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Overview
Animal behaviourists observe and assess animal behaviour, connect behaviour problems with environment, handling and health signals, and design management or training plans for individual animals.
In job descriptions, look for animal observation, behaviour assessment, safe handling, owner or keeper advice, training programmes, welfare records, collaboration with veterinary staff and work with problematic behaviour.
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Open in Job ExplorerWhat the work can involve
Animal behaviourist work often starts with observing animals in their normal environment, reviewing handling routines and discussing behaviour history with owners, keepers or veterinary staff. The aim is to understand triggers, welfare risks and practical changes that can reduce problem behaviour.
Skills and specializations
Important skills include safe interaction with animals, interpreting signs of illness or stress, designing training programmes and keeping clear behaviour records. Some roles lean toward companion animals, others toward zoos, shelters, farms or research-linked behaviour observation.
Salary context
Salary context depends on the species handled, whether the role is employed or client-based, how complex the behaviour cases are and whether the work includes reports, mentoring, training design or cooperation with veterinary professionals.
Career paths
Relevant experience can come from animal care, veterinary support, training, shelter work, zoology or ethology. Development may move toward behaviour consultation, welfare assessment, specialist species work, teaching, research support or supervision of animal-care teams.
Good to know
Read adverts for the case mix: observation, owner interviews, behaviour plans, animal handling, record keeping, biosecurity and referral cooperation. Check whether the role expects field visits, clinic work, shelter routines or structured training sessions.
Editorial note
This guide gives editorial career context for animal behaviourist work. It is not official labour-market statistics or salary data.
Map overview
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O*NET relationships
No official O*NET relationship is available for this occupation in the current mapping. You can still use the other occupation details.
Alternative labels
Occupation group
Biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals (2131)
Source facts
| ESCO URI | http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/7daa8fed-9a78-4fe2-afc2-153fc423040b |
|---|---|
| ESCO code | 2131.1 |
| ISCO group | 2131 |
| Concept type | Occupation |