Centre of Animal Therapy

Centre for Dyreterapi

In August 2021, the Centre for Animal Therapy (Center for Dyreterapi) in Hirtshals, Denmark, became AOI’s first European Divisional Partner. The Centre is owned by Bettina Hvidemose Riisberg who has known the AOI team for many years. She first met the team when she came to the UK to train in animal osteopathy, and has an extensive background of animal behaviour, training and manual therapy, in association to a career as a lecturer and academic.

The synergy of experience and ethos that exists between the two schools, made the Center an excellent choice of location for AOI’s Scandinavian student base. Furthermore, this connection allows AOI to share its osteopathic and functional knowledge base with graduates of the Center for Dyreterapi, through specific CPD and advanced courses, and Bettina will also become a more regular face at AOI events, alongside her colleague, Majken Pedersen. 

Having a Division in Denmark means that Danish and Scandinavian students who wish to study AOI’s Diploma in Canine and/or Equine Osteopathy, are able to train closer to home without the challenges of travelling back and forth to the UK for the practicums. The first practicum will run in May 2022. This means that prospective students ideally need to commence the programme no later than the 1st October 2021 to give a 6 months for the online component of Level One (that being the first half of the Diploma programme). 

If you are interested in studying Animal Osteopathy, please write to AOI on contact@animalosteopathyinternational.com

For more information about the Diploma courses, entry criteria and costs, please click the links below:

Information about the centre for dyreterapi

  • Founded in 2009
  • Four employees and 10 supplementing freelance teachers
  • Based in Hirtshals, Denmark
  • Also associated with Nordisk Hundemassjeskole in Norway

CfD also runs clinics:

  • Behavioural consulting for horse – and dog owners
  • Body Work and Rehabilitation for dogs and horses

Other fields of work                     undertaken:

  • Consulting and teaching behaviour, learning theory and animal welfare for Zookeepers
  • Training and enrichment of the seals at the North Sea Oceanarium
  • CDP courses for therapists, vets and vet nurses in Denmark and Norway
  • Publishing of literature and articles in Danish
  • Translating English literature into Danish

Available Programmes:

  • Certified Professionel Dog Trainer (Hundeadfærdsinstruktør)
  • Certified Professionel Horse Training Consultant (Hestetræningskonsulent)
  • Animal Behaviour Consultant – Applied Animal Behaviour Canine- and/or Equine Pathway (Dyreadfærdskonsulent)
  • Equine Massage Therapist (hestemassør)
  • Equine Body Worker (Fysiurgisk Hesteterapeut)
  • Advanced Equne Body Worker (Fysiurgisk Hesteterapeut MasterClass)
  • Canine Body Worker (Fysiurgisk Hundeterapeut)

The Center of Dyreterapi is Approved by:

PETbc (behaviour & training) and IICT & IEBWA (body work and rehabilitation)

AOI courses by Bettina Hvidemose

Introduction to learning theory for practitioners

Introduction to learning theory for owners