Certificate of Dog Care

Unit 1 – Introduction to Dog Care

• What dogs need
• Food
• Water
• Physical and psychological environment
• Exercise
• Hygiene
• Importance of routine
• Potential problems and owner error
• Uncertainty of pack position
• Neglect
• Escaping
• Attacking other people and animals
• Physical damage
• Illness
• Which breed is best
• Choosing a puppy or adult dog
• Outside living or inside pet
• Restricting and confining a pet
• Dealing with holidays
• Training dogs
• Socialising with other animals
• Scope of dog care industry

Unit 2 – Canine Biology

• Anatomy
• Mouth
• Teeth
• Ears
• Eyes
• Skeletal system
• Digestive system
• Normal physiological values
• Circulation
• Respiratory rates
• Thermoregulation

Unit 3 – Dog Health Part 1

• Introduction to nutrition and feeding
• Nutritional components
• Carbohydrates
• Proteins
• Fats
• Minerals
• Vitamins
• Water
• Changing requirements through different life stages
• Growth period
• Working and high performance period
• Pregnancy and lactation period
• Geriatric period
• Feeding patterns -time controlled or free choice
• Feed products
• Commercial foods
• Medicinal/veterinary foods
• Home cooked Foods
• Snacks and treats
• Foods to avoid
• Common nutritional disorders
• Allergies
• Poisoning
• Preventative health
• Diet supplements
• Immunisation
• Worms, tick and flea prevention
• Exercise
• Dental care
• Skin and nail care
• Basic first aid equipment
• Assessing the situation in an emergency
• What to do… (in accidents or at specific times)
• Basic resuscitation and CPR

Unit 4 – Dog Health Part 2 – Illnesses and Treatments

• Introduction
• Haemobartonellosis
• Babesiosis
• Von Willebrand’s Disease
• Aortic stenosis
• Heart failure
• Heart murmurs and arrhythmias
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Heartworm
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Giardia
• Intestinal Worms
• Enteritis
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Cushing’s Disease (hyperadrenocorticism)
• Hypothyroidism
• Postpartum Hypocalcaemia (eclampsia)
• Conjunctivitis
• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Ear mites
• Deafness
• Anaphylactic shock
• Lupus
• Hip dysplasia
• Osteoarthritis
• Epilepsy
• Canine degenerative myelopathy (CDM)
• Canine distemper
• Infectious canine tracheobronchitis (kennel cough)
• Asthma
• Mange
• Ringworm

Unit 5 – Dog Breeds

• Gundogs, hounds, pastoral, terriers, toy, utility, working
• English Setter
• Irish Setter
• German Pointer
• Golden Retriever
• Labrador Retriever
• Cocker Spaniel
• Hungarian Vizsla
• Beagle
• Dachshund
• Greyhound
• Irish Wolfhound
• Bassett Hound
• Australian Cattle dog
• Border Collie
• German Shepherd
• Old English Sheep Dog
• Corgi
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• West Highland Terrier
• Parson (Jack) Russell Terrier
• Australian terrier
• Scottish terrier
• Chihuahua
• Bichon Frisé
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Pomeranian
• Pug
• Dalmatian
• Poodle
• Schnauzer
• Shih Tzu
• Alaskan Malumute
• Great Dane
• Mastiff
• Newfoundland
• St Bernard

Unit 6 – Breeding

• Introduction
• Female reproductive system
• Male reproductive system
• Sexual behaviour
• Mating interaction
• The management of reproduction
• Desexing/neutering/spaying/castrating
• Pregnancy and birth
• Parturition (labour)
• Suckling
• Weaning
• Factors influencing puppy size
• Puppy development
• The breeding industry
• ‘Back-yard’ breeders and breeding for fun
• Illegal commercial puppy breeding enterprises (puppy mills)
• Breeding for profit

• Legislation and licensing

Unit 7 – Dog Behaviour and Training

• Understanding dog behaviour
• The importance of training
• Practical training techniques
• Technique for recall
• Technique for sit (in front)
• Technique for sit (at the side)
• Technique for stand (beside)
• Technique for stand (beside)
• Technique for leave
• Technique for down/lay
• Technique for stay (beside)
• Technique for heeling
• Behaviour problems present opportunities for business
• Attributes of successful dog trainers
• Practical for business start-up

Unit 8 – Grooming

• The importance of grooming
• Grooming tools and equipment
• What to groom, why and how
• Skin
• Bathing
• Coat (hair)
• Brushing
• Claws (nails)
• Teeth
• Teeth brushing
• Ears
• Professional grooming
• Long haired dog breeds
• Short hair breeds
• Other breeds
• Styles and clips

Unit 9 – Other Dog Services

• Health and related services
• Training and related services
• Day care and long term stay services
• Assistance dog services
• Professional dog handling