Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to care for greyhounds and protect their health and welfare through the creation and maintenance of comfortable physical and mental environments.
The unit applies to all individuals who have a greyhound in their care.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, according to state/territory animal welfare and health and safety regulations, legislation and standards that apply to the workplace.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Refer to your state or territory Controlling Body or Principal Racing Authority for current licence or registration requirements.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Check health and welfare of greyhounds | 1.1 Identify and recognise the characteristics of a healthy greyhound 1.2 Identify, recognise and report symptoms of common greyhound illnesses and injuries and signs of distress to supervisor/trainer/owner 1.3 Recognise and report the characteristics of a greyhound in a positive, negative or neutral mental state |
2. Provide appropriate nutrition and access to food and water | 2.1 Identify the range of feeds appropriate for the nutritional requirements of greyhounds 2.2 Determine the feed and water requirements for an individual racing greyhound, taking into account age, gender, body mass and health of the dog and its career 2.3 Ensure access to and security of food for all greyhounds 2.4 Observe individual greyhound eating and drinking patterns, and report variations to supervisor/trainer/owner |
3. Provide a comfortable physical and social environment | 3.1 Comply with racing kennel operations related to the care, welfare and management of greyhounds 3.2 Clean and maintain kennels, the kennel environment and yards according to sanitation requirements and industry codes of practice 3.3 Identify workplace safety hazards and take the appropriate actions to rectify 3.4 Identify any signs of discomfort and/or distress of greyhounds and take the appropriate actions to rectify 3.5 Provide greyhounds with access to activities that involve choice and variety to enable behavioural expression 3.6 Follow an enrichment and exercise plan for greyhounds at different life stages |
4. Groom and bathe greyhounds | 4.1 Choose appropriate grooming and bathing equipment for greyhounds and use to groom and bathe greyhounds 4.2 Catch, lead and control greyhounds and groom and prepare greyhounds for race meetings according to work health and safety (WHS) policy 4.3 Check greyhounds for illness or injury during grooming, and report or record findings promptly |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Writing | Use clear, specific and industry-related terminology to provide basic reports on greyhound health and behaviour |
Oral Communication | Discuss health and welfare issues with colleagues clearly using industry terminology |
Numeracy | Measure greyhound feed to ensure each greyhound is fed appropriately Calculate and record greyhound food intake when required |
Sectors
Performance services greyhounds (PSG)