Required skills

conduct initial and ongoing assessment of animals to assess progress against the training plans behaviour management and conditioning strategies

develop review and update animal training strategies and plans for a range of breeds

employ appropriate communication skills to determine animals and clients needs and provide advice and assistance as required

employ safe and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when working with and handling a variety of animal breeds

identify and implement a variety of scientificallyrecognised behaviour modification techniques including the effect of positive and negative reinforcement

maintain the highest standards of hygiene and infection control at all times to reduce the risk of infection and crossinfection

maintain and update records

observe and interpret the behaviour of owners and animals

research venues community needs training methods and behavioural traits and conditioning strategies for a range of breeds

use and maintain training equipment including restraint devices

literacy skills to read and follow organisation policies and procedures including OHS and infection control procedures follow sequenced written instructions record accurately and legibly information collected select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks and read develop and document animal training strategies and plans

oral communication skillslanguage to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning techniques active listening and asking for clarification

numeracy skills to estimate calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures

interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

problemsolving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks

use safe manual handling techniques andor equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures

Required knowledge

advertising strategies

animal dietary exercise and maintenance requirements

basic animal anatomy and physiology related to companion animal behaviour management requirements

behaviour modification techniques and conditioning strategies

humane training techniques for a range of animals and training requirements

organisation policies procedures and requirements including OHS and emergency procedures

principles of animal welfare and ethics

range of animals and breeds their common behavioural traits and temperaments

range of animal training equipment and its use

relevant OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements and codes of practice

relevant recordkeeping systems

safe animal handling and restraint techniques and procedures

safe work practices

training strategies and plans

workplace hygiene standards disinfectants cleaning agents cleaning techniques and cleaning equipment and materials

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

Overview of assessment

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 Assessors should ensure that candidates can

research venues community needs training methods and behavioural traits

communicate effectively with animal owners and training class participants to determine animal and client needs and provide advice and assistance as required

develop class training plans

develop and distribute advertising materials

train owners to train their animals in accordance with training plans and class requirements through demonstration of animal training techniques including positive reinforcement

handle and restrain animals appropriately and humanely

select use and maintain training equipment

maintain records and followup with clients as required

The skills and knowledge required to conduct companion animal training classes must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in companion animal organisations that provide animal training classes or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions

There must be access to a range of companion animal breeds and species as well as relevant information equipment andor resources to enable one to demonstrate competence

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency in ones performance competency should be demonstrated to industry defined standards on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances cases and responsibilities and over a number of assessment activities

The assessment strategies must include practical skills assessment Suggested strategies for this unit are

written andor oral assessment of candidates required knowledge

observed documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidates application of practical tasks

simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions

thirdparty evidence

workplace documentation

portfolio

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands eg literacy and numeracy demands and the needs of particular target groups eg 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

Behavioural traits of animals may include:

Training strategies may include:

Training classes may include:

Training plans may include:

Training equipment may include:

OHS risks when working with animals may include:

Animal welfare and ethics requirements may include: