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 in the Performance Criteria is detailed below. |
Criteria must include: | desired characteristics desired habits desired physical attributes individual traits |
Desired characteristics should include: | adapting readily to new situations, canine search specialists and environment being alert and positively watchful of surroundings being bold and willing to accept new challenges with confidence being responsive to petting and praise from strangers in a non-aggressive manner being sociable demonstrating an even temperament exhibiting high levels of inquisitiveness having a high level of self-confidence having strong prey or play drive possessing high intelligence responding to other canines in a non-aggressive manner showing a strong desire to explore the environment and odours |
Desired physical attributes should include: | bright, clear eyes with pink surrounding membranes body suitably structured to work in a USAR environment clear of any parasitic infestations that cannot be treated ears that are clean and without foul odour or discharge feet that have all toes, solid whole pads and no overlong claws healthy, shiny coat with no bare patches etc. limbs/hips without signs of arthritis or dysplasia in the joints mouth containing pink gums, complete set of white teeth and no foul odour producing stools that are firm and moist, not sloppy wet nose without discolouration, scales or discharge |
Basic symptoms of ill health may include: | aggression dry nose dull eyes excessive barking excessive drinking excessive drooling frothing at mouth kennel cough lameness lethargy signs of pain stress/anxiety/depression |
Local authorities may include: | animal welfare associations local government authorities local veterinarians Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) |
Program of health maintenance must include: | Daily health checks including: general demeanour main body parts maintaining hygienic environment nose, eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, skin/coat, genitals/orifices, mucous membranes, feet/limbs/nails obvious injury passing of urine/faeces posture and gait presence of fleas or ticks specific individual canine requirements state of body coat and body condition annual veterinary checks |
Treatment program can vary according to: | cause of the symptoms, illness or injury dosage matched to weight of canine methods to be administered (e.g. in food, pill popper, applied to back of neck, injections, canine chew etc.) physical form of the treatment to be administered (e.g. tablet, liquids, wash, decontamination etc.) symptoms exhibited by the canine |
Specialist advice may include: | canine trainers jurisdictional canine focal points veterinarians |
Health records must include: | incident responses organisational and state/territory or local authority, animal welfare legislative requirements treatment programs for preventative or curative health regimes vaccinations |
Organisational policies and procedures may include: | Australian Urban Search & Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline enabling legislation national and regional policies and procedures organisational policies and procedures, particularly those relating to the health and welfare of canines within the organisation organisation's approach to environmental management and sustainability procedural guides, standard operating procedures, work instructions workplace health and safety acts, regulations and guidelines |
Training needs may include: | ability of canine search specialist to identify and respond to indicators access to situations where search canine can be deployed for USAR work age of canine behavioural drives influencing the canine degree of bonding between canine and canine search specialist characteristics exhibited by the canine experience, commitment and knowledge of canine search specialist frequency of training health and welfare status of canine length of time required by canine to acquire new skills level of canine enthusiasm for detecting live human scent level of training/experience temperament of canine |
Training plan must include: | consideration of environmental factors planned set of exercises to: develop and enhance canine response and control capabilities maintain health and safety during work maintain canine motivation outline of the strategies and timeline for the progressive development of the canine search team |