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Level 2
Credits 5
Purpose People credited with this unit standard are able to: identify dogs; handle a dog safely for routine activities; feed, water and provide basic grooming to a dog; describe indications of health and ill health in dogs, and appropriate responses; carry out routine health procedures for dogs; and describe and maintain dog housing and equipment according to the relevant NAWAC code.
Subfield Animal Care and Handling
Domain
Status
Status date
Date version published
Animal Care
Registered
26 July 2005
25 June 2007
Planned review date
Entry information
31 July 2009
Open.
Accreditation Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry.
Standard setting body (SSB) Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference 0228
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1 For credit, evidence must be in accordance with the statutory and industry requirements contained in the following documents.
Relevant and current National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) Codes of Welfare and Codes of Recommendations and Minimum Standards, including the
Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Care of Animals in
Boarding Establishments, Code of Animal Welfare No. 9 (ISBN 0-478-07332-1), available at http://www.maf.govt.nz, under animal welfare.
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Relevant New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) standards, available from
NZVA, PO Box 11-212, Manners Street, Wellington (http://www.vets.org.nz) including the current versions of Standard Procedures for Veterinary Nursing and Animal Care
(referred to in this unit standard as standard procedures ) and BESTPRACTICE TM
Companion Animal Practice Standards .
Animal Welfare Act 1999, Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, and any subsequent amendments.
2 Practical evidence requirements, especially those relating to feeding, watering, grooming and housing maintenance, must include evidence of ongoing animal care.
For this unit standard, the candidate is expected to be involved in the care of a dog over the course of at least two consecutive days.
3 Information about dog breeds and types can be found on the New Zealand Kennel
Club website at http://www.nzkc.org.nz/.
Element 1
Identify dogs.
Performance criteria
1.1 Dogs are identified in terms of breed.
Range must include at least one different breed from each of the following types – toy, terrier, gundog, hound, working, utility, non-sporting.
1.2 A dog is identified by age and sex, using terminology outlined in standard procedures.
1.3
A dog’s individual characteristics are documented for the purposes of identification on admission to an animal facility.
Range includes but is not limited to – colour, weight, distinguishing features; and if known, owner details, name, tags, any microchip history.
Element 2
Handle a dog safely for routine activities.
Performance criteria
2.1 Dog is handled safely for routine activities without injury to animal or handler, and with minimum stress to the dog.
Range removing from cage, lifting, leading.
2.2 Dog is restrained safely for examination without injury to dog or handler, and with minimum stress to dog.
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2.3
Element 3
Procedures for handling fractious, pregnant, injured, aged, or unwell dogs are described in terms of animal welfare.
Feed, water, and provide basic grooming to a dog.
Performance criteria
3.1
Food type is described according to dogs’ calorific and nutrient requirements, age, and body condition, according to standard procedures.
Range age
– puppy, adult, aged; condition – pregnancy, lactation.
3.2 Dog is fed and watered according to its calorific, nutrient, and water requirements, and as appropriate to its age, type and condition, according to standard procedures.
3.3
3.4
Feeding equipment is maintained in a clean and hygienic state.
Dog receives basic grooming to maintain optimal health.
3.5
Element 4
Grooming equipment is kept clean and in good working order.
Describe indications of health and ill health in dogs, and appropriate responses.
Performance criteria
4.1 Normal health and behaviour are described in terms of their signs.
Range movement, physical appearance, general demeanour, appetite.
4.2
4.3
Signs of oestrus are described in terms of physical and behavioural changes.
Abnormal health and behaviour are described in terms of their signs and possible causes, and appropriate action to be taken is identified.
Range signs include but are not limited to – movement, physical appearance, general demeanour, appetite; possible causes include but are not limited to
– parasitism, infectious disease.
4.4 Situations requiring isolation of animals are identified.
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Element 5
Carry out routine health procedures for a dog.
Performance criteria
5.1 Normal biological data are collected, and recorded according to standard procedures.
Range respiration, pulse, temperature, capillary refill time.
5.2 Condition of the dog is described in terms of body condition, skin, coat, eyes, ears and mouth.
5.3 Routine health procedures are carried out to ensure the dog’s health and welfare, according to standard procedures.
Range clipping claws, bathing, parasite control, oral medication, topical medication.
Element 6
Describe and maintain dog housing and equipment, according to the relevant NAWAC code.
Performance criteria
6.1 Features of ideal domestic housing are described consistent with health and welfare of the dog.
Range includes but is not limited to
– internal materials, size, safety features, security, environmental enrichment.
6.2 Features of commercial housing are identified according to the Code of
Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Care of Animals in Boarding
Establishments.
6.3 Dog housing and equipment are cleaned and maintained according to the health status of the dog.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
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Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation standards@primaryito.ac.nz if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
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