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. |
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY |
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: |
National Certificate: Dog Handling |
SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
50102 | National Certificate: Dog Handling | |||
ORIGINATOR | ||||
SGB Visible Policing | ||||
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
SAS SETA - Safety and Security SETA | OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
National Certificate | Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security | Safety in Society | ||
ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
Undefined | 131 | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | Regular-Unit Stds Based |
REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered" |
SAQA 9999/99 | 2018-07-01 | 2023-06-30 | |
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 qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. |
PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION |
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to obtain a nationally recognized qualification in the field of dog handling and to equip law enforcement officials with the necessary dog handling skills in specific specialized areas in order to enhance the professional status of this occupation within the safety in society environment. The learner obtaining this qualification will be able to enhance service delivery to internal and external clients. Qualifying learners will be able to exercise their dog handling responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution of South Africa by taking into account the rights of persons ensconced in the Constitution. The qualification will allow for transformation processes within the safety in society environment by standardizing training within this sector. A learner acquiring this qualification will have skills, knowledge and experience to: Rationale: This qualification reflects the workplace-based needs of the safety in society sector pertaining to the handling and utilisation of dogs, which would enable a handler of service dogs to reduce, investigate and combat crime and protect people and property by upholding the law whilst carrying out their duties. It allows learners employed in the safety-in-society sector to progress by displaying advanced dog handling competencies and perform the safekeeping roles in the broader safety in society environment and pursue studies at a more advanced managerial level. This qualification will further contribute to better service delivery to the community thereby providing an increasingly safe and secure environment, which will contribute towards the growth of the economy by protecting people and businessess. This qualification is for law enforcement officials who handle service dogs within the safety in society environment. The law enforcement official operates in an environment in which integrity and ethics play vital roles, and where their conduct will influence the community's perception of safety in society. |
LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
Recognition of prior learning This qualification may be achieved in part or in whole by recognition of prior learning. The learner in this case must be assessed and or evaluated in the same manner as described in the paragraph that deals with integrated assessment. Access to the Qualification Open access. Learners with certain physical disabilities may find it difficult to successfully complete this qualification. |
RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
Y |
QUALIFICATION RULES |
Learners undertaking the National Certificate: Dog Handling will be required to do all 40 Fundamental credits and all 76 core credits. Learners are required to achieve at least 15 credits in the elective component. It is strongly advised that learners should not only achieve the minimum 15 credits in the elective component but that once they choose an elective stream, they should complete all credits in that stream.
The following streams are identified in the Elective Component of the qualification: Sheep dogs Sniffer dogs Tracker dogs Search and rescue dogs Patrol dogs Visual tracking Breeding and socialization Summary of Components of the qualification and credits Component of the Qualification: Fundamental Component, 40 Credits Component of the Qualification: Core Component, 76 Credits Component of the Qualification: Elective Component, 15 Credits Total: 131 credits |
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
1. Describe, interpret and evaluate the principles of service dog behaviour in a working environment.
Range: > Basic drives. > Normal, abnormal and accepted behaviour. > Influencing environmental factors. > Operational area. 2. Apply specialised dog handling training techniques. 3. Demonstrate understanding of the inter relationship between Constitutional and legal prescripts and the competence to legally infringe on these rights which directly affects the use of a service dog. > Constitution of South Africa Chapter 2 Bill of Rights: in terms of the conditions when a persons rights may be infringed upon. > Criminal Procedure Act. > Animal Protection Act. > Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1995). 4. Utilize a service dog in order to maintain a safe and secure society. 5. Analyse the use of a service dog through assessing various types of documentation. Critical Cross-Field Outcomes |
ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
1.
> Range: Factors refer to: > Normal, abnormal and accepted behaviour. > Breeds and environment. > Range: Conditioning process include: > Classic conditioning (compulsive and corrective). > Operant conditioning (reward motivation). 2. > Range: Condition refer to: > Classical condition and operant conditioning. > Range: Reinforcement refer to: > Positive and negative. 3. 4. > Range: Safety precautions are applicable to: > Medical care and safety. > Own safety, safety of other persons and safety of service dog. > Range: The term "deployed" refers to but is not limited to: > The generally understood term "use of a service dog" as well as the discipline for which the dog has been trained such as building searches, apprehending suspects, open areas. 5. > Range: Types of documentation refer to but are not limited to: > Organizational reports. > Incident reports. Integrated Assessment The applied competence (practical, foundational and reflective competencies) of this qualification will be achieved if a learner is able to achieve all exit level outcomes of the qualification. The identification and solving of known problems, team work, organising self, using of data, implication of actions and reactions in the world as a set of related systems must be assessed during any combination of practical, foundational and reflexive competencies assessment methods and tools to determine the whole person development and integration of applied knowledge and skills. Certain exit level outcomes are measurable and verifiable through assessment criteria assessed in one assessment. Applicable assessment tool(s) to establish the foundational, reflective and embedded knowledge to problem solving and application of the world as a set of related systems within the Policing environment. Competence will be assessed when conducting formative and summative assessment. The assessment criteria for formative assessment are described in the various unit standards. Formative assessment takes place during the process of learning and assessors should use a range of assessment methods and tools that support each other to assess total competence. The assessment methods and/or tools used by the assessor must be fair in a sense that they do not hinder or advantage the learner, valid in a sense that they measure what they intend to measure, reliable in a sense that they are consistent and delivers the same output across a range of learners and practical in a sense that they take into account the available financial resources, facilities, equipment and time. Summative assessment and terminal assessment are carried out at the end of the learning programme to assess the achievement of the learner. A detailed portfolio of evidence is required to prove the practical, applied and foundational competencies of the learner. |
INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
International comparability is listed below per country.
This qualification has been benchmarked against qualification, internationally as well as the rest of Africa. The South African Police Service has engaged in extensive liaison with colleagues and related services in the dog handler's environment. Material, best practices and many other innovations have been considered and integrated into this qualification. Australia: In Australia the following unit of competencies and qualifications were found and compared with this qualification and unit standards. Although some of the titles of the unit of competencies are not the same as within this qualification, the competencies covered by this unit of competencies and qualifications are the same as the competencies covered by this qualification and unit standards. The qualifications framework devised provides a balance between achieving the requirements set by the industry and its sector, which demonstrate competency in the area of work covered by the qualification and the need to provide for maximum flexibility. Units of competency have been packaged and aligned to a specific qualification within the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) to establish the qualification level and title Qualifications Titles: National Code: RUA98 Unit: National Code: PTRS03 Unit: National Code: PRS98 Unit: National Code: CSC01 Unit: National Code: THH97 Unit: National Code: RTE03 Unit: Within the Revised Qualification as suggested by the SGB Visible Policing almost the same competencies as in the abovementioned qualifications are the same. The focus of the competencies is to render a professional service to the community. The key roles and functions of the South African Police Service are to: Most of the competencies and standards on this framework linked directly to the National Certificate in Dog Handling and therefore we believe that the National Certificate in Dog Handling benchmarked fully with this qualifications on the Australian Qualifications Framework. Scotland: On the qualifications framework for Scotland the following qualifications and unit standards were found and compared with this qualification. Although some of these titles refer to Guide Dog handling and other dogs handling skills, the competencies were compared with the competencies in this qualification qualifications, and it was determine that the skills, knowledge and values are the same. New Zealand: On the qualifications framework for New Zealand the following qualifications were found and compared with this qualification. Although these titles refer to Guide Dog handling, the competencies were compared with the competencies in this qualification qualifications, and it was determine that the skills, knowledge and values are the same. Qualifications: > National Certificate in Animal care and handling with strands Guide Dog Breeding Services, Guide Dog Puppy development, and Guide dog Kennel Services > National Certificate in Animal Care and handling (Dog Groomer) > National Diploma in Animal Training (Guide Dog Instructor) > National Diploma in Animal Training (Guide Dog Trainer) Unit Standards: Various unit standards on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQA) were compared with the unit standards similar in this qualification and it was found that the elements and performance criteria stated in these standards were in line with the specific outcomes and assessment criteria stated in this qualification. General dog handlers skills: Animal Handling: Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Compliance And Regulatory Control: Farming skills: Sheep farming: Veterinary nursing: Netherlands: No units of competencies, unit standards and or qualifications could be found for comparison but in general various articles were found and it was determine that the competencies in this qualification and unit standards are addressed by various training institutions within Netherlands are the same as the competencies within this qualification. Curriculum content include the following competencies: Other international countries: Norway, Iceland, Russian, Switzerland and U.S.A These countries do not have registered unit standards and qualifications but have some training curriculum that deals with dog handlers training and compared well with the competencies required for dog handlers as indicated in this qualification: Some topics (competencies include): Norway: Iceland: Russian: Switzerland: U.S.A: Southern African Regional Police Chief Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO) Countries: Various web sites of countries in Africa were surfed and no comparison or any content related to Dog Handling Qualifications could be found regarding the following countries: Mozambique, Democratic republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana It should be mentioned that the South African Police Service forms part of the Southern African Regional Police Chief Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO) and twice a year meetings were conducted to establish working and Training related co-operations. The SAPS is currently the major stakeholder regarding the training of other African countries and on an ad hoc basis support all these countries with specialized skills. |
ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
The choice of elective learning component allows the learner to change to another pathway in a law enforcement environment at the same level or at the next level. The specific environments refer to Policing, Correctional Services, Security, Military Policing, Metropolitan Policing and the South African National Defence Force.
This qualification will articulate horizontally with: This qualification may articulate vertically to: |
MODERATION OPTIONS |
CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
REREGISTRATION HISTORY |
As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. |
NOTES |
For purposes of this qualification the term negative reinforcement is understood to mean change of voice tone, witholding reward, body language or ignoring the dog depending on the dog's character. It does not refer to any physical abuse. |
UNIT STANDARDS: |
ID | UNIT STANDARD TITLE | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | CREDITS | |
Core | 120458 | Condition a service dog in obedience | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 12 |
Core | 113960 | Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the ethical standards in the Public Sector | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 4 |
Core | 120471 | Evaluate the use of equipment and accessories for the socializing and conditioning of service dogs | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 6 |
Core | 119721 | Support marginalised, "at risk" and vulnerable individuals and groups and identify appropriate referral services | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 8 |
Core | 120483 | Conduct preliminary investigations | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 6 |
Core | 15096 | Demonstrate an understanding of stress in order to apply strategies to achieve optimal stress levels in personal and work situations | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 5 |
Core | 120492 | Demonstrate the application of performance management | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 6 |
Core | 11984 | Give evidence in a court of law | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 4 |
Core | 120465 | Move tactically with a service dog | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 15 |
Core | 120466 | Select a dog for in service work or training | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 10 |
Fundamental | 120476 | Adhere to professional conduct and organisational ethics | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 4 |
Fundamental | 120491 | Demonstrate understanding of Law of Evidence in a policing environment | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 6 |
Fundamental | 120489 | Demonstrate understanding of the criminal justice system | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 9 |
Fundamental | 120481 | Demonstrate understanding of the Criminal Procedure Act related to policing functions | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 9 |
Fundamental | 120484 | Demonstrate understanding of the principles of common law crimes and statutory law offences | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 12 |
Elective | 120464 | Apply visual tracking skills in order to locate a subject | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 15 |
Elective | 120463 | Handle a patrol dog to assist in searching for and the apprehension of a suspect | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 15 |
Elective | 120461 | Handle a trained sniffer dog to assist in the detection of substances | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 15 |
Elective | 120456 | Utilize a tracker dog to follow a human scent trail | Level 4 | NQF Level 04 | 10 |
Elective | 120460 | Apply the selection, caring and breeding practice of service dogs | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 9 |
Elective | 120457 | Condition and care for new born puppies until 18 months | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 15 |
Elective | 120470 | Conduct a human scent identification trail with a scent identification dog | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 15 |
Elective | 120462 | Demonstrate understanding of the conditioning process (forming) of a young dog between 8 weeks and 18 months | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 15 |
Elective | 120469 | Handle a sheep dog in the investigation of stock theft | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 15 |
Elective | 119032 | Identify and deal with dangerous goods | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 13 |
Elective | 120472 | Reproduce imprints by means of plaster casts in and around a crime scene | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 9 |
Elective | 120468 | Utilize a search and rescue dog in structured scenarios to locate missing persons and evidence | Level 5 | Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5 | 15 |
LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: |
NONE |
PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: |
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. |
NONE |
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. |