Application
This unit of competency supports trainers and others in the greyhound racing industry responsible for planning and implementing the education and training of greyhounds for racing. This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Introduce greyhounds to exercise activities. | 1. Greyhounds are handled and educated using the principles of learning theory . 2. Greyhounds are taught to lead. 3. Greyhounds are introduced to chasing . 4. Greyhounds are exercised . |
Oversee the introduction of greyhound racing practices. | 5. Greyhound breaking-in method is determined and conducted. 6. Greyhound skills, health and fitness are reviewed after breaking-in. 7. Greyhounds are familiarised with racing kennel activities and routines. |
Plan and implement a racing training program. | 8. Stages of training program are identified. 9. Training plans for individual greyhounds are developed. 10. Feed and health care requirements are reviewed. |
Evaluate greyhounds' adaptation to racing routines and equipment. | 11. Factors affecting performance are reviewed. 12. Trackwork times and behaviour are compared to trial requirements. 13. Specialist advice is sought to modify greyhound behaviour or improve physical response to training. 14. Future training plans are revised and records updated. |
Required Skills
Required skills |
adapting exercise and training programs according to individual greyhound responses and specific stages of preparation adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices adhering to responsibilities under national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with greyhounds assessing greyhound condition assessing and responding to illnesses or injuries in greyhounds calming and controlling greyhounds communicating with kennel staff, greyhound breakers and health specialists and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to educating and training greyhounds for racing dealing with emergencies evaluating and selecting greyhound breaking-in services giving and receiving instructions identifying behaviour traits of individual greyhounds identifying illnesses and injuries in greyhounds implementing greyhound training processes and procedures investigating options to improve performance, including consulting specialists measuring training times and evaluating results in relation to stages of education and fitness overseeing health services for greyhounds in training reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including relevant rules of racing relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities supporting others in handling and providing education and training services in the appropriate manner teaching greyhounds to lead teaching greyhounds to chase written communication skills to compile and maintain greyhound education and training records and associated procedural documentation. |
Required knowledge |
communication procedures within kennel and wider racing industry common greyhound behaviour, social traits and vices common illnesses and injuries in greyhounds effective working relationships, including teamwork emergency control measures greyhound trial and race times industry terminology related to educating and training greyhounds principles of greyhound learning theory principles of planning training and racing programs for greyhounds racing industry animal welfare requirements stages of training and education of greyhounds for racing racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures relevant rules of racing. |
Evidence Required
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. | |
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 and include evidence of the following: knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that apply to planning and implementing education and training programs for racing greyhounds demonstration of methods used to assess performance, health and fitness status of greyhounds in different stages of training demonstration of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient implementation of education and training programs for racing greyhounds working with others to undertake and complete procedures that meet required outcomes. Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of greyhounds of different ages, sexes and temperaments, and at different stages of preparation in racing kennel and track environments. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to greyhounds that are being educated and trained in a commercial racing kennel under the care of a licensed trainer and the required resources. Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints. It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements. Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills. The following resources must be available: a variety of greyhounds currently in training materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to educate and train greyhounds for racing safe handling areas, such as commercial kennels, and training and racetracks work instructions and related documentation. |
Method of assessment | Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package. The suggested strategies for the assessment of this unit are: written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks. Evidence is required to be demonstrated over a period of time, therefore where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons. This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role, for example: RGRPSG303A Determine nutritional requirements for racing greyhounds RGRPSG401A Relate anatomical and physiological features to the care and treatment of greyhounds RGRPSG402A Manage greyhound health and welfare. |
Guidance information for assessment (optional) | 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). |
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. The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to plan and implement the education and training of greyhounds for racing. Workplaces include kennels and racecourses, training tracks and public areas. | |
Principles of learning theory may include: | associative and non-associative learning classic and operant conditioning influence of memory motivation for learning response to positive or negative reinforcement and punishment social structure of canines and status of humans in a kennel situation understanding impact of a greyhound's physical characteristics and behaviour as a sight hound. |
Greyhounds may be introduced to chasing by: | chasing prior to breaking-in does not usually involve a mechanical race lure, other activities can be used, such as: learning to chase a ball, squeaky toy or other object learning to chase a skin or cloth dragged along the ground watching other greyhounds chase a lure. |
Greyhounds may be exercised by: | exercise in this instance is before breaking-in, so aims to provide mainly free exercise for the young pup to build stamina, and soft and hard tissue modelling as well as introducing competitive play with other greyhounds of a similar age and size exercise may include: in a long run in a paddock hand walking in a puppy run. |
Breaking-in may be conducted by: | greyhound's trainer specialist breaker who is external to the kennel, in which case the greyhound housing, care and management skills of the breaker must be assessed. |
Breaking-in method may include: | breaking-in skill development, including: teaching greyhound to box: load into the box face the right direction crouch ready to run teaching greyhound to chase the lure: for required distance in the company of other greyhounds. |
Greyhound skills, health and fitness considerations may include: | fitness: is not lame is willing to run and chase for an appropriate amount of time and at appropriate speeds compared to its age and time spent in breaking-in passes a 3 minute body assessment skills: continues to chase without being distracted covers a suitable distance in an acceptable gait and speed follows lure with appropriate interest loads into the box, faces the right way and jumps within expected time frame health: body weight and condition are acceptable for a greyhound after breaking-in eats up its feed and drinks appropriate amounts of water eyes, ears and nose are clear of discharge vaccinations, worming and other treatments are up-to-date. |
Racing kennel activities may include: | accepting restraints, including being led and tied-up adapting to feeding routines adapting to living in kennels standing for grooming, washing or rugging standing and working close to other greyhounds using walking machines, treadmills, pools and spas wearing rug, muzzle, collar and lead. |
Training plans will include: | adhering to relevant rules and regulations applying principles of training greyhounds considering greyhound's age versus work capabilities considering optimum time frame and sequence of activities, taking into account greyhound's: age mental attitude, including: behaviour temperament race and trial experience to date soundness structural weaknesses type, such as sprinter or stayer weight developing training plan to incorporate: exercise via road walking, walking machine or swimming galloping either freely or in exercise yards introducing hand slips straight track exercise circular track exercise. |
Feed and health care requirements may include: | blood tests indicate appropriate balance of electrolytes, adequate hydration and blood cell concentration coat is shiny eats up the feed provided eyes are bright and greyhound is alert faeces and urine output and quality are within normal range is able to complete exercise tasks maintains or increases weight toes are in sound condition. |
Trackwork times and behaviour may include: | greyhound hugs the rail, travels wide or runs mid-track greyhound is willing to pass others during exercise greyhound is willing to run close to other greyhounds track times are within acceptable parameters for a particular track and conditions, as well as for the age and stage of training. |
Specialist advice may include: | greyhound breaker nutritionist therapist, such as: acupuncturist chiropractor massage therapist veterinarian. |
Records will include: | breeding and pedigree details of owners feeding regimes health maintenance training behaviour training times and distances training and work schedule vaccination records veterinary and therapeutic treatments. |
Sectors
Unit Sector | Greyhound racing code |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor