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Santiago Canyon College’s new animal training program opens the door to careers

July 30, 2024

For those who have a passion for the furry friends in our community, Santiago Canyon College is offering a new Companion Animal Training program beginning this fall that will serve as a pathway to earning an associate’s degree in the field.

The genesis behind the idea came from SCC professor of psychology Cari Cannon. A lifelong dog lover, Cannon had a dog about a decade ago that was a challenge to train, and her background in experimental psychology and animal learning prompted her to take a deeper dive into applied animal behavior to help her pet.

Now a doctoral-level animal behaviorist who has been privately consulting pet owners for years, Cannon decided to bring her knowledge in this area to the SCC classroom and offer an affordable way for students to learn effective techniques in animal behavior and training.

“There’s just so many myths about dogs and people misunderstanding dogs and misreading them,” Cannon said. “I thought, I’m in the perfect position to create a cost-effective way for people to learn the scientifically valid and ethical approach to working with animals.”

The major coursework for SCC’s associate degree in companion animal training is based in psychology, but students can customize the degree path to suit their career goals. For those looking to pursue a veterinary medicine path, biology electives can be paired with the degree plan. Public speaking or business-focused classes can be added for those students with an interest in opening their own training facility.

“SCC’s new Companion Animal Training Program embodies our commitment to providing innovative and relevant education,” said SCC Dean, Division of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, Michelle Samura. “This program is an excellent example of how we’re preparing our graduates to meet industry demands and make a tangible impact in their chosen fields.”

Cannon will be teaching the four major core classes, one per semester. As the only pathway of its kind in the state, all four classes will be offered online to make the program accessible to as many California residents as possible.

Cari Cannon’s animal behavior program can be applied to career paths or to family pets. (Photo courtesy of Cari Cannon)

Students will begin the pathway with a companion animal psychology class where they will learn about animal behavior, with an emphasis specifically on dogs. Cannon feels the class is structured for anyone interested in improving their relationship with their pet.

“Even if somebody only wanted to take that class, they would learn so much about dog behavior that it would be transformative in their relationship with their dog,” Cannon said.

The second core class focuses on animal learning, the subject of Cannon’s doctorate, where students will study how animals think and learn, along with the underlying principles behind how animal behavior can be changed by experience.

The applied version of the animal learning course is the behavior modification course, the third class in the CAT Program degree path, where students will learn the science behind positive reinforcement and discipline techniques. This class also pairs well for students who are interested in working with those with developmental disabilities or who are looking to pursue clinical psychology.

The fourth course focuses on dog training and is similar to a practicum, where students will apply actual skills training on dogs, either their own pets or dogs that belong to friends or family. The hands-on class will provide students the opportunity to teach dogs basic training skills.

When it comes to training dogs, Cannon feels that many of the more popular programs currently in use include outdated techniques that are punitive in approach. She is excited to be using her extensive background as an animal behaviorist to introduce a pure positive or force-free approach to SCC students that shows the science behind the effectiveness of these techniques.

“The single best way to get a well-behaved companion is to prevent problems, and I dream of a world where this knowledge that I have about dog behavior and the best way to interact with dogs is common knowledge for everyone,” Cannon said. “I’m looking forward to bringing something new to people who’ve never had an opportunity to learn about this topic.”

The hope is that in establishing this program, SCC will be able to provide future offerings in veterinary science, including a possible focus on equine studies.

“The CAT Program addresses a critical gap in California’s community college offerings and in our local communities,” Samura said. “By launching this unique program, we are opening doors to exciting career opportunities for our students while addressing a growing demand in our region for skilled professionals in animal behavior. We are making vital education in companion animal training more accessible and affordable, and we are proud to be at the forefront of offering this specialized training.”

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Santiago Canyon College’s new animal training program opens the door to careers

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