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Graduates work in a variety of fields, including:

  • Management of dog schools
  • Management of dog boarding kennels
  • Management of professional kennels
  • Management positions on the managing board of dog sport and dog breeding associations
  • Performance assessment
  • Training and advanced training of dog trainers
  • Management of training centres
  • Editors and reporters for special interest magazines in the areas of keeping of dogs, dog breeding and dog sport 
  • Manufacturing and sales of dog supplies
  • Manufacturing and sales of dog food
  • Tourism
  • Marketing in the areas of dog sport and dog breeding
  • Insurance industry (pet insurance)
  • Specialised companies responsible for the planning and building of kennels and boarding kennels
  • Design and construction of agility courses

The training of qualified specialists in Applied Cynology contributes to improving human-dog-interactions in general and preventing hazards in particular.

As our graduates learn to develop standardised programmes for the training of dogs and dog trainers, they play an important role in ensuring the respectful treatment of dogs and guaranteeing the quality of dog-related services, thus contributing not only to animal welfare but also to consumer protection.

Key data

  • Duration: 4 semester
  • Degree: akademisch geprüfte Kynologin/akademisch geprüfter Kynologe (academically certified cynologist)
  • Fee: 5.565 €

Curriculum

  

Selective admissions process

Notice of the Selective Admissions Process for the 2022 University-Level Training Course in Applied Cynology

Places for the Applied Cynology programme are allocated by means of a selection procedure (aptitude test) prior to admission.

Participation in the selective admissions process begins with the application for a place of study.

Admission is granted to persons who have a general university entrance qualification (generally a secondary school leaving certificate). This requirement can be waived if the applicant can prove that he/she has several years of relevant practical experience and scores highly during the selection process.

Applications are accepted exclusively by email at regine.major@vetmeduni.ac.at.

The following documents must be enclosed:

  • valid photo ID, personal statement and secondary school leaving certificate; if the letter is not available, then
  • certification as “tierschutzqualifizierte Hundetrainerin/tierschutzqualifizierter Hundetrainer” (certified dog trainer) or
  • authorization as defined in Section 11(1)(8f) of the Animal Welfare Act of the Federal Republic of Germany or
  • completed apprenticeship as animal keeper and 2 years of practical experience working with dogs (confirmed by employer or valid trade licence) or
  • 5 years of practical experience working with dogs confirmed by valid trade licence

Applicants who have several years of practical experience working with dogs must also provide proof of at least 40 hours of further training in accordance with the Ordinance of the Federal Minister of Health on More Detailed Provisions Regarding the Training of Dogs in Conformity with Animal Welfare Regulations, Federal Law Gazette II No. 56/2012 (in the case of apprenticeship + 2 years of experience) and at least 100 hours of further training (in the case of 5 years of experience).

Applicants must provide a valid email address for communication purposes. All correspondence with the applicants will be made via the email address provided by the applicants in their application.

Applications are only valid if submitted within the application period.

All applicants must appear in person to take an aptitude test during calendar week 44.

The date for the aptitude test will be announced on the website of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. Test dates are binding and cannot be rescheduled by the participants.

Participants must identify themselves before the start of the test by means of an identity card or other official photo identification.
Applicants who cannot prove their identity by means an official photo ID will not be admitted to the test. The aptitude test lasts approximately 90 minutes.

The sum of the points achieved in the aptitude test results in a preliminary ranking of the applicants. The minimum score required to pass the aptitude test is 51 points. In the event that two candidates achieve an equal ranking, the candidate belonging to that gender which is underrepresented will be chosen. If two candidates are still ranked equally, the decision will be made by the drawing of lots.

Applicants are responsible themselves for any costs incurred as a result of participating in the selective admissions process.

We recommend the following literature  in preparation for the aptitude test:

  1. Del Amo, C., Theby, V. (2014): Handbuch für Hundetrainer. Ulmer, Stuttgart (ISBN: 978-3800182619)
  2. Federal Act on the Protection of Animals (Federal Law Gazette I No. 118/2004): https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung/Bundesnormen/20003541/TSchG%2c%20Fassung%20vom%2025.11.2019.pdf 
  3. Second Ordinance on the Keeping of Animals (Federal Law Gazette II No. 486/2004) https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung/Bundesnormen/20003860/2.%20Tierhaltungsverordnung%2c%20Fassung%20vom%2025.11.2019.pdf
     
  • Application period: 1 May 2021 – 31 May 2021
  • Aptitude test: 5 November 2021
  • Course starts: March 2022

 

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