When applying for jobs in the pet industry, it’s 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 techniques to promote safe and comfortable environments for them.

While Fear Free certification isn’t always a requirement for employment, many veterinary practices and other pet care establishments will have their employees complete Fear Free training. This helps to build a positive working environment that benefits employees, animals, and the animals’ caregivers 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 education resources for veterinary professionals and other professionals in the animal and pet industries. Their goal is “to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them.”¹

Fear Free’s founder, Dr. Marty Becker, created Fear Free to help veterinary professionals and their patients feel happy and safe during vet appointments. Today, Fear Free offers training for pet care professionals that promote stress-free work environments. They educate people on techniques and workplace practices that help reduce anxiety and stress in pets, which decreases aggression and emotional distress. A pet’s feeling of safety and happiness makes the workplace both safer and more pleasant, and it often also boosts workplace morale and employee satisfaction.

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.

The veterinary professional course options include training for individuals and training for entire practices. Individual training equips veterinarians, technicians, and other veterinary clinic employees to reduce or remove anxiety triggers for animals, enhance the quality of care provided to patients, and improve safety for everyone on the veterinary team. Individual training also provides guidance on how to instruct pet parents to prepare and transport their pets in a way that promotes calmness and reduces anxiety in their pets.

The practice training is applicable to veterinary practices that have employees who have already taken the individual Fear Free training. It builds off of the training and helps create a workflow and operating protocols that are aligned 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. The training courses cover a wide range of topics, including creating a pet-friendly workplace environment, reading animal body language, and proven techniques to reduce anxiety and stress in animals.

Fear Free has also created the Fear Free Shelter Program to help improve a shelter animal’s emotional experience while they stay at an animal shelter. They provide guidance and strategies for all parts of the shelter process, including animal intakes, humane kennel setups, foster programs, and meeting prospective adoptive families.

Where Is It Used?

One of Fear Free’s largest audiences is veterinary practices. Since veterinary practices play an essential role in a pet’s health and well-being, Fear Free offers a thorough certification program and ongoing support to professionals in this field.

Fear Free isn’t just applicable to the veterinary field. Their certification programs are applicable to all kinds of settings where animals are involved. If taking an entire course isn’t applicable to your situation, you can look through 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 feel prepared and make you stand out from the rest of your peers.

Advantages of Fear Free Certification

Fear Free certifications equip people to understand animal behavior and body language. They educate and prepare people to work with animals in a safe manner and prevent emotional distress and physical harm. Fear Free’s approach advocates for animal welfare by supporting practices and techniques that help animals feel calm and safe while reducing stress. A happy animal significantly contributes to a happy work environment, which doesn’t just benefit the animal. It also benefits their owners and working professionals involved in the animal’s life.

Disadvantages of Fear Free Certification

Fear Free Certification does require a significant investment in time and money. The basic training usually takes about 7 hours to complete. If you want to achieve elite status, you must complete 35 continuing education hours. You also have to pay annual fees to maintain your certification and recertify every 3 years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long does Fear Free certification take?

It’s possible to complete the basic Fear Free certification program within a day. It consists of several learning modules with quizzes at the end, and you could complete the entire program in about 7 to 8 hours. You must pass each quiz with at least an 80% to advance, complete the course, and receive your certification.

Fear Free also offers other training modules that vary in length. These modules are designed to supplement the training you’ve received from the Fear Free certification programs.

How is Fear Free beneficial for the veterinarian?

Fear Free offers many benefits for veterinarians. It creates a safer work environment by helping animals feel safe and relaxed. It also incorporates communication tips with pet owners, which improves the relationship between veterinarians and their clients. Fear Free also equips veterinary practice employees with techniques to build trust between them and their patients, which reduces the risk of workplace accidents and injuries.

Is Fear Free training mandatory for veterinary professionals?

No, Fear Free isn’t mandatory for veterinary professionals. However, it can be a good resume booster if you’re applying for a job at a new veterinary practice. A Fear Free certification can indicate competence in working with both pets and their owners and understanding animal behavior. It can also show that you value compassionate care and truly care for your animal patients.

Do Other Companies Provide Fear Free Training?

Fear Free^TM is a trademarked company and certification programme but there are other charities and companies that offer training, and some offer certification on stress reduction and how to reduce fear in animal handling. Those such as Low Stress Handling^® founded by Dr Sophia Yin offer 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 that involve animals. It educates people on the humane treatment of animals and effective techniques that promote calmness and safety. Keeping animals healthy reduces the risk of accidents and injuries, and happy customers and patients often make work feel more fulfilling for pet care professionals.

With all the benefits that Fear Free training can offer, it’s worth considering completing this training and obtaining a certification. It’s an excellent way to expand your professional skills and provide quality care for animals.

Featured Image Credit: Kzenon, Shutterstock