Assess animal behavioural issues during animal behaviour consultations

work professionally and ethically and within the limits of your own authority, expertise, training, competence and experience

carry out your work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, associated codes of practice and organisational policies

comply with the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies

recognise, assess and record any behavioural issues of the animal during the animal behaviour consultation

evaluate and take into account the factors which can affect the behaviour of the animal

interact with the animal during the behaviour consultation in a way that avoids creating behaviour that gives rise to any welfare concerns and allows observation and assessment to be carried out safely

maintain the animal’s welfare and adapt your own behaviour, and that of those involved in or affected by your work, if necessary, to avoid creating undesirable behaviour in the animal

identify and record changes in the health and behaviour of the animal during the behaviour consultation, which may indicate welfare or other problems and make recommendations where necessary

communicate with all those involved in or affected by your work and seek professional advice when necessary and refer cases on when required

confirm that records are maintained and stored as required by the relevant legislation and organisational policy

your professional and ethical responsibilities and the limits of your own authority, expertise, training, competence, experience and the relevant legislation

your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies

your responsibilities under the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies

how the behavioural issues of the animals you engage with can be assessed, recorded and addressed and the importance of doing so

the importance of evolutionary history, the changes associated with domestication, species-typical behaviour, breed, parentage, temperament, physiology and pathology on the behaviour of individual animals

how previous experiences influence animals’ behaviour

the behavioural, emotional and physical development stages of the animal and the importance of sensitive periods for learning and their relationship with social development

the patterns of abnormal behaviour, such as stereotypical and repetitive behaviour

how your actions, or the actions of those involved in the animal behaviour consultation, may affected the behaviour and welfare of the animal

the natural behavioural patterns of the animal, including communication methods and patterns, motivational needs and social organisation and behaviour

the effects of reproductive status and sexual stimuli on animal behaviour

the differences in animal and human perception, caused by differences in the senses of sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch

how to recognise the behavioural and emotional states of animals including fear, frustration, aggression, appeasement, anxiety, play and relaxation

the early signs of change in behaviour associated with ill health, and indicators of injury or pain, discomfort, disease and distress

the difference in natural survival behaviour between predator and prey animals and the relevance of this to animal behaviour patterns

where behavioural patterns may be influenced by changes in an animal’s immediate environment, such as changes in weather conditions, behaviour of a bystander, husbandry, a nearby animal or enclosure, and understand how to take account of such factors

the importance of habituation to environmental stimuli or an animal’s ability or limitations for coping with the features of a captive environment

when an animal should be referred to a veterinary surgeon or other professional

the records that need to be kept in relation to assessing animal behavioural issues during behaviour consultations and the importance of completing these in accordance with the relevant legislation and organisational policy

evolution and domestication history

species-typical behaviour

breed traits, including hybrids

parentage

temperament

development stage (including old age, reproductive status)

motivational needs (including hunger, thirst, threat avoidance, and need for social contact)

communication patterns

emotional and mental states

perceptual abilities

social organisation and social behaviour

previous experiences of the animal and responses learnt from them

fear, frustration, aggression, stress, pain

ill health, injury, discomfort, disease and distress

environment and external stimuli experienced

human interaction

husbandry and management patterns