Professional Dog Walking Diploma

With the rise in popularity and necessity of dog walkers as a vital service. To many dog owners it is important that the owner has the reassurance that the walker knows what they are doing and their dog is in safe hands.

This course provides the walker with essential knowledge to carry out that task.

Course Modules

1. Canine Anatomy

• Introduction to Canine Anatomy
• The points of the dog
• The canine skeleton
• Importance and function of bones
• Growth in the dog
• The Spinal column
• The skeletal anatomy of the ribs and chest
• The skeletal anatomy of the feet
• The anatomy of the forequarters
• The anatomy of the hindquarters
• The skull and skull types
• Joints
• Health problems with joints and skeletons
• Muscles
• The cardiovascular system
• The heart

1. Canine Form and Function

• Understanding what form and function are
• Canine sight
• Canine hearing
• Canine olfaction
• Canine taste
• Canine touch
• How different breeds originated
• The difference between natural selection and artificial selection
• Hound Group
• Terrier Group
• Gundog Group
• Utility Group
• Toy Group
• Working Group
• Pastoral Group

1. Canine Body Language

• What is meant by body language?
• Personal space
• Various types of body language
• Faces and their expressions
• What the mouth can convey
• Staring
• Yawning
• Body postures
• The confident dog
• The shy dog
• Distraction signals
• The stress signal
• Play
• The play bow and play dance
• The older dog and play
• Tail language
• Positions of the tail
• Wagging

1. Canine Law

• Introduction to canine law
• Local Byelaws
• Sources of information on canine law
• Standard scale of fines and penalties
• Animal Welfare Act 2006
• The key elements of the Animal Welfare Act 2006
• Animals to which the Animal Welfare Act 2006 applies
• Protection Animals of the Animal Welfare Act 2006
• Responsibility for animals of the Animal Welfare Act 2006
• Preventing harm in connection with the Animal Welfare Act 2006
• Duty of care and the Animal Welfare Act 2006
• The Criminal Damages Act 1971
• Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
• Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005
• Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003
• Road Traffic Act 1988
• Control of Dogs Order 1992
• Transportation of Animals
• The Animal Health Act 1981
• The Veterinary Surgeon’s Act 1966

1. Canine First Aid

• Accident prevention
• Outdoor basics
• Indoor basics
• Putting together a first aid kit
• Muzzles
• Vital Signs: Temperature, Pulse and Respiration
• Examples of First Aid Situations
• RTA : First aid Action
• Wounds: Open
• Wounds: Closed
• First Aid action of wounds
• Fractures: Simple, Compound and Complicated
• First Aid action of fractures
• Haemorrhaging
• Arteries
• Veins
• Capillaries
• The different types of haemorrhage
• Signs of haemorrhage
• First aid action of haemorrhage
• The three main pressure points
• Tourniquets
• Dislocations
• Signs of dislocations
• First aid action of dislocations
• Shock
• Signs of shock
• First aid action of shock
• Heat Stroke
• Signs of heat stroke
• First aid action of heat stroke
• Cut paws
• Burns and scalds
• First aid action of burns ad scalds
• Drowning
• First aid action of drowning
• Foreign bodies in eyes, throat or mouth
• Insect stings
• Poisoning
• First aid action of poisoning
• Convulsions and Fits
• Cause of convulsions and fits
• First aid action of convulsions and fits

1. Canine Aggression

• Reading canine language
• The canine eye in connection with the dog’s emotional state
• The canine ear used in communication
• Mouth and head positions used in communication
• Body positions and body posture
• Mounting behaviour
• Tail position and use in social communication
• Fear aggression
• Possessive aggression
• Maternal aggression
• Territorial aggression
• Re-directed aggression
• Genetic aggression
• Consequential aggression
• Sex related aggression
• Predatory aggression
• Defensive aggression
• Idiopathic aggression
• Senile aggression
• Diet and aggression

Course Details:

• Study Level 2

• The study Level relates to the how demanding the course is. 1 is beginner and 5 is HND / Foundation Degree level.
• 6 Module Course
• This course is delivered in 6 study modules which need to be passed to gain the qualification.

Fees:

• Course fee – R6200.00 (includes registration and certification)
• Installment option – R1500 registration, R200 certification and R1000 per module

or

Monthly installments – Choose your own amount to pay monthly, no less than R500, over and above reg and cert payment. (This option ensures that finances don’t get in the way of completing your course, giving you peace of mind.)(Each module must be paid up before release.)