Dog Breeder Course
inc Ofqual Level 3 Award course in Canine Care, Behaviour & Welfare
Breeder inc Ofqual Level 3 Award course in Canine Care, Behaviour & Welfare
This course is regulated and the qualification is officially recognised by the Government’s Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation.
Qualification– Approval Number: 603/4536/6
This Qualification meets the requirements of Defra and the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.
Many people dream of running their own dog business. Covering essential information on canine care, behaviour and welfare, this self-contained course provides you with the necessary knowledge, know-how and qualification* to make that dream a reality. The wrap-over immersion in the Dog Breeding regulations, guidance and application ensures you have a good understanding of the key regulations and guidance for providing Dog Breeding services. It doesn’t make you an expert and there are still lots to learn, if this is your first venture into Home Boarding, but together with the Ofqual Level Award in Canine care, Behaviour and Welfare, you’ll definitely be at the front of the pack!
When you have completed the course and passed the assessments, you will receive a Level 3 Award in Canine Care, Behaviour and Welfare certificate from Open Course Network West Midlands.
*As of 1st October 2018, it is a Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) requirement for those wishing to run a home boarding establishment that the licence holder or a designated manager and any staff employed to care for the animals must have competence to identify the normal behaviour of the species for which they are caring and to recognise signs of, and take appropriate measures to mitigate or prevent, pain, suffering, injury, disease or abnormal behaviour.
Guidance includes suitable and sufficient training of people responsible for the care of the animals must be demonstrated to have been carried out in the following areas:
- Dog welfare, including recognising poor welfare and understanding the 5 welfare needs;
- Dog handling;
- Dog behaviour;
- Cleanliness and hygiene;
- Feeding and food preparation;
- Disease control
- Recognition and first aid treatment of sick animals.
Training must be a minimum of an OFQUAL regulated level 2 qualification in a relevant subject, or clear evidence of knowledge and experience.
To meet the “Higher Standard”, one option is for the person responsible for the care of dogs to have a relevant OFQUAL regulated Level 3 qualification.
FOUNDATION course – Ofqual Level 3 Award course in Canine Care, Behaviour & Welfare – Approval Number: 603/4536/6
PRACTITIONER course – Ofqual Level 3 Award course in Canine Care, Behaviour & Welfare – Approval Number: 603/4536/6
PLUS
Animal Welfare Regulations 2018 + Dog Breeder Guidance and video/audio seminars inc 1-2-1 Tutorial
ENHANCED – (Optional) The Practitioner course (shown above) PLUS Supplementary course unit options chosen by you
Overview
Course Overview
Our Dog Breeder course has three possible course pathways:-
FOUNDATION course
Ofqual Level 3 Award in Canine Care, Behaviour & Welfare – Approval Number: 603/4536/6
PRACTITIONER course
Foundation course (details above)
PLUS
Animal Welfare Regulations 2018 + Dog Breeder Guidance and video/audio seminars inc 1-2-1 Tutorial
ENHANCED course
The Practitioner course
PLUS
2 supplementary modules:-
- The Canine Legal Landscape & Mastering Licensing Guidance
- COVID-19 Safer Pet Care
What you will learn
The Dog Breeding Foundation course consists of 2 OFQUAL related units:
Unit 1: Ofqual Level 3 Award: Canine Behaviour
- Common canine body language signs and signals
- Terms used to describe a range of emotional states in canines
- How to assess canines from their body language
- Common canine behavioural issues
- Methods used to modify canine behaviour
- How to work with common canine behavioural problems
- Potential causes of canine stress
- Signs of stress in canines
- Potential causes of aggression in canines
- The signs of aggression in canines
- How stress can lead to aggressive behaviour in canines
- The ladder of aggression in canines
Unit 2: Ofqual Level 3 Award: Care of Dogs in Home Boarding, Day Care & Kennels
- The causes of canine diseases
- Methods of disease prevention.
- How a range of canine diseases are transmitted
- Risk assessments for the prevention of disease transmission in canines.
- The welfare of canines in pet care settings
- Potential welfare issues in pet care settings
- Feeding of canines in pet care settings
- How welfare issues can be prevented in pet care settings
- Feeding requirements for canines in pet care settings.
- Common eating and dietary issues in canines
- Techniques for dealing with eating and dietary issues in canines in pet care settings.
- Different ways to enter dog enclosures
- Different ways to exit dog enclosures
- Potential problems with exit and entry to dog enclosures
- Essential personal protection equipment for canine handling
- The importance of personal protection equipment for canine handling
- Ways to provide environmental enrichment in pet care settings
- The impact of correct environmental stimulation in pet care settings
- Safe and unsafe play in canines
- Safe management of canine interactions
Additional Practitioner Course Units
If you enrol in the Practitioner course, you have access to all of the units shown above and you can also pick two of the following units. Please note that these additional units are only accessible by those enrolled in the Practitioner course.
Unit 3: Animal Welfare Regulations 2018 + Breeding Guidance inc 1-2-1 Tutorial
ofModule 1 : Introduction
- What is in and out of the scope: breeding of dogs
- In Scope Criteria
- Out of Scope Criteria
- Criteria Quiz
Module 2 : General Conditions
- License Display
- Records
- Use, Number and Type of Animal
- Staffing
- Suitable Environment
- Suitable Diet
- Monitoring of Behaviour and Training of Animals
- Animal Handling and Interactions
- Protection from Pain, Suffering, Injury and Disease
- Emergencies
- General Conditions Quiz
Module 3 : Specific Conditions
- No Overnight Stay
- Suitable Environment
- Suitable Diet
- Monitoring of Behaviour & Training
- Housing apart from other dogs
- Records
- Protection from Pain, Injury, Suffering and Disease
- Higher Standards
- Specific Conditions Quiz
Module 4 : Specific Conditions
- No Overnight Stay
- Suitable Environment
Live 1-2-1 ‘Zoom’ tutorials
The ‘learner’ has the option of a 1-2-1 (45 mins) personal tutorial, at the outset or midway and the end of this Breeding Regulations & Guidance unit, or as required by the Learner.
Additional Enhanced Course Units
If you enrol in the Enhanced course, you have access to all of the units shown above (Foundation & Practitioner) and the two of the following units. Please note that these additional units are only accessible by those enrolled in the Enhanced course.
A. Mastering the Canine Legal Landscape
- Understanding the main legal considerations for a canine business
- Identify and apply the main legal considerations to your business
- Assessment – the legal landscape
- Understanding the Regulations and Guidelines
- The licensing process and ongoing assessments
- 1-3 years licenses and 1-5 star ratings
- Compliance and obligations
- Conditions and guidance
- Mandatories and Higher Standards
- Developing your policies and processes
- Risk assessments
- Documentation: what you need, how to address it and evidencing compliance
- DIY vs DIFY
- The Licensing team
- Practical realities
- Questions and answers
B. COVID-19 Safer Pet Care
- What is Covid-19?
- What are the symptoms?
- What are the dangers?
- How does Covid-19 spread?
- Social distancing and self-isolation
- Assessment
Unit 2 – Covid-19 and its impact on pet businesses
- Pets and Covid-19
- What we expect to change
- Impacts of Covid-19 for dog businesses
- What are the risks in your business?
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Disinfecting inc transport
- Handover Guide for dogs
- Pet service protocol matrix
- Covid-19 considerations for Commercial Boarding
- Covid-19 considerations for Home Boarding
- Covid-19 considerations for Commercial Dog Day Care
- Covid-19 considerations for Commercial Dog Day Care
- Covid-19 considerations for Dog Walkers
- Covid-19 considerations for Dog Groomers
- Covid-19 considerations for other pet-care professionals (includes Dog & Cat Breeders, Pet Shops and other breeders, Dog Trainers, Pet Microchip Implanters)
- Assessment
Unit 3 – Winning back hearts and minds
- Reassuring your customers
- Additional Policies & Procedures
- Resources
- Assessment
Frequently Asked Questions
Please find a list of questions and answers below. If your question is not listed, feel free to chat to us by clicking the live chat button to the bottom left of your screen.
Is this course online?
You have access to an online tutor and there recorded seminars, as well as flashcards, quizzes, ‘podcasts’, a research and reading list, together with a workbook and in-course exercises.
You need access to half decent Internet and email. The course is a blend of different learning content and styles.
Some Level 3 course providers just send you a pdf workbook, a reading list and tell you to get on with it. Which is what got us going in the first place thinking we could do better than that.
I see there are different options, how does that work?
Both options give you an Ofqual Level 3 Award qualification, and you don’t have to do the most expensive unless you want to do so, unless the content meets your needs, and because you can afford it.
So you choose.
How long do I have to complete my course?
Others are very likely already dog professionals who have dog needs and customer demands to meet, before they wash off all the mud, do the household stuff, put their feet up and start thinking about studying.
We have to have a finite timeline, to keep everybody focused. But if you can complete and pass your course in 2 to 3 months, Brilliant!
What do I need to tick the DEFRA box (all 3 options do that), what do I want to learn and what can I afford?
Does this course meet the DEFRA Ofqual requirements thingy?
When you’re successful, the actual Ofqual Level 3 Award (and assessment) is:
Level 3 Award in Canine Care, Behaviour and Welfare
Qualification Number: 603/4536/6
The certificate, will come from the Ofqual national awarding organisation, the Open College Network West Midlands who are, if you like, our examining body (officially known as an Awarding Organisation).
We should stress you only get the certificate if you pass the accredited assessment(s), but if you want to check the core qualification exists, you can check it on the Ofqual list of regulated qualifications.
https://register.ofqual.gov.uk/Detail/Index/1379?category=organisations&query=Open%20Network
And the approved qualification
https://register.ofqual.gov.uk/Detail/Index/43005?category=qualifications&query=Level%203%20Award%20in%20Canine%20Care%2C%20Behaviour%20and%20Welfare%20
Do come back to us with any more questions.





Foundation
- (Don’t forget some organisations show you the price excluding VAT)
- The course can be paid in one go, or two equal payments over two months. Payment must be made in full before the course can be completed and a certificate issued.
- This contains all the Foundation course content
- Successful qualification includes the Ofqual Level 3 in Canine Care, Behaviour & Welfare (App. No 123/4567/8)
Practitioner
- (Don’t forget some organisations show you the price excluding VAT)
- The course can be paid in one go, or two equal payments over two months. Payment must be made in full before the course can be completed and a certificate issued.
- This contains all the Foundation and Practitioner course content
- Successful qualification includes the Ofqual Level 3 in Canine Care, Behaviour & Welfare (App. No 123/4567/8)
Enhanced
- (Don’t forget some organisations show you the price excluding VAT)
- The course can be paid in one go, or two equal payments over two months. Payment must be made in full before the course can be completed and a certificate issued.
- This contains all the Foundation and Practitioner course content plus two additional courses in Enhanced.
- Successful qualification includes the Ofqual Level 3 in Canine Care, Behaviour & Welfare (App. No 123/4567/8)