Petcare Courses?

[mooduf.]

Hello all,

Just putting out my feelers as to whether anyone has heard of, or done any course through the Australian School of Petcare Studies?

I'm just looking into doing one for fun, something to stimulate the old, crusty mind while waiting for the second uni semester to start.

[Erny]

I purchased their distance learning "Massage Therapies for Pets" course back in 2004. It was not a good experience IMO. The tutors weren't that available and I found the people whom I did get to speak to weren't that helpful nor even polite. I was informed that no extra books would be required for purchase because "all the information you need is provided in their own material". I found that not to be the case and did purchase outside material to assist me. I had trouble accessing what I think I remember they referred to as their "library resources" and didn't receive much in the way of positive assistance in that either. In fact, the tone of some of the retorts I received from the few phone calls I made were sharp and made me feel as though I should already know whatever it was I was asking .... and that I was being a pest.

However, I didn't even get to the part of the course that actually focused on dog massage, as one assignment before that section required me to "discuss the similarities to basic massage techniques for a horse". Although I tried to apply myself to that task but was stumped as I didn't know "basic massage techniques for a horse" so couldn't figure how I could possibly discuss it. The percentage points for that assignment were worth quite a lot towards the overall marks. I ended up giving up as I just felt that all of what I had done didn't have nought to do with massage, which of course was the reason for me purchasing the course in the first place. One of the assignments I spent quite a good deal of time on was the study of commercial dog-food labels. Admittedly it was an interesting exercise (not to mention an eye-opener) and this knowledge would definitely be helpful in any field related to dogs, but it was a requirement that I wasn't so sure was so completely necessary to the topic at hand - at least not in so much depth. I did receive really good comments on that assignment though.

I actually learnt more from the DVD's and books I purchased to assist me.

Perhaps things have changed since then, but my individual experience wasn't good and I was somewhat disillusioned. As a result, I wouldn't do any of their courses again.

Edited April 16, 2009 by Erny