positive reinforcement can help improve animal behavior

Lesson 4: Marketing and Growth Opportunities

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Define key factors important to your Fear Free pet-sitting business’ mission statement and core values
• List three key rules of marketing
• Identify possible value propositions for potential clients
• Determine strategies to communicate Fear Free to your clients