animal behaviourist
Snapshot
Do you have a passion for animals and a knack for understanding their behaviour? As an animal behaviourist, you'll play a vital role in improving the lives of animals and the people who care for them by addressing behavioural challenges and creating enriching environments.
Animal behaviourists work at the intersection of animal welfare and human understanding. Your days might involve observing animals in various settings – from shelters and zoos to private homes – to identify the root causes of behavioural issues. You’ll then develop and implement tailored behaviour modification plans, often collaborating with veterinarians, trainers, and animal owners. A strong understanding of national legislation related to animal welfare is crucial to your work.
- • Observing and assessing animal behaviour to identify patterns and potential problems.
- • Developing and implementing behaviour modification plans, considering the animal’s environment and needs.
- • Educating animal owners, trainers, and other professionals on best practices for animal welfare and behaviour management.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Science and engineering professionals — 274 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Ireland, Italy, Slovenia.
Longest-running shortage: Ireland, 3 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Could animal behaviourist fit you?
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Do you enjoy tasks that require Stress Tolerance?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?
Future Outlook for animal behaviourist
The outlook for animal behaviourist reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could animal behaviourist change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could animal behaviourist change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting
- promote animal welfare
- deal with challenging people
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- manage animal biosecurity
- monitor the welfare of animals
- control animal movement
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Healthcare & Human Services
A typical day as a animal behaviourist
09 09:00 · Morning advise on animal welfare
10 10:30 · Mid-morning apply animal hygiene practices
12 12:00 · Midday assess animal behaviour
14 14:00 · Afternoon assess the compatibility of individuals and animals to work together
15 15:30 · Late afternoon apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting
17 17:00 · Wrap-up control animal movement
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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anatomy of animals
The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.
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animal behaviour
The natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.
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animal evolution
The evolutionary history of animals and the development of species and their behaviour through domestication.
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animal training
Animal responses to specific conditions or stimuli. Animal behaviour, ethology, learning theory, training methods, equipment, as well as communicating and working with animals and humans.
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biosecurity related to animals
Awareness of hygiene and bio-security measures when working with animals, including causes, transmission and prevention of diseases and use of policies, materials and equipment.
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environmental enrichment for animals
Types, methods and use of enrichment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, including the provision of environmental stimuli, feeding activities, puzzles, items for manipulation, social and training activities.
- animal welfare
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design training programmes for animals
Assess the training needs of the animal and select appropriate methods and activities to meet training objectives.
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select animals for training
Select animals for training using selection criteria including intended outcome of training, age, temperament, species and breed differences. Selection of animals for training includes basic training or training to meet specific objectives.
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implement exercise activities for animals
Provide exercise opportunities that are suitable for respective animals and meet their particular physical requirements.'
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provide animal training
Provide training in basic handling, habituation, and obedience to enable the completion of day-to-day tasks while minimising the risks to the animal, the handler, and others.
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train animals and individuals to work together
Train animals and individuals to work together, including the match between individuals and animals, the design of integrated training programmes for people and animals, implementation of integrated training programmes, evaluation of integrated training programmes for people and animals against agreed outcomes and evaluating the compatibility between individuals and animals in relation to physical characteristics.
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interact safely with animals
Ensure a safe and humane interaction with the animal avoiding factors that will negatively affect their behaviours. This includes the use of humane training aids/equipment, as well as explaining their use to owners/keepers, to ensure they are used appropriately and the welfare of the animal is protected.
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provide an enriching environment for animals
Provide an enriching environment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, and including adjusting environmental conditions, delivering feeding and puzzle exercises, and implementing manipulation, social, and training activities.'
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manage animal welfare
Plan, manage and evaluate the application of the five universally recognised animal welfare needs as appropriate to species, situation and own occupation.
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apply animal hygiene practices
Plan and use appropriate hygiene measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure an effective overall hygiene. Maintain and follow hygiene procedures and regulations when working with animals, communicate site hygiene controls and protocols to others. Manage the safe disposal of waste according to destination and local regulations.
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manage animal biosecurity
Plan and use appropriate biosafety measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure effective overall biosecurity. Maintain and follow biosecurity procedures and infection control when working with animals, including recognising potential health issues and taking appropriate action, communicating site hygiene control measures and biosecurity procedures, as well as reporting to others.
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monitor the welfare of animals
Monitor animals’ physical condition and behaviour and report any concerns or unexpected changes, including signs of health or ill-health, appearance, condition of the animals' accommodation, intake of food and water and environmental conditions.
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design training programmes for individuals and animals
Develop programmes to train humans and animals work together. Set objectives and targets. Evaluate the implementation of the training programme and progress by both the person and animal concerned.
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manage personal professional development
Take responsibility for lifelong learning and continuous professional development. Engage in learning to support and update professional competence. Identify priority areas for professional development based on reflection about own practice and through contact with peers and stakeholders. Pursue a cycle of self-improvement and develop credible career plans.
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apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting
Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and work environments.
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promote animal welfare
Promote good practice and work with compassion to sustain and promote high standards of animal welfare at all times by adapting personal behaviour and managing environmental factors.
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handle veterinary emergencies
Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.
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assess animal behaviour
Observe and evaluate the behaviour of animals in order to work with them safely and recognise deviations from normal behaviour that signal compromised health and welfare.'
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control animal movement
Direct, control or restrain some or part of an animal's, or a group of animals', movement.
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assess the compatibility of individuals and animals to work together
Ensure work harmony between humans and animals, regarding to physical characteristics, capacity, temperament and potential.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Where does animal behaviourist fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of animals do animal behaviourists typically work with?
- Animal behaviourists can work with a wide range of species, including domestic animals like dogs and cats, as well as zoo animals, farm animals, and even wildlife in certain contexts. The specific animals you work with will depend on your specialization and the employer.
- Is a formal qualification required to become an animal behaviourist?
- While specific requirements vary, a strong educational background is generally expected. This often includes a degree in animal behaviour, zoology, psychology, or a related field. Practical experience, such as volunteering at animal shelters or working with trainers, is also highly valuable.
- What skills are important for success as an animal behaviourist?
- Beyond a love for animals, successful animal behaviourists possess strong observational skills, analytical abilities, excellent communication skills (to explain behaviour and training plans), and the ability to remain calm and patient in challenging situations. Attention to detail and a commitment to ethical animal handling are also essential.
- Animal Behaviourist — is there a shortage in Europe?
- No. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a surplus was reported in 6 of the 9 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Czechia, Germany, Greece and 2 more. 3 countries reported a shortage. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Animal Behaviourist — what does it pay in the United States?
- $79,120 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $47,930 to $132,830. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.