Learn about dog training and caring
Academic year 2024-25
August 19th 2024 – May 23rd 2025
Application period
Application for the academic year 2024-25
opens 1.2.2024
A whole study year in canine knowledge!
Dog Consultant (Hundkonsult) is an education for you who wants to know more about dogs, want to learn to better understand them, perhaps you have dreams about working in the canine industry and working with positive learning methods!
During the training we will deepen our understanding of dog’s natural behaviour, dog language, dog illnesses, different learning methods, Click training, problem solving and how to solve such things, enriching versus activating, dog’s heritage, puppy development, puppy training, wellness, breed awareness and breeding. On the course we also discuss animal welfare and ethics behind different learning methods.
We present different hobbies with dogs and practical training with your own/or other’s dogs. A study trip will happen during the spring semester.
The course leader is FM biologist and canine therapist Christina von Pfaler and as a guest teacher we now and then have canine expert and trainer Noga Ronen from Israel (teaching in English). NB! The course is intended for studying adults (18+).
Inform on the application whether you plan to bring your own dog or not. For students thinking about accommodation in the school dormitory, please note that we have a certain number of places for dogs at the dormitory.
NB! For those applying for the dog consultant course (Sweden, Norway and Denmark) and are wondering whether to bring your dog with you, we recommend going in to Finnish Food Authority’s website to read about rules of bringing animals to Finland.
Apply
One year in folkhögskola (People’s Academy) will generate six extra study points when one applies for a study place within the second stage vocational education in Finland. For students from Sweden and Norway we would remind you that the course is CSN and you are entitled to Lånekassen.
Feedback about the dog consultant program by student Linda from Sweden:
“ I had been looking for an extensive dog training education for a long time and when I saw Akan’s dog consultant I did not hesitate to apply. I knew I wanted to work with dogs and my hope was that the training would give me the knowledge required. The academic year gave me not only that but also a memory for life. Being able to live, study and hang out with other dog-loving people is hard to beat. What I liked most was that it included a lot of dog training and that one’s own dog was included in the training.
Today I work at a dog daycare in Stockholm and am grateful that I got the chance to complete my dog training at Akan. I often think back to the year in Porvoo and remember it as the best year of my life. I highly recommend Akan’s dog consulting program to anyone who wants a real dog year. ”
Contact and further information
Programme Director:
Christina “Chrusse” von Pfaler | Phone +358 (0)50 3472 596 | christina.vonpfaler@akan.fi
During the summer contactable by email.
Location:
Borgå folkakademi / Runebergsgatan 16-18 in the centre of Borgå.
Language of instruction:
The language of instruction is Swedish, but assignments and similar stuff can also be done in Finnish and English. Some lessons are also in English, based on the teacher’s language skills.
Tuition fee:
400 €/month including lessons, lunch and afternoon coffee.
Costs for student materials and a possible excursions are extra.
(The fees apply to the academic year 2023-24)
Accommodation:
If you need accommodation you can board in the school’s dormitory connected to the school.
Cost 200 €/month in a shared double room or 260 €/month for a single room, including breakfast Monday-Friday and supper Monday-Thursday.
Further information about accommodation and costs can be found here.
Application period and individual calls:
Application period: 1.2-11.8.2024 (individual calls starting in June)
All applicants will receive an invitation to a personal interview. During the conversation, teacher Christina maps your previous dog experience and expectations for your studies.
The content of the studies:
Curriculum for Dog Consultant (in Swedish)
Subjects
(25 h / week – daily lessons)
Ethology
Wolves’ and dogs’ natural behaviour. About how much breeding and dogs’ heritage influence our own dogs’ behaviour. About the behavioural development from puppy to adult.
Dog talk
How dogs communicate with other dogs as well as humans. About dogs’ senses and how they influence dogs’ communication abilities. Theoretical and practical observations.
Learning
Learning theories about how dogs learn. Different methods to teach dogs and how they differ from each other. Theoretical and practical exercises.
Upbringing and schooling
Rearing puppies, dog training, various methods involved. About different types of dog owners. Theoretical and practical exercises with your own dogs and loaned dogs as well as puppies.
Anatomy and physiology
The basics in dogs anatomy and physiology. How dogs work and how they are structured.
The basics of wellbeing (prophylaxis)
Dogs most common illnesses, how they occur, symptoms, treatment and prognosis.
Alternative forms of care
Presentation of alternative forms of care i.e. Tellington touch, acupuncture…
Nutrition
The basics in nutrition and feeding dogs.
The history of dogs
The origins of dogs. Different theories about where they originated and why dogs it became the dog and human.
Ethics and animal welfare
Animal ethics, ethics within dog holding, dog training, Animal Welfare Act. Theory and discussions.
Genetics and breeding
Basics in genetics. We will learn about simple cross-breeding and go through basic concepts within animal breeding.
Hobbies with dogs
Various hobbies with dogs are presented and discussed. Theoretical and practical presentations. We will visit dog shows.
Knowledge of breeds
Breeds development, their purpose, typical breeds’ behaviour and differences. We learn to recognise breeds by their looks.
Problem dogs and problems with dogs
Various problems we can have with our dogs and dogs staying with us. About the reasons behind the problem, how the owner influences, how breeds are affected and ways of solving the problem. We work with our own dogs and external project dogs.
Enriching
How to satisfy our dogs’ mental and physical needs. We study the difference between enriching and activating.
Project work
Performed individually or in pairs and is presented orally.
Work experience 50 h
Work experience within a dog-related field. Students are to find their own work experience places. Work experience takes place during the spring semester 2024, over two weeks (exact timings to be informed later).
Thesis 50 h
A written thesis about a dog-related subject. Length: 20-40 pages.
Study trip
If possible, a study trip in spring 2024 to an interesting dog country.
General subjects
- Photography
- Business enterprise
Our dog consultant students are running Borgå DogCare, which offers services for pets and their owners.
We withhold the right to change the contents and offers in our courses and educational programmes.
