Provide Training Advice to Companion Animal Owners

Assessment: Case Study Assignments

Completion and satisfactory grading of case study (written assignments)

Case studies are written assignments that challenge you to first read and understand the learning materials then to demonstrate a deeper understanding of this material by writing about a situation that occurs in your workplace. You will need to discuss what you do and why it is done in that way in your specific situation. You will refer to the ideas from the learning materials but do not quote them word for word. You may also need to include discussion of alternative methods to demonstrate an awareness of how things may be done in other workplaces.

Assignment - Provide Training Advice to Companion Animal Owners

Instructions:

You are required to compile TWO detailed case study reports where you have played a central role in developing, monitoring and reviewing the training plan and program of companion animals and their owners. This should be over a period of time.

You should select two different breeds of animal and two different situations in order to demonstrate your range of knowledge.

When writing your case reports you should include discussion on what you did, how you did it and why you did it that way. You should submit all parts of the assessment as detailed on the Portfolio Sheet.

Using the Portfolio Sheets and Setting out Assessment Tasks

- The portfolio sheets are to be used as guidance for the format / layout of each case study. The suggested headings used on the portfolio sheets are recommended headings that the student should use in their case studies.

- Mentors must check each case study for technical proficiency, spelling and grammatical errors.

- Your mentor will be contacted via email to confirm they have perused your case study prior to submission.

Statement: The evidence in this case study is a true representation of my involvement in the case described, and the work undertaken in compiling the case is my own.

1. Case study description
Provide information detailing your client and the situation causing them to seek training advice.
- How were their needs discussed and determined?
- How did you agree on short and medium term goals?
- Was referral to a specialist considered?

2. Discuss your initial assessment of the animal(s)
This may involve:
- Visual inspection of the animal (including temperament, behaviour and general condition)
- Animal's environment (normal environment and any factors that may be influencing behaviour)
- Behavioural and training history
- Client's expectations and whether these can be reasonably met

3. Demonstrate your knowledge of the behavioural traits of this breed
Research will need to be undertaken on the specific breed of the selected animal. This may be sourced from: dog breeder associations, dog handlers, internet resources etc.

This is the normal behaviours in a range of contexts including:
- Social
- Resting
- Grooming
- Ingestive
- Eliminative
- Breeding and parental
- Other normal behaviour traits (type of breed and original breed purpose that may affect training ability etc)

4. Document the training plan you developed for this case

The training plan should be submitted as a report to the client detailing a series of humane training exercises recommended to assist them in achieving their goals.

It should also detail suggested management of an animal during a training program.

5. Discuss the training plan provided

Provide an explanation detailing your reasoning behind the training strategies used in the plan.

6. Demonstrate or discuss how you conducted the training
This section can be submitted as either a log book, a written report or a video/DVD submission. You should include:
- Training equipment used - e.g. toys, treats halters, leads etc
- Any explanation to clients
- Consideration of animal welfare and ethics requirements
- Ongoing assessment and reviews
- Any modification to training plan
- Your record keeping methods for this case

7. Discuss your instructions to the client for ongoing management
Discuss advice provided on the following:
- Reaching longer term objectives
- Training plans including dietary requirements, behavioural enrichment, exercise and maintenance