This comprehensive diploma is designed for individuals pursuing a career in pet sitting, providing essential knowledge for ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of animals under their care. Developed by experienced animal professionals, it reflects the high standards required for responsible pet sitting across a wide range of species.
Course Structure:
- Part One (Mandatory) – Covers foundational principles of pet sitting, including animal welfare, home security, and professional responsibilities.
- Part Two (Elective Modules) – Students must complete a minimum of two modules, allowing them to tailor their learning based on specific species or areas of interest.
Why choose us?
✅ Comprehensive & Detailed – Unmatched in-home study quality! ✅ No Work Experience Required – Focus purely on theory and essential knowledge. ✅ Immediate access to course material! ✅
What You’ll Learn:
2. Animal Law (Part 1)
- Introduction to animal law
- Sources of information
- Standard Scale of Fines and Penalties
- Animal Welfare Act 2006
- Some of the Legislation that is repealed by the Animal Welfare Act
- The Key Elements of the Animal Welfare Act
- Animals to which the Animal Welfare Act applies
- Protected Animals
- Responsibility for Animals
- Preventing harm
- Duty of Care
- The Criminal Damages Act 1971
- Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
- Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005
- Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003
- Road Traffic Act 1988
- Control of Dogs Order 1992
- Transportation of Animals and associated Acts
- The Veterinary Surgeon’s Act 1966
3. Animal First Aid (Part 1)
- Accident prevention
- Objectives of First Aid
- Rules of First Aid
- Putting together a first aid kit
- Muzzles
- Vital Signs: Temperature, Pulse and Respiration
- Examples of First Aid Situations
- RTA : First aid Action
- How to carry a dog
- Wounds: Open
- Wounds: Closed
- First Aid action of wounds
- Fractures: Simple, Compound and Complicated
- First Aid action of fractures
- Haemorrhaging
- Arteries
- Veins
- Capillaries
- The different types of haemorrhage
- Signs of haemorrhage
- First aid action of haemorrhage
- The three main pressure points
- Tourniquets
- Dislocations
- Signs of dislocations
- First aid action of dislocations
- Shock
- Signs of shock
- First aid action of shock
- Artificial respiration
- Heat Stroke
- Signs of heat stroke
- First aid action of heat stroke
- Cut paws
- Burns and scalds
- First aid action of burns ad scalds
- Drowning
- First aid action of drowning
- Foreign bodies in eyes, throat or mouth
- Insect stings
- Poisoning
- First aid action of poisoning
- Convulsions and Fits
- Cause of convulsions and fits
- First aid action of convulsions and fits
4. Dog Care (or module 1 part 1 Cat Care)
- How to carry out health checks on the dog
- Canine eye disorders
- Canine urinary disorders
- Disorders of the skin and coat
- Disorders of the bones, muscles and joints
- Canine nutrition
- Nutritional disorders
- External parasites
- Internal parasites
- Keeping the dog clean and tidy
- The elderly dog
- Animal Care
1. Cat Care (or module 4 Part 2Dog Care)
- How to handle a cat
- General cat equipment
- Cat identity
- Toys and exercise
- Vaccinations
- Feline infectious diseases
- Feline nutrition
- Keeping the cat clean and tidy
- Feline health checks
- Feline eye disorders
- Feline urinary disorders
- Disorders of the skin and coat
- Disorders of the bones, muscles and joints
- Common nutritional disorders
- Parasites and worming programmes
- Keeping the cat flea free
- Lice, mites and ticks
- The elderly cat
- How to administer medication to the cat
2. Rabbit and Guinea Pig Care (Part 2)
- Rabbit History
- Rabbits in the wild
- Physical Appearance of rabbits
- Rabbit senses
- Natural Diet of the rabbit
- Life Cycle of the rabbit
- Breeds of rabbits
- Rabbit Selection
- Housing the rabbit
- Exercise and feeding the rabbit
- General Care of the rabbit
- Common Problems of the rabbit
- Guinea Pig History
- Guinea pigs in the wild
- Physical appearance of the guinea pig
- Guinea pig senses
- Natural diet of the guinea pig
- Life cycle of the guinea pig
- Guinea pig as pets
- Breeds of guinea pigs
- Guinea pig selection
- Housing of the guinea pig
- Exercise of the guinea pig
- Companionship of the guinea pig
- Feeding the guinea pig
- General care of the guinea pig
- Common problems of guinea pigs
3. Rats and Mice (Part 2)
- History of Rats and Mice
- Rats and mice in the wild
- Physical appearance
- Rodent senses
- Natural diet of rats and mice
- Rodent Life cycle
- Rats and mice as pets
- Breeds of rats and mice
- Selection
- Housing and exercise of rats and mice
- Companionship
- Feeding and General care
- Handling
- Grooming and nail clipping
- Teeth trimming
- Common problems
- Respiratory infections
- Diarrhoea
- External parasites
- Tumours
- Spots and sores
4. Hamsters, Gerbils and Jirds
• History of Hamsters
• Physical appearance
• Life cycle
• Hamsters as pets
• Signs of a healthy hamster
• Housing
• Exercise
• Feeding
• General car
• Handling
• Grooming and nail clipping
• Teeth trimming
• Common health problems
• Hair loss
• Colds
• Diarrhoea
• Wet Tail
• History of Gerbils and Jirds
• Physical appearance
• Natural Diet
• Life cycle
• Gerbils and jirds as pets
• Signs of a healthy gerbil
• Gerbil Housing
• Exercise
• Companionship
• Feeding
• General care
• Handling
• Grooming
• Nail clipping
• Teeth trimming
• Common problems
• Diarrhoea
• Colds
• Red Nose
5. Chinchillas, Ferrets and Chipmunks
• Chinchillas
• Chinchillas in the wild
• Chinchillas as pets
• Caring for your chinchilla
• Housing and exercise
• Feeding
• Common problems
• Ferrets
• Ferrets in the wild
• Ferrets as pets
• Caring for your ferret
• Housing and exercise
• Feeding
• Common problems
• Chipmunks
• Chipmunks in the wild
• Chipmunks as pets
• Housing and exercise
• Feeding
• Common problems
6. Tropical and cold water fish
• Currently under development
7. Exotics
• Amphibians
• Life cycle of amphibians
• Frogs and Toads
• Salamanders and newts
• Caecilians
• Reptiles
• Snakes
• Tortoises and turtles
• Life cycle of reptiles
• Health care of exotics
• Nutrition of exotics
• Diseases affecting exotic pets
• Zoonosis
• Other health problems
• Handling reptiles
• Invertebrates
• Arthropods: Spiders
• Scorpions
• Giant Millipedes
• Insects
• Stick Insects
• The Preying Mantis
• Molluscs : Snails
8. Bird Care
- Commonly kept species: Parrots, Budgerigar, Canaries, etc
- Anatomy and physiology
- Reproduction
- Housing and exercise
- Feeding
- Catching and handling
- Signs of ill health
- Moulting
- Infectious diseases
- Viruses and Fungi
- Internal and external parasites
Course Details:
Study Level 2
The study Level relates to the how demanding the course is. 1 is beginner and 5 is HND / Foundation Degree level.
6 Module Course – This course is delivered in 6 study modules which need to be passed to gain the qualification.
Your future starts here!
📚 Education in Animal Welfare, Training & Behaviour
✅ Enroll Anytime – No strict start dates
🌍 Study from Anywhere in South Africa
📖 Choose from 30+ Courses
📝 Open to Everyone – Except Advanced Diplomas
⏳ Flexible Learning – Each module takes up to 4 months, or finish faster
🚫 No Exams ✅ Interactive Learning Approach Each module includes: 🔹 Research-Based Questions – Strengthen understanding through exploration 🔹 One or Two Projects – Apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios 🔹 Revision Questions – Reinforce key concepts for mastery
💳 Affordable Payment Options
🏅 Internationally Accredited Learning Institution by ICOES
📜Locally Recognised by SABCAP
🔹 Also Recognised by IAABC, CBTS, NCFE, IACE, ISAP
