iPET Network Level 3 Award in Canine Behaviour for Breeders – Qualification Number 610/6649/7 (link to qualification on Ofqual register) 

The iPET Network Level 3 Award in Canine Behaviour for Breeders has been designed for established and future dog breeders and other canine welfare professionals, who wish to gain knowledge of canine behaviour, welfare, and responsible breeding practices. This qualification provides learners with an understanding of how dogs communicate, how behaviour develops, and the factors influencing temperament and welfare throughout a dog’s life.

The qualification covers making informed breeding choices, assessing puppy temperament, creating socialisation plans, and developing whole-life care strategies, emphasising the importance of breeder–guardian collaboration. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills, this qualification equips Learners with the skills to make ethical, evidence-based decisions that support lifelong canine welfare and promote positive human-dog relationships.

This qualification has been designed to enable Learners to:

• Understand body language and communication in dogs, including posture, facial expressions and other physical signals.

• Understand appropriate and inappropriate greetings and interactions between dogs, other animals, and humans.

• Understand the roles of dog trainers and behaviourists, relevant regulation, and professional bodies.

• Understand key principles of canine learning, including desensitisation and counterconditioning.

• Understand early signs of stress, fear, and anxiety, and how to monitor and record canine behaviour. 

• Understand canine behavioural development, including nature versus nurture and the influence of genetics, environment and learning history.

• Understand common undesirable behaviours in dogs and appropriate strategies for modification.

• Develop effective socialisation and enrichment plans for puppies.

• Understand the importance of informed breeding decisions and how to match puppies with suitable homes.

• Understand the role of long-term breeder-guardian collaboration and whole-life care to support the lifelong canine welfare.

This qualification consists of the following theoretical and practical units:

3022 Canine Body Language and Communication

3023 Principles of Canine Behaviour Development and Modification

3024 Responsible Dog Breeding

EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE, FOR PETS, FOR THE FUTURE