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Many people love and keep companion animals and are interested in gaining a better understanding of their animal companions. Many people also harbour a dream of following a career that entails working and caring for companion animals. It is however only a handful who have the opportunity to enrol for formal, full time, studies in Zoology or Veterinary Science at a tertiary institution. In 1997, the late Prof Johannes Odendaal, who was then attached to the Faculty of Veterinary studies at Onderstepoort, was approached by a number of people with an active interest in animal behaviour to develop a course for persons who are not in the position to enrol for full time studies at a tertiary institution to assist them in gaining more knowledge of dog and cat behaviour.
Prof Odendaal, driven by the belief that knowledge has the power to change people’s minds and attitudes, responded by compiling a correspondence course in dog and cat behaviour - the aim being to assist people of all walks of life to fulfil their dreams of having a better understanding of companion animals and thus improving the relationship between owner and animal. This course Basic Animal Behaviour Course: Dogs and Cats was first presented in 1998 as a ‘Short course’ under the auspices of the University of Pretoria. In January 2000 Prof Odendaal left Onderstepoort to accept a position as Research Professor at the then Pretoria Technikon. He, with his wife, Hanna, as Course Manager and co-presenter, established Ethology Consultancy CC (now Ethology Academy) and for the next two years Basic Animal Behaviour Course: Dogs and Cats was presented under the auspices of this institution.
With Ethology Academy well established and the Dog and Cat course gaining in popularity, the demand from animal lovers for yet more knowledge resulted in the original course being split into two separate courses, Basic Animal Behaviour Course: Dogs and Basic Animal Behaviour Course: Cats. With the help of experts in the field the Basic Animal Behaviour Course: Birds, the Basic Animal Behaviour Course: Horses, the Advanced Dog and Cat Courses, the Animal Assisted Course and the Grooming Business Course were developed. The content of the courses was submitted by the Technikon to the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) for approval and accreditation.
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