Body of knowledge alaska dog works canine health and nutrition

Body of Knowledge | Health and Nutrition

Body of Knowledge is the collected wisdom, experience, processes and facts that both inform a profession and provide the solid foundation for which continuous improvements and innovation can occur. 

Dog Works Training Company’s Body of Knowledge consists of the information, knowledge and functional skills we have identified that all dog trainers should posses. 

The Body of Knowledge is built on the foundation of the six core competencies as outlined by the Association for Pet Dog Trainers.

1. Animal Learning

2. Human Learning

3. Canine Behavior

4. Health and Nutrition

5. Business

6. Laws and Regulations 

General Dog Health and Wellness

Develop a familiarity with and understanding of common, basic concepts in dog health in order to: 

  • Identify when a dog’s health may be suffering
  • Recognize when a veterinary referral is required
  • Provide sound recommendations to clients

Knowledge Of:

  • Importance of annual veterinary examinations, blood work, urinalysis, and ongoing checkups as needed
  • Standard practices and maintenance that promote good health, including but not limited to:
    • Grooming
    • Bathing
    • Oral/ear/eye health 
    • Skin/hair/fur care
    • Nail care
  • Internal and external parasite concerns and prevention
  • Nutritional requirements, supplements, and digestive health
  •  Physical and mental exercise and stimulation
  • Mobility, gait, and movement
  • Housing and environmental requirements
  • The impact of various breeds, age, and developmental stage consideration and differences on health 
  • Ability to identify potential concerns or problems relating to a dog’s health, including but not limited to:
    • The above-listed standard practices promote good health 
    • Obvious injuries, infections, or ailments 
    • Hyper- and hypothermia, dehydration, and other first-aid-related concerns
    • Physical pain, discomfort, stress
    • Core vaccinations, related disease transmission and symptoms, titers, protocols, and related controversies 
    • The impact, role, and implications of hormones on health, including but not limited to:
  • Spaying/neutering
  • Being in heat
  • Pregnancy
  • Nursing
  • Basic health terminionlgues 
  • Dog food types, diets, and rotation 
  • Interpretation of food nutritional facts and labels 
  • Value of a complete and balanced diet
  • Knowledge of AAFCO statements 
  • Dog food ingredients
  • Nutritional considerations pertaining to a variety of diety neds, including but not limited to:
    • Various developmental stages and agree, including but not limited to:
      • Pregnancy
      • Bottle feeding
      • Puppies
      • Juveniles 
      • Adults 
      • Geriatrics 
    • Various breeds include but are not limited to:
      • Teacup/miniature 
      • Giant
      • Athletes
    • Health concerns, including but not limited to:
      • Malnutrition 
      • Obesity 
      • Cardiomyopathy
    • Relationship between dog learning, behavior, and nutrition
    • Role and responsibility of veterinarians and dog trainers and canine nutritionists
    • Basic health terminologies

Skills In:

  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to take detailed client history
  • Confirmation of dog’s overall physical and emotional ability to be trained
  • Ability to interpret veterinary records 
  • Initial ongoing assessment of general health maintenance, physical exercise, mental stimulation, and nutrition to  promote and maintain good health
  • Interpreting dog behaviors and needs
  • Explaining and interpreting medical concepts
  • Building customer relationships and confidence 
  • Collaboration and communication with veterinary professionals
  • Demonstrating an understanding of a variety of key components of balanced nutrition, nutritional facts, and value
  • Managing the diet of a dog with behavioral problems
  •  Managing a dog’s diet and daily exercise 
  • Managing a dog’s learning and behavioral challenges 

Implications of Health on Learning and Behavior

Develop a familiarity with and understanding of how emotional and physical health concerns can impact learning and behavior in order to:

  • Know when training and behaviors efforts will be impacted 
  • Recognize when a veterinary referral is required
  • Provide sound recommendations to clients 

Knowledge Of: 

  • Common, basic requirements for healthy dogs
  • Ability to identify potential concerns or problems relating to a dog’s physical or emotional health
  • Relationship between and impact of physical and emotional health and dogs’ behavior and learning
  • Common health concerns or problems that often manifest as behavior problems
  • Implications of hormones on behavior, including but not limited to:
    • Spaying/Neutering
    • Being in heat
    • Pregnancy
    • Nursing
  • Implications of age, breed, and developmental stages on behavior, including but not related to adolescence, maturity, geriatric or breed tendencies 
  • Theory and practice of dog behavior and learning
  • Roles and responsibilities of veterinarians and dog trainers, overlap, communication and differentiation 
  • Relationship between environmental factors and dog health 
  • Basic health terminology 

Skills In: 

  • Attention to detail 
  • Ability to take detailed client history 
  • Confirmation of dog’s overall physical and emotional ability to be trained 
  • Ability to interpret the veterinary record 
  • Initial and ongoing assessment of general health maintenance, physical exercise, mental stimulation, and nutrition to promote and maintain good health 
  • Interpreting dog behaviors and needs
  • Explaining and interpreting medical concepts
  • Building customer relations and confidence 
  • Collaboration and communication with veterinary professionals
  • Managing health-related concerns of a dog with behavior problems
  • Managing health considerations in the prevention and/or treatment of behavioral problems
  • Managing a dog’s learning and behavioral challenges 

Anatomy 

Develop an understanding of dog anatomy and structure and its possible effects on behavior 

Knowledge Of: 

  • Dog anatomy, structure, and movement 
  • relationship between dog anatomy and dog behavior 
  • Normal dog behavior 
  • Dog behavior terminologies

Skills In: 

  • Explaining concepts and methods 
  • Researching
  • Observation skills
  • Analytical and critical thinking
  • Evaluating structure and movement 

Veterinary Role, Relationship, and Referrals 

Develop a familiarity with and understanding of how emotional and physical health concerns can impact learning and behavior in order to: 

  • Understand the critical role of the veterinarian 
  • When, where, and how do veterinarians and trainers work together

Knowledge Of: 

  • Roles and responsibilities of veterinarians and dog trainers 
  • The necessity of veterinary intervention to identify or rule out medical issues when dealing with behavioral problems
  • Basic health and nutrition terminology 
  • Scope of practice 

Skills In: 

  • Building relationships with veterinarians 
  • Collaboration and communication with veterinary professionals
  • Defining divisions of labor
  • Building relationships and confidence 
  • Interpersonal communication 
  • Explaining concepts, methods, and idea building

 First Aid

Develop a familiarity with and understanding of, and skills in pet and human first aid in order to provide first aid in the case of emergency.

Knowledge In: 

  • Fundamental first aid procedures
  • First-aid supplies
  • Importance of immediate medical care 
  • Roles and responsibilities of veterinarians and dog trainers 
  • Basic health and nutrition terminologies 

Skills In:

  • Using first aid supplies 
  • Handling an injured pet and ensuring safe transportation 
  • Interpersonal communication

Client Health Policies 

Develop business policies regarding client health in order to: 

  • Minimize liability 
  • Minimize transmission of contagious or zoonotic disease to and between clients 
  • Minimize internal and external parasitic infection 

Knowledge Of: 

  • Infectious, contagious, and zoonotic diseases
  • Prevention of disease transmission
  • Key components of sanitation protocol 
  • Local rabies vaccination requirements
  • Common diseases
  • Require core and optional vaccinations 
  • Writing policy documents
  • Policy structure and formulation 
  • Implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policy 

Skills In: 

  • Writing policy documents
  • Critical thinking 
  • Attentional to detail 
  • Record keeping 
  • Research 
  • Interpreting vaccination protocol and recommendations 

Safe Work Environment 

Develop a standard operating procedure in order to: 

  • Ensure and maintain a clean and safe work environment or facility for your clients, consultants, subcontractors and yourself
  • Minimize liability 

Knowledge Of: 

  • Research OSHA regulations pertaining to your business operation
  • Key elements to maintaining a healthy and safe working environment for dogs, dog owners, and staff
  • Key components of sanitation protocol
  • Basic health terminologies 

Skills In: 

  • Writing policy documents
  • Critical thinking 
  • Attention to detail 
  • Record keeping 
  • Research
  • Complying with standard business operating procedures
  • Complying with business regulatory requirements
  • Complying with sanitation protocols 
  • OSHA regulations