Welfare Document Flashcards
What are the two main pieces of legislation that apply to the housing of dogs:
- The Animal Welfare Act 2006
- Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018
All staff involved in looking after Police Dogs must be competent and have what?
A CPD (Continued Professional Development) portfolio
When individual forces are writing their policies they could also consider:
- The practitioners guide to working dog welfare
- Scottish and Welsh Code of practice for welfare of Dogs
- Association of Dog and Cat Homes (ACDH) Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards
- NPSA Guidance note working dog welfare during kennelling
The welfare document sets the minimum standard of what?
Police Dog APP
NPCC POLICE DOG STANDARD
PDWG POLICE DOG WORKING GROUP
How many times a day should a police dog be checked by the handler or suitable trained kennel staff?
Twice
What can behavioural changes in a dog indicate?
Underlying health problems
When should observations of the dog take place?
Key times: kennelling, exercising, training sessions, operations and during transport
What are the minimum standards for meeting the welfare needs of police dogs?
DEFRA code of practice for the welfare of dogs.
As per S.9 of the animal welfare Act 2006, what are the 5 needs of a police dog?
- Need for a suitable environment
- Need for a suitable diet
- Need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
- Need to be housed with or apart from other animals
- Need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
Guidance and advice on good kennel design and protocols include:
- Guidance for dog boarding establishments 2016
- The animal welfare (listening of activities involving animals) (England) Regulations 2018
3 RSPCA guide covering the kennelling of seized dogs
How often should a police dog be taken out of kennels and given opportunities to use a toilet?
As regularly as needed.
It is important that police dogs have access to housing that is available to sick or injured animals to minimise the risk of transmission to other dogs and assist in recovery under:
The animal boarding establishments Act 1963
All dogs are individuals so:
They express how they are feeling in different ways
No single Physiological or behavioural measure can be used alone to accurately assess a dog’s welfare. The following must be considered
- Suitability of environment and daily needs
- The individual dog’s life history
- The dog’s individual physical, psychological and MH
Human presence/ absence can influence the presentation of some welfare indicators.
Remote monitoring using video cameras can be useful to monitor this.
When observing indicators of welfare is the changes in the dog behaviour as well as the behaviour itself.
All staff should be trained what to look for and what action to take should a change indicate the dog’s welfare has been compromised.
When observing indicators of welfare is the changes in the dog behaviour as well as the behaviour itself.
All staff should be trained what to look for and what action to take should a change indicate the dog’s welfare has been compromised.
Signs of good welfare:
Play behaviour
Active exploration
Friendly social interaction
Resting (but not too much)
What should be used to promote good welfare?
Positive reinforcement
What can negatively affect welfare?
Punishment based training
What are the 5 needs of for the welfare standard under DEFRA?
- Need for a suitable environment
- Need for a suitable diet
- Need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
- Need to be housed with or apart from other animals
- Need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
Need for a suitable environment - All police dogs must have a safe, secure and suitable place to rest and relax. Guidance and advice on good kennel design and protocols include:
- Guidance for dog boarding establishments 2016
- Animal Welfare regs 2018
- RSPCA guide covering the kennelling of seized dogs
Each dog unit will complete and record a risk assessment for:
Each area that the dogs will be expected to live in (no matter how short a time).
Each dog unit should have a system in place to ensure that the staff working within the kennels complete:
Examination of all kennel areas at the start and end of the day. (Including when the dog is moved to a new area. This should also be backed up monthly by the kennel manager or relevant supervisor). This should be recorded on the kennel maintenance records.
Police dogs must be provided with a place to live that allows them to:
Move around to ensure their comfort, avoiding becoming too hot or cold.
Any area the dog spends time in will be adapted to ensure that:
The size, construction, positioning, lighting, noise levels and temperature ranges are suitable and beneficial for the dog using it.
Each dog must have a file that includes husbandry requirements when:
1.The dog is in its place of normal residence
2.Being cared for at an alternative residence
3. Being contained in a police vehicle
Dogs that chew bedding may:
Be in need of additional stimulation, so rather than just removing the bedding, additional forms of bedding or enrichment must be considered, trialled and its outcome evidenced.
Care should be taken trialling a new type of bedding to ensure it does not
Present a choking or blockage risk, should the dog decide to chew it.
Scientific literature highlights bedding materials such as straw can also be used
To provide mental stimulation because it provides a new odour and novel material for dogs to explore.
The use of thick rubber matting:
Can be appropriate when travelling in a vehicle
The only exemption for a dog not having any bedding will be:
Following a documented rationale, including steps taken and a veterinary assessment.
This will show multiple substrates have been considered or trialled and bedding is not in the best interest for that particular dog.
Need for a suitable diet:
Police dogs must be fed a diet
Authorised by their organisation or prescribed by a vet.
The quantity and type of diet fed will be:
Correct for the age, breed, health reproductive status and activity of the dog. This should be correct for the target weight of the dog.
The target weight should be set by
The vet and consistently assessed by all persons involved in the care of that dog.
The dog’s conditioning should be regularly assessed using a combination of weight and body conditioning scoring.
Suitable body conditioning charts should be obtained from a vet.
Any changes in diet will be introduced
Gradually, to avoid gastrointestinal issues.
Food storage areas will be
Kept clean and free from pests.
Food will be stored according to:
manufacturer recommendations and use by dates adhered to.
A raw diet must be
Signed off by a vet
Changes to the diet will only occur if
Approved by the organisation or vet
Training treats will be agreed by the organisation or approved by the vet if
If the dog is on a specific diet for a health condition.
Dogs will have access to fresh clean drinking water at all times when kennelled. When not kennelled
Dogs should be given access as regularly as needed at minimum every 3 hours.
When not training or deployed dogs should be given
Access to objects or structures that provide them with opportunities to exhibit normal behaviour patterns.
Any objects or structures used must
Be suitable for the dog and not present a risk of injury
All items must be checked on a regular basis for wear and tear to prevent
The possibility of injury
Forces should consider the following environment enrichments:
- Physical environment (platforms, layout, physical features/ structures).
- Degree of social contact (other dogs and humans)
- Sensory stimulation (auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory and taste)
- Food presentation (schedule, frequency, portion size, type and container)
- Cognitive engagement (puzzles, tasks, novel activity)
Dogs should be given opportunity to interact with people and varied environments at least …… in a 24 hour period
Twice
Police dogs should be given opportunities to
Be taken out of kennels and use a toilet area as regular as needed.
Dogs can become what if they have to urinate and defecate
In their kennel and can become stressed if they have to do so.
Research suggests that if time alone is excessive, you can expect
Behavioural problems for both you and the dog.
Dogs are social animals and
Find contact with humans and other compatible dogs very rewarding.
Protection from suffering, pain injury and disease: all areas containing police dogs must be
Cleaned and maintained to a standard that prevents disease and illness
Use of chemicals when cleaning will be monitored to
Ensure that they are safe to use around animals and are not overpowering and negatively affecting the dog’s welfare.
Reward based training should be used to
Reduce stress associated with physical examination
each police dog section must have access to housing that is available for sick or injured animals to minimise risk of transmission under
The animal boarding establishment act 1963
