Owners of pets will be able to better understand their animals thanks to a new CD-ROM based course on offer at the University of Edinburgh.

The distance learning package will provide pet owners with information on the fundamentals of animal behaviour and how to cope with problems which arise.

The course, also of interest to veterinary surgeons or nurses, will cover all aspects of pet behaviour and welfare. Techniques for dealing with behaviour problems, and training methods, will be explored, as will the role of the pet behaviour counsellor. Students can benefit from the special sections on dogs.

The companion animal behaviour and welfare course has been developed by experts from the Animal Behaviour and Welfare Group at the University's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. It is structured to allow students to work through the course material at their own pace, and chart their progress through self-assessment. Those who finish the course will be awarded a certificate of completion from the University.

Organiser of the course, Dr Shirley Seaman said: "Many people own pets, yet few owners understand much about why their pet behaves the way it does. This course will help explain the fundamentals of animal behaviour, how the behaviour of companion animals is affected by the environment in which they are kept and how this can lead to the development of behavioural problems."

Those wishing further details of the course, including cost, should visit the course website http://www.vet.ed.ac.uk/animalbehaviour/ecourse/