When applying for jobs in the pet industry, it is common to hear the term “Fear Free” thrown around. Fear Free refers to a certification training program aimed at helping pet care professionals provide better care for their clients and customers. It provides education for understanding animals and methods to promote safe and comfortable environment for them.
Although Fear Free certification is not always required for employment, many veterinary practices and other pet care establishments will have their employees complete Fear Free training. This helps create a positive working environment that benefits employees, animals, and animal keepers and handlers. Keep reading to understand how Fear Free works and how it can benefit you.
How Does It Work?
Fear Free was founded in 2016 to provide online educational resources for veterinary professionals and other professionals in the animal and pet industry. Their goal is to “prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care about them.”1
The founder of Fear Free, Dr. Marty Becker, created Fear Free to help veterinary professionals and their patients feel happy and safe during veterinary appointments. Today, Fear Free offers training for pet care professionals that promotes stress-free work environments. They teach people techniques and workplace skills that help reduce anxiety and stress in pets, reducing aggression and emotional distress. A pet’s sense of safety and happiness makes the workplace safer and more pleasant, and it also often increases employee morale and satisfaction in the workplace.
What Are the Different Types of Fear Free Certifications?
Fear Free offers a variety of certification courses for veterinarians and pet professionals, such as groomers, trainers, and animal shelter employees.
Veterinary professional course options include training for individuals and training for entire practices. Individualized training equips veterinarians, technicians, and other veterinary clinic employees to reduce or eliminate anxiety triggers for animals, improve the quality of care provided to patients, and improve safety for to everyone on the veterinary team. Individual training also provides guidance on how to teach pet parents to prepare and transport their pets in a way that promotes calmness and reduces anxiety in their pets.
Training is applicable to veterinary skills training with employees who have already taken individual training at Fear Free. It builds from training and helps create a workflow and operating protocol that aligns with Fear Free’s goals and values.
When it comes to other pet professionals, Fear Free has official certification courses for animal trainers, groomers, pet sitters, and pet boarding and daycare facilities. Training courses cover a wide range of topics, including creating a pet-friendly environment in the workplace, reading animal body language, and proven methods to reduce anxiety and stress in animals.
Fear Free also created the Fear Free Shelter Program to help improve the emotional experience of a shelter animal during their stay at an animal shelter. They provide guidance and strategies for all parts of the shelter process, including animal adoptions, humane kennel setup, foster programs, and meeting prospective adoptive families.
Where Is It Used?
One of Fear Free’s largest audiences is veterinary practices. Because veterinary skills play such an important role in the health and well-being of a pet, Fear Free offers a thorough certification program and ongoing support to professionals in this field.
Fear Free doesn’t just apply to the veterinary field. Their certification programs are applicable to all types of settings where animals are involved. If taking a full course doesn’t apply to your situation, you can look to Fear Free’s education library to take individual courses. They don’t provide official certifications, but they still have invaluable information that will help you prepare and set you apart from your peers.
Advantages of Fear Free Certification
Fear Free certifications enable people to understand animal behavior and body language. They educate and prepare people to work with animals in a safe way and avoid emotional distress and physical harm. Fear Free’s approach advocates for animal welfare by supporting skills and techniques that help animals feel calm and safe while reducing stress. A happy animal significantly contributes to a happy work environment, which not only benefits the animal. It also benefits their owners and working professionals involved in animal life.
Disadvantages of Fear Free Certification
Fear Free Certification requires a significant investment of time and money. Basic training usually takes about 7 hours to complete. If you want to achieve elite status, you must complete 35 continuous hours of study. You also have to pay an annual fee to maintain your certification and re-certification every 3 years.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does the Fear Free certification last?
It is possible to complete the Fear Free basic certification program in one day. It consists of several learning modules with exams at the end, and you can complete the entire program in 7 to 8 hours. You must pass each exam with at least 80% to advance, complete the course, and receive your certification.
Fear Free also offers other training modules of varying lengths. These modules are designed to supplement the training you have received from Fear Free’s certification programs.
How is Fear Free useful for the veterinarian?
Fear Free offers many benefits for veterinarians. This creates a safer work environment by helping the animals feel safe and relaxed. It also includes communication tips with pet owners, improving the relationship between veterinarians and their clients. Fear Free also equips veterinary practice employees with techniques to build trust between themselves and their patients, reducing the risk of workplace accidents and injuries.
Is Fear Free training mandatory for veterinary professionals?
No, Fear Free is not mandatory for veterinary professionals. However, it can be a great resume booster if you’re applying for a job at a new veterinary practice. A Fear Free certification can indicate an ability to work with both pets and their owners and an understanding of animal behavior. It can also show that you value compassionate care and genuine care for your animal patients.
Do Other Companies Provide Free Fear Training?
No FearTM is a trademarked company and certification program but there are other charities and companies that offer training and some offer certification in stress reduction and how to reduce fear in animal handling. Those like Low Stress Handling® founded by Dr Sophia Yin offers courses for veterinary professionals and pet owners. ISFM cat-friendly and CatFriendlyHomes provide a framework for veterinary practices to achieve accreditation.
Conclusion
Fear Free aims to benefit all individuals and animals in professional spaces involving animals. It teaches people the humane treatment of animals and effective methods that promote peace and safety. Keeping animals healthy reduces the risk of accidents and injuries, and happy customers and patients often make the job more enjoyable for pet care professionals.
With all the benefits that Fear Free training can offer, it’s worth considering completing this training and getting certified. This is a great way to expand your professional skills and provide quality care for animals.
Featured Image Credit: Kzenon, Shutterstock
