A bespoke national qualification for security dog handlers introduced by the National Association of Security Dog Users (NASDU) is the latest step towards dog handler licensing. Here, Steve Hill explains why.

NASDU – the National Association of Security Dog Users – has launched the first Level 2 National Award for security dog handlers... which is something of a milestone for the security sector. This is the very first nationally-accredited qualification for security dog users which meets the new Occupational Standards, and is the first of its type to be awarded by a QCA-accredited Awarding Body.

NASDU first introduced its Basic Award ten years ago. At the time, this was one of the first nationally recognised dog handler qualifications in the UK.

The aim of the new programme is to provide the dog handler with the basic skills, knowledge and understanding required for the provision of a professional level of service as a general purpose security dog handler.

The objectives of the National Award for security dog handlers, then, are to:

  • develop an understanding of the roles and
  • responsibilities of a general purpose security dog handler (and the relevance of regulations within which they must operate);
  • provide the learner with the skills to control a general purpose security dog under operational conditions;
  • develop the learner’s knowledge of Health and Safety procedures in the workplace;
  • enable the learner to implement effective methods of communication and reporting;
  • develop the learner’s ability to maintain the health and well-being of a general purpose security dog.
The programme is the culmination of considerable work by both NASDU and ASET (itself an awarding body recognised by the Security Industry Authority). ASET also offers other security sector programmes, including the Level 2 Certificate for Security Officers and a Level 3 Certificate dedicated to Key Holding and Alarm Response functions.

Following the successful launch of the Level 2 Award, NASDU will be developing an Advanced General Purpose Dog Handlers Award together with specialist awards for Detection Dog Handlers.

National Occupational Standards

The programme is ‘mapped’ to the National Occupational Standards for security dog handlers, themselves developed by the Security Industry Dog Consultation/Expert Group (on which NASDU and its educational partner, BIPDT, were represented). This enables all learners to be sure that the certificate they receive on completion will indeed be nationally recognised and accredited.

The course itself comprises a 50-hour guided learning programme for which the educational outcomes are assessed by way of both practical exercises and a multiple choice question paper. There are three units involved in the programme, as follows:

Unit 1: Roles and responsibilities of a general purpose security dog handler

Unit 2: Control of a general purpose security dog under operational conditions

Unit 3: Maintaining the health, well-being and safety of a general purpose security dog and handler.

Ideal for existing handlers

The educational programme is ideal for those learners who already have hands-on experience as security, police or prison service officers, and who now wish to become general purpose security dog handlers.

Existing security dog handlers can apply for previous training programmes – such as the NASDU Basic Handler programme – to be taken into consideration in terms of accreditation of prior learning. This will reduce the amount of time required to achieve this award. It would also be suitable for members of the Armed Forces who wish to take on a general purpose security dog handling role.

Successful learners could then progress to become mobile patrol security officers/supervisors, detection dog handlers and – ultimately – security dog handler trainers in their own right.

Training for canine handlers: a brief history of NASDU

At the time, the industry was using guard dogs in small numbers, probably because of the introduction of the Dangerous Dogs Act. Slowly but surely, security dogs have since been re-introduced into the security guarding sector.

Although the industry had moved on, it had still failed probably due to the lack of expertise to cater for security dogs.

Resultantly, a democratically-elected National Steering Committee was formed to investigate and establish nationally recognised standards for trainers, their dogs and handlers and to propose and prepare a fair and workable Code of Practice. In November 1996, that National Steering Committee was incorporated as NASDU. NASDU soon became the recognised representative body for the security dog sector and, over the years, has assisted the security industry, the Government, the media and many other authorities with advice and comment on the discipline.

NASDU has continued to represent the security dog industry and its membership, having firstly been involved in the Way Forward Group set up by JSIC and, more recently, with the Dog Handling Consultation Committee. This was originally set up by the SIA, and now operates within the Sector Skills Group as SIDCG (the Security Industry Dog Consultation Group).

Source

SMT

Postscript

Steve Hill is company secretary of the National Association of Security Dog Users (NASDU)