Application
The unit supports the attainment of skills and knowledge for training detector dogs. This unit may be customised, particularly regarding the methods of training and maintaining the skills of detector dogs and the odours they are required to detect 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 role of the detector dog. | 1.1 Identify the role of the detector dog in the organisation, including its purpose and application. | ||||
2Train and maintain skills proficiency in detector dogs. | 2.1 Identify factors that affect the training and proficiency maintenance of detector dogs. 2.2 Use training methods that indicate an understanding of humane and positive conditioning principles. 2.3 Determine positive indicators of a target odour through repetitive exposure and positive reinforcement. | ||||
2.4 Monitor and interpret the outcomes of training and operational deployment, applying appropriate remedial exercises that maintain the validity of the detection. 2.5 Regularly assess the training of the dog against the guidelines of the organisation. | |||||
3Conduct an operational deployment of a detector dog. | 3.1 Deploy the detector dog to detect target odours in a range of areas and situations determined by the organisation. 3.2 Deploy the detector dog according to organisational guidelines and workplace health and safety policies. 3.3 Identify external factors that limit the capabilities of the detector dog to function efficiently. 3.4 Interpret the behaviour and responses of the detector dog and take appropriate action as determined by the organisation. 3.5 Interact with the detector dog to maintain an enthusiastic, effective and appropriate level of work and behaviour in required locations. 3.6 Maintain the integrity of a crime scene/detection situation and follow organisational guidelines on the preservation of evidence. | ||||
4Record and report on the proficiency of detector dog. | 4.1 Complete training records of detector dog required by the organisation and other concerned agencies. 4.2 Complete records and reports concerned with the deployment of detector dog as required by the organisation. | ||||
5Develop and maintain own professional competence. | 5.1 Undertake personal skill development. 5.2 Monitor and obtain feedback on work performance. 5.3 Identify opportunities to use new skills in workplace activities. |
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 train and develop the capabilities of detector dogs assessing when dogs are ready to extend the range of odours they are capable of detecting collecting, analysing and organising information to produce records and reports required by the organisation, work unit standards and animal welfare authorities using humane methods of training dogs working with detector dogs in environments determined by the organisation solving problems to deal with workplace safety risks contributing to personal skill development and learning. | |
Required knowledge: animal health and welfare requirements and regulations affecting working dogs conditioning principles and appropriate methods of rewarding specific detector dogs for exhibiting required behaviour humane and positive training methods that reinforce natural behaviour and maintain the working skills and enthusiasm of detector dogs items and their associated odours that a detector dog could be required to detect in its working role within the organisation methods of assessing when dogs are ready to extend the range of odours they are able to detect organisational policies and procedures regarding the training and use of detector dogs positive and negative indicators shown by detector dogs when detecting (or not detecting) specific odours records and reports required by legislative authorities, the organisation, work unit and animal welfare authorities. |
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 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 with specific focus on working with, training or assessing the work done by detector dogs in the organisation. 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 training detector dogs, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and changes to routine legislation, policy, procedures and guidelines relating to the training of detector dogs case studies and workplace scenarios to capture the range of situations that may be encountered when training and deploying detector 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 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. | ||
Factors that affect the training and proficiency maintenance can include: | temperament of dog behavioural drives influencing the dog health and welfare status of dog age of dog level of enthusiasm for detecting required odours length of time required by the dog to acquire new skills frequency of training level of training or experience that the dog had prior to joining the organisation level of training or experience of the dog while in the organisation experience, commitment and knowledge of handler degree of bonding between dog and handler ability of handler to identify and respond to indicators exhibited by the dog access to the odours that the detector dog is required to detect access to real life situations where detector dog can be deployed. | |
Training methods are 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) appropriate rewards enthusiastic attitudes and methods use of stimulus aids to train for required odours short, frequent training sessions variety in location of stimulus aids and training experiences. | |
Positive indicators of odours can include: | sitting with nose pointed towards source of odour sitting beside source of odour with head turned towards the handler repeatedly returning to source of odour actively turning head towards source of odour actively wagging tail barking vigorously with nose pointed towards source of odour vigorously scratching or digging at the source of the odour jumping up at the source of the odour whining excitedly and wagging tail. | |
Organisational guidelines can include: | enabling legislation organisational policies and procedures, particularly those relating to the use of detector 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. | |
External factors that may limit the capabilities of detector dogs can include: | temperature humidity air currents and wind drift terrain. | |
Training records may include: | records of training activities regular evaluation and assessment evaluation of individual exercises dog health and development communications with internal and external networks proposed changes to course syllabus. | |
Personal skill development opportunities may include: | coaching, mentoring and supervision formal and informal learning programs internal and external training provision work experience and exchange opportunities personal study career planning and development. | |
Feedback on work performance may include: | formal and informal performance appraisals obtaining comments from supervisors and colleagues workplace assessment receiving guidance, technical support and information to assist performance. |
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.