Dogs Code of Welfare

Question 1

Min Standard No.1 Food and Feeding

Answer 1

Must receive adequate quantities of nutritious food to;

• maintain good health
• meet physiological demands (physical activity, growth, pregnancy, lactation and exposure to cold)
• avoid metabolic and nutritional disorders

Question 2

Min Standard No.2 Body Condition

Answer 2

Thin - Vet attention required or improved nutrition

Grossly obese- Vet advice must be sought and action taken to decrease weight

Question 3

Min Standard No.3 Water

Answer 3

Must have frequent access to water, appropriate to needs, that is palatable to dog, not harmful to health and available in quantities to maintain vital functions

Question 4

Min Standard No.4 Containment and Tethering

Answer 4

Dogs must not be contained or tethered in a way that causes injury or distress
Any collar or tether must not
- cause a cut that bleeds or discharges
- cause skin abrasion that bleeds or discharges
- cause a swelling
- prevent dog from breathing normally, panting or drinking

Question 5

Min Standard No.5 Kennelling, Shelter and Ventilation

Answer 5

Dogs must have access at all times to a lying area that;
- large enough to allow dog to stand, turn and lie down in natural position
- fully shaded
- dry
- ventilated
Must be protected from extremes of heat and cold
Must have access at all times to water
Must have access at all times to area for urinate and defecate away from lying area
Faeces and urine must not be allowed to accumulate

Question 6

Min Standard No.6 Sanitation

Answer 6

Faeces and urine not permitted to accumulate to extent they pose threat to health or welfare of dog
Food and water containers kept clean of contamination that may pose threat to health or welfare

Question 7

Min Standard No.10 Ill health and injury

Answer 7

Owners of dogs exibiting;
- signs of significant acute pain, suffering or distress
- signs of chronic pain, suffering or distress
- signs of rapidly deteriorating health
- serious injury
Must seek immediate attention from a vet

Question 8

Min Standard No.11 Prevention of Infectious disease

Answer 8

Dogs known to be infected must be carefully supervised and securely isolated to prevent spread

Question 9

Min Standard No.12 Care of claws and coat

Answer 9

Coats of long haired dogs must be groomed/clipped at frequency that prevent suffering and distress due to matting or infestation by parasites
Claws must be clipped when necessary to avoid penetration of skin and/or foot pads

Question 10

Min Standard No.13 Exercise

Answer 10

Must receive daily exercise sufficient to maintain health and well-being
Must be supervised at all times when exercising with equipment such as treadmills to limit risk of injury or over-exercise

Question 11

Min Standard No.14 Harmful substances

Answer 11

Must take all practical steps to ensure dogs not exposed to poisons and harmful substances
Myst seek immediate vet attention if known to eaten harmful substance or showing signs of poisoning

Question 12

Min Standard No.18 Training

Answer 12

Training techniques must be appropriate for the individual dog

Question 13

Min Standard No.20 Transportation

Answer 13

Must be provided with adequate ventilation when in vehicle
Must not be transported loose in a stock crate with livestock
If carried in purpose built transport box fixed to vehicle, must be well ventilated and free from exhaust fumes and road dust
If transported on open deck on public road
- secured in a way preventing from falling or hanging off
- tether must be short enough to prevent legs from reaching over sides of open deck, but long enough to allow stand or lie in natural position

Dog in stationary vehicle must not display signs of shade-seeking behaviour, as well as 1 or more signs of heat stress

1. Excessive panting
2. Excessive Drooling
3. Hyperventilation