Assessor Resource

ACMCAS410A
Conduct companion animal training classes

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit is applicable to those working in the companion animal industry sector where training classes may be required to assist owners with modifying undesirable behaviour traits for a range of breeds and species. Training may include behavioural training in obedience, agility and socialisation conducted in group sessions, and will generally take place in public open spaces.

In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities, all units of competency in the ACM10 Animal Care and Management Training Package have the requirement for animals to be handled gently and calmly. The individual is required to exhibit appropriate care for animals so that stress and discomfort is minimised.

This unit of competency covers the process of developing, conducting and reviewing training classes for companion animals and their owners.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:

research venues, community needs, training methods and behavioural traits

communicate effectively with animal owners and training class participants to determine animal and client needs and provide advice and assistance as required

develop class training plans

develop and distribute advertising materials

train owners to train their animals in accordance with training plans and class requirements through demonstration of animal training techniques, including positive reinforcement

handle and restrain animals appropriately and humanely

select, use and maintain training equipment

maintain records and follow-up with clients as required.

The skills and knowledge required to conduct companion animal training classes must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in companion animal organisations that provide animal training classes or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access to a range of companion animal breeds and species as well as relevant information, equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategies must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions

third-party evidence

workplace documentation

portfolio.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

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Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

conduct initial and ongoing assessment of animals to assess progress against the training plan's behaviour management and conditioning strategies

develop, review and update animal training strategies and plans for a range of breeds

employ appropriate communication skills to determine animals' and clients' needs and provide advice and assistance as required

employ safe and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when working with and handling a variety of animal breeds

identify and implement a variety of scientifically-recognised behaviour modification techniques, including the effect of positive and negative reinforcement

maintain the highest standards of hygiene and infection control at all times to reduce the risk of infection and cross-infection

maintain and update records

observe and interpret the behaviour of owners and animals

research venues, community needs, training methods and behavioural traits and conditioning strategies for a range of breeds

use and maintain training equipment, including restraint devices

literacy skills to read and follow organisation policies and procedures, including OHS and infection control procedures; follow sequenced written instructions; record accurately and legibly information collected; select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks and read, develop and document animal training strategies and plans

oral communication skills/language to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening and asking for clarification

numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures

interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

problem-solving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks

use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures.

Required knowledge

advertising strategies

animal dietary, exercise and maintenance requirements

basic animal anatomy and physiology related to companion animal behaviour management requirements

behaviour modification techniques and conditioning strategies

humane training techniques for a range of animals and training requirements

organisation policies, procedures and requirements, including OHS and emergency procedures

principles of animal welfare and ethics

range of animals and breeds, their common behavioural traits and temperaments

range of animal training equipment and its use

relevant OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements and codes of practice

relevant recordkeeping systems

safe animal handling and restraint techniques and procedures

safe work practices

training strategies and plans

workplace hygiene standards, disinfectants, cleaning agents, cleaning techniques and cleaning equipment and materials.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Behavioural traits of animals may include:

normal behaviour in various contexts:

breeding and parental

eliminative

grooming

ingestive

resting

social

undesirable behaviour:

aggression

anxiety

compulsive disorders

facility and equipment destruction

fearfulness

self-mutilation.

Training strategies may include:

activities to achieve desensitisation

classical, operant and counter conditioning

techniques that are targeted for certain breeds or species

use of positive and negative reinforcement and when appropriate punishment

using an appropriate number of repetitions

using learning session timeframes that are appropriate for age, breed, species and stage of training

using logical staging of training to ensure animal and owner can achieve short and medium-term training aims

using techniques that owners can understand and repeat.

Training classes may include:

puppy training

home manners

tricks, agility or obedience

fly ball or other games

tracking.

Training plans may include:

a detailed list of activities for the duration of the class including timeframes and rest breaks

a risk assessment plan that suggests tactics to:

assist owners to control their animal during training session

control interaction between animals during the training session

identify potential hazards in public and private spaces used for training sessions

manage group dynamics between instructor, animal owners and others

opportunities to review previous lessons and to practice new exercises under instruction.

Training equipment may include:

animal socialising opportunities

fly ball and other games equipment

hunting and retrieving items

leads, collars, restraints, head halters and other restraint devices

obstacles and jumping challenges

scent training

treats and toys

toilet training equipment.

OHS risks when working with animals may include:

animal bites, kicks, scratches and crush injuries

biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal

handling of chemicals and medicines

gas leakage

inhalation of aerosol particles

intraocular contamination

manual handling including carrying, lifting and shifting

needle pricks and cuts from other sharps

release of infective agents (animal and human)

slippery or uneven work surfaces

zoonoses.

Animal welfare and ethics requirements may include:

avoiding equipment that may cause harm

avoiding the use of punishment and negative reinforcement and discussing their effects on learning with clients

consideration of the animals' breed, age and exercise and housing requirements

consideration of the animals' previous experience, current learning ability and concentration span

referring animals that appear stressed or whose behaviour is abnormal to a veterinarian for advice

referring owners to specialists if problems encountered are beyond trainer's expertise

setting realistic training goals and timeframes

the correct use of restraints and training devices.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Research is conducted to explore community and client requirements for classes and to determine current acceptable training methods. 
Behavioural traits for a range of breeds are researched. 
Training strategies to achieve desirable behaviours are determined. 
Training classes to be held are determined in accordance with organisational requirements, community and client needs. 
Class training plans are developed in accordance with organisational requirements and the goals of training classes to be held. 
Venues and equipment for training classes are determined, evaluated and prepared. 
Documents are prepared that itemise costs involved in training classes. 
Advertising materials are prepared and distributed in accordance with organisational requirements. 
Bookings for classes are taken and enquiries are responded to appropriately. 
Appropriate training equipment is selected and used in accordance with training plans. 
Training is conducted in accordance with training plans, industry best practice standards, including occupational health and safety (OHS) and animal welfare and ethics requirements. 
Behaviour of individual breeds and interaction between breeds is observed and managed to minimise stress in animals, owners and class participants. 
Training equipment is maintained, hygienically cleaned and stored in accordance with organisation policies and procedures and relevant manufacturers' guidelines. 
Progress of class participants is discussed with handlers or owners. 
Training plans are reviewed and updated as required. 
Records are maintained in accordance with training plans and organisational policies and procedures. 
Progress of animals is reviewed in accordance with training plans and discussed with clients. 
Training plans are reviewed and modified accordingly. 
Training records are maintained in accordance with industry standards. 
Strategies to achieve short and medium-term conditioning objectives are discussed with classes. 
Advice on longer-term objectives is provided to classes. 
Advice is provided to classes as required on animal's dietary, exercise and maintenance requirements in accordance with the training plans. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ACMCAS410A - Conduct companion animal training classes
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Assessment Record Sheet

ACMCAS410A - Conduct companion animal training classes

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