Unit information: Companion Animal Behaviour in 2026/27

Unit name	Companion Animal Behaviour
Unit code	VETS20018
Credit points	40
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Sue Horseman
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	All first year units
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	All other second year units
Units you may not take alongside this one	N/A
School/department	Bristol Veterinary School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Unit Information

This unit introduces students to fundamental principles to understand animal behaviour including both ‘normal’ behaviour and the development of ‘unwanted’ behaviours. Topics covered include ethology, domestication, early behavioural development including sensitive periods for learning, the interactions between health, diet and neutering with behavioural development and learning theory.

Towards the end of the unit students are provided with an introduction to clinical behaviour work, including common behaviour problems seen, to prepare them for their behaviour rotation in year three.

The aim of this unit is to provide students with foundation skills and knowledge relating to behavioural development to be applied in the clinical context to support the resolution of unwanted behaviours.

Your learning on this unit

On completion of this Unit, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a current understanding of the ethology of vertebrate domestic animals, including perceptual abilities, maintenance and social behaviour, communication and theories of motivation
2. Describe key principles underlying behavioural ontogeny; including sensitive periods, socialisation and attachment theory
3. Articulate an understanding of the processes of domestication, natural and artificial selection, and their effects on the behaviour of animals
4. Critically evaluate the influences and interaction between ‘nature’ and nurture’ in the development of behavioural disorders for a range of the most commonly kept domestic animals
5. Critically evaluate the role of environmental and genetic factors in the development of the nervous system
6. Critically evaluate the interaction between health and behaviour in vertebrate animals
7. Evaluate the role of nutrition in health and behaviour
8. Appreciate the range of interactions existing between animals and man, including the different roles of animals in human society and human attitudes towards them; and how these can contribute to the development of problematic owner/animal relationship (formatively assessed)
9. Explain the role of case law in shaping the development of legislation in the UK (formatively assessed)
10. Appreciate the national legal and judicial processes, and the role of individuals associated with it e.g. barrister, solicitor, animal welfare officer, expert witness etc (formatively assessed)
11. Describe the responsibilities and limitations of the role of the clinical animal behaviourist, veterinary surgeon, paraprofessionals, owners and others in national legislation; to include the legal implications and duties associated with the provision of advice, professional liability, and client confidentiality (formatively assessed)
12. Articulate an understanding of the theory of animal learning relating to associative and non-associative processes to include habituation; sensitization, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, insight, social learning and higher learning processes
13. Demonstrate a reliable understanding of the theory underlying learned problem behaviour and training techniques
14. Create written training plans suitable for a lay audience
15. Demonstrate safe, effective and ethical training techniques
16. Reflect on own training techniques and make changes based on observations.

How you will learn

Online synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning

In person teaching and learning

Small group working

Practical classes

Use of Virtual learning environment (Blackboard)

How you will be assessed

Opportunities for formative feedback will be provided throughout the year, for example through in-class interactive activities and coursework support sessions.

Summative assessment:

Four pieces of coursework

1) Group task – Cross-species comparative matrix (35%)

2) Individual essay: Exploring the role of nature and nurture in behavioural development (35%)

3) Individual task: Training plan (30%)

4) Individual task: Training implementation video (must pass)

The pass mark for each coursework component (1-3) is 40%. Component four is a must pass assessment.

All components must be passed to pass the unit and all units must be passed in order to progress to the next year of study. Students may be offered a resit opportunity during the resit period.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. VETS20018).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.

The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.