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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Condition a service dog in obedience 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
120458  Condition a service dog in obedience 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Visible Policing 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Safety in Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is for learners in the field of Safety in Society who train a pre-selected service dog in obedience where a bond has already been established between the trainer and the dog.

A person credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Plan and prepare for a training session.
  • Apply conditioning techniques to elicit a desired response.
  • Evaluate progress of the dog to a achieve training standards. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Communication NQF level 4.
  • Caring for the welfare of a service dog NQF Level 3. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Pre-selected service dog refers to a service dog that has been selected for its unique characteristics and abilities.

    Training refers to the concept of conditioning of dog behavior to elicit specific responses.

    Obedience may include but is not limited to: "stay" (remaining in a position), "recall" (coming to the handler when called), "heel" (sitting or walking next to the handler on or off leash), "down", "sit" or "stand" when given a verbal or nonverbal (hand sign) command. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Plan and prepare for the training session. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Dog training equipment is selected according for its intended purposes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Factors, which may influence the selection of a training environment, are evaluated in order to determine its suitability for training. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The dog is psychologically and physically assessed in order to determine readiness for the training session. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
    Psychologically refers to have the dog relaxed and physically refers to the dog being allowed to relieve itself. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Dog training equipment is fitted to the dog according to the intended uses. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Apply conditioning techniques to elicit a desired response. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
  • Desired response may include but is not limited to the dog's behavioural reaction to verbal/non-verbal commands to stay, recall, stand, sit, heel.
  • Controlling of a dog should be demonstrated while the dog is on and off a leash, also by giving voice commands from a distance, as well as giving directional commands. 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Physical position is taken in relation to the position of the dog in order to apply conditioning techniques. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
    Conditioning techniques may include but are not limited to use of equipment with classical and operant conditioning or a combination thereof. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Physical actions on dog are executed with a simultaneous verbal command to develop an association between the verbal command and the desired response. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Principles of reinforcement are applied to ensure the dog makes an association with the verbal command and desired response. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
  • Negative reinforcement does not refer to any physical abuse.
  • Positive reinforcements are varied as dog progresses to increase the pace of the conditioning process. 
    		•
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Principles of reinforcement may refer to:
  • Positive reinforcement which refers to verbal/physical praise, toy reward or presenting a titbit.
  • Negative reinforcement which refers to change of voice tone, withholding reward body language or ignoring the dog completely depending on the dog's character.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Conditioning techniques are repeated with rest and play sessions in between to ensure ongoing conditioning of the desired response. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
  • Repetitions of techniques must be stopped before the dog shows disinterest or fatigue.
  • Repetitions of techniques are increased as dog progresses. 
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Evaluate dog performance to achieve training standards. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Conditioning exercises are planned in accordance with assessment guidelines. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Conditioning exercises are executed in accordance with assessment tasks. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Dog behaviour is interpreted in order to make an assessment finding. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Deviations from training standards are corrected in order to conform to these standards. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • The term training standards may refer to organisational specific training standards.
  • Deviations may refer to the dogs' deviation in terms of its performance measured against set criteria.
     
    		•


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • An individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this Unit Standard may apply to an assessment agency; assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this Unit Standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard or assessing this Unit Standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Planning and preparation of training session
  • Dog training equipment
  • Factors that may influence the selection of a training environment
  • Physiologically and physically needs of dogs
  • Conditioning techniques
  • Dog's behavioural reaction to verbal/non-verbal commands
  • Physical actions
  • Verbal command and the desired response
  • Principles of reinforcement
  • Positive reinforcement
  • Negative reinforcement
  • Repetitions of techniques
  • Evaluate dog performance
  • Conditioning exercises
  • Deviations from training standards
  • Assessment principles
  • Animal Protection Act No 71 of 1962 section 2.1(a), (c), (d), (f), (i), (m), (n), (q) and (r) 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group organization, community. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyze, organize and critically evaluate information. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  57938   Further Education and Training Certificate: Dog Handling  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 
    Core  50102   National Certificate: Dog Handling  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Alpha K9 Solutions Pty Ltd 
    2. ATLEGANG CONSULTING CC 
    3. Combined Private Investigations Pty Ltd 
    4. GENESIS K9 GROUP (PTY) LTD 
    5. K9 REVELATION SERVICES 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.