Application
This unit supports the attainment of skills and knowledge for selecting dogs. The unit may be customised, particularly regarding the assessment of the temperament and characteristics of dogs based on different requirements of the organisation, function of the work team and location. | |
Prerequisites
Not applicable | |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA | ||||
1Identify the purpose for selecting dogs. | 1.1 Confirm the work team and organisation's policies and procedures regarding the use of dogs in the organisation. 1.2 Identify the roles of dogs working within the organisation or work team and the purposes for their use. 1.3 Identify the need to recruit and train dogs to be used by the organisation or work team and the types of work they will do. | ||||
2Record information about possible dogs for selection. | 2.1 Set up and maintain a file recording the contact details of the source of the dog for ready access. 2.2 Record information about available dog relevant to its recruitment and training. | ||||
3Assess dogs for recruitment. | 3.1 Observe and assess the dog for the desired characteristics, individual traits, habit and physical attributes that would make it suitable for training, according to the criteria set by the organisation. 3.2 Record results of assessments, using them to determine suitability of the dog for the organisation's purposes and report them to the appropriate people. 3.3 Complete organisation's procedures for acquiring or rejecting the dog. |
Required Skills
This section describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit. | |
Required skills: working independently and in teams to assess dogs for their suitability for particular roles within the organisation evaluating operation's activities and communicating ideas and information planning and organising activities for assessing and selecting dogs transporting dogs safely collecting, analysing and organising information to produce records and reports concerned with the acquisition of dogs for the organisation. | |
Required knowledge: organisational policies and procedures regarding the selection and use of dogs purposes for which dogs may be used within the organisation procedures for acquiring dogs records and reports that must be established and maintained about the acquisition of dogs for the organisation typical characteristics and temperaments of various breeds of dogs that are suited to working within the organisation anatomy and signs of health and ill health of dogs work environment in which dogs could be deployed and emergencies that could arise within those environments. |
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 | The unit contains knowledge which 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 when selecting and acquiring dogs, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and changes to routine legislation, policy, procedures and guidelines relating to: the role and purpose of dogs in the organisation safety, health and welfare of dogs working in the organisation 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 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. | ||
Organisation's policies and procedures can include: | enabling legislation particularly those organisational policies and procedures 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 including environmental and/or sustainability practices procedural guides, standard operating procedures and work instructions. | |
Roles of dogs within the organisation or work team can include: | detector dogs tracker dogs protection dogs border patrol dogs person searching dogs. | |
Types of work can include: | detection of drugs, explosives, weapons, accelerants and other illegal or prohibited materials protection of people protection of environment or property tracking movements of people or items detection of people or cadavers. | |
Source of the dog can include: | organisational breeding programs general dog breeders and owners donations animal welfare associations. | |
Recorded information should include: | name and address of breeder, donor or seller contact telephone number of breeder, donor or seller breed of dog age of dog basic characteristics of dog, e.g. very dominant, keen on retrieving, confident, etc. | |
Desired characteristics for dogs should include: | exhibiting high levels of inquisitiveness showing a strong desire to explore the environment and odours being positively responsive to petting and praise from strangers adapting readily to new situations, handlers and environment being sociable possessing high intelligence being alert and positively watchful of surroundings being bold and willing to accept new challenges with confidence having strong retrieval ability if that is a requirement of its role having a high level of self-confidence. | |
Physical attributes of dogs include: | healthy, shiny coat with no bare patches, etc. wet nose without discolouration, scales or discharge ears that are clean, not clipped and without foul odour or discharge bright, clear eyes with pink surrounding membranes mouth containing pink gums, complete set of white teeth and no foul odour feet that have all toes, solid whole pads and no overlong claws limbs and hips without signs of arthritis or dysplasia in the joints producing stools that are firm and moist, not sloppy clear of any parasitic infestations that cannot be treated body shape conforming to breed, without distortion of body length. |
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.