Application
The unit supports the attainment of skills and knowledge for maintaining the health and welfare of dogs. The unit may be customised, particularly regarding the methods of maintaining high standards of canine health and welfare based on different requirements of the organisation, function of the work team and location. | |
Prerequisites
Not applicable | |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA | ||||
1Manage the health of dogs. | 1.1 Identify basic symptoms of ill health in dogs. 1.2 Consult information concerning common illnesses, parasites and other causes of ill health affecting working dogs. 1.3 Identify local authorities who can be consulted regarding the establishment or maintenance of the health of dogs. | ||||
1.4 Carry out a program of health maintenance to prevent common illnesses or parasites. 1.5 Carry out a treatment program for an ill or injured dog. 1.6 Carry out basic first aid for an ill or injured dog. 1.7 Maintain a basic first aid kit suitable for treating an ill or injured dog. | |||||
2Manage the hygiene and welfare of dogs. | 2.1 Maintain kennels, training areas and dog transportation kennels according to animal health and welfare requirements or unit policy, standards and regulations. 2.2 Maintain the health, welfare and fitness of dogs in all operational and environmental conditions according to work unit policies and standards. 2.3 Maintain a healthy diet for dogs based upon individual animal's requirements and unit policy and procedures. 2.4 Use humane training methods based upon positive reinforcement and active encouragement of skill development, avoiding harsh punishment or fear tactics. 2.5 Use short, frequent training sessions suited to the individual dog's level of training and ability to concentrate effectively. 2.6 Assess and recommend the need to retire or dispose of dogs according to unit policy, specialist advice and/or animal health and welfare standards. | ||||
3Maintain records of health and welfare of dogs. | 3.1 Establish and maintain vaccination and other preventative health records for each dog according to unit policies, standards and requirements. 3.2 Establish and maintain health, operation details and injury records for each dog according to unit policies, standards and requirements. 3.3 Keep records of decisions to retire or dispose of dogs. 3.4 Follow unit and organisational policies and procedures to record and report incidents that result in injuries to dogs. |
Required Skills
This section describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit. | |
Required skills: administering preventative or curative medicines and treatments to dogs applying basic first aid techniques to dogs maintaining kennels, training and dogs to the required standard of hygiene working independently and in teams to manage the hygiene and welfare of dogs monitoring diet and exercise regimes to maintain the health and welfare of dogs collecting, analysing and organising information to produce records and reports required by the organisation, work unit standards and animal welfare authorities recognising basic symptoms of ill health in dogs using humane methods of training dogs solving problems to deal with workplace safety risks. | |
Required knowledge: animal health and welfare requirements and regulations affecting working dogs organisational policies and procedures regarding the health and welfare of dogs within the organisation organisational and unit policies and standards regarding the hygiene and welfare of dogs dietary and exercise requirements of working dogs location of veterinarians and other authorities who can assist in the maintenance of the health and welfare of dogs common canine diseases and parasites that affect the health of dogs preventative measures for controlling illnesses and parasites that can affect dogs basic first aid techniques that can be used to treat injured dogs records and reports required by legislative authorities, the organisation, work unit and animal welfare authorities dog training methodologies and practices capabilities of dogs working within the organisation. |
Evidence Required
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, the range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package. | ||
Overview of assessment | Evidence for assessment must be gathered over time in a range of contexts to ensure the person can achieve the unit outcome and apply the competency in different situations or environments. | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria, look for evidence that confirms: the knowledge requirements of this unit the skill requirements of this unit application of employability skills as they relate to this unit. | |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | This unit contains knowledge that may be assessed off the job, for example in a structured learning process, and performance outcomes which should be assessed ideally in the workplace in routine activities and in conjunction with other units within the dog handling skills set. | |
Valid assessment of this unit requires: a workplace environment or one that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered while maintaining the health and welfare of dogs, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and changes to routine legislation, policy, procedures and guidelines relating to the health and welfare of dogs access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required. | ||
Method of assessment | The following assessment methods are suggested: observation of performance in routine workplace activities within a range of agreed responsibilities and in various work locations written and/or oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding completion of workplace documents and reports produced as part of routine work activities and sustainable practice third-party reports from experienced practitioners completion of performance feedback from supervisors and colleagues. | |
Guidance information for assessment | Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands, and any identified special needs of the candidate, including language and literacy implications and cultural factors that may affect responses to the questions. In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. |
Range Statement
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. Add any 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. | ||
Basic symptoms of ill health can include: | signs of pain dry nose dull eyes lethargy lameness. | |
Local authorities can include: | animal welfare associations Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) local veterinarians. | |
Program of health maintenance will include: | daily health checks annual veterinary checks maintaining hygienic environment. | |
Treatment program can vary according to: | symptoms exhibited by the dog cause of the symptoms, illness or injury physical form of the treatment to be administered (e.g. tablet, liquids and wash, etc.) methods to be administered (e.g. in food, pill popper, applied to back of neck, injections, dog chew, etc.) dosage matched to weight of dog. | |
Training methods to include: | humane, positive methods that meet the requirements of the individual dog in training (e.g. more dominant dog may require more dominant control methods than more compliant dog) appropriate rewards enthusiastic attitudes and methods use of stimulus aids or other simulated targets short, frequent training sessions variety in location of stimulus aids or other simulated targets and training experiences. | |
Health records should be generated: | weekly, monthly and annually according to treatment programs for preventative or curative health regimes in response to an incident to meet organisation, work unit and animal welfare legislative requirements. | |
Organisational policies and procedures can include: | enabling legislation organisational policies and procedures, particularly those relating to the health and welfare of dogs within the organisation workplace health and safety Acts, regulations and guidelines national and regional policies and procedures procedural guides, standard operating procedures and work instructions. |
Sectors
Unit sector | Dog handling |
Competency Field
Not applicable | |
Co-Requisites
Not applicable | |
Employability Skills
The required outcomes described in this unit of competency contain applicable facets of employability skills. The Employability Skills Summary of the qualification in which this unit of competency is packaged, will assist in identifying employability skills requirements. | |
Licensing Information
Not applicable.