Certificate of competence (dogs)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The certificate of competence for dog owners is a certificate of competence that proves basic theoretical knowledge about dogs and their keeping. Different certificates of competence can differ in content, scope and subsequent validity. The test is carried out by recognized experts, veterinarians or dog trainers.

A certificate of competence can - depending on the dog law - be a prerequisite for permission to keep dogs or to keep certain breeds.

Germany

Demarcation

In Germany there are different certificates of competence for dog owners, each of which is valid for different purposes. For legally required certificates of competence, the framework conditions are specified in the respective dog laws . Further certificates of competence are relevant within the organizational structures (e.g. dog sports clubs) that issue them. Some can be recognized by the responsible authorities as a substitute for the legally required certificate of competence.

Official certificates of competence in the sense of the dog laws

There is no nationwide regulation on certificates of competence for dog owners. In the respective state laws and regulations, evidence is required for owners of "list dogs" or all dog owners, but they differ from each other both in content and in the resulting rights and consequences for the dog owner and dog.

In North Rhine-Westphalia are in the country Dogs Act , various certificates of competence enshrined. Proof of competence for keeping dangerous dogs is to be submitted to the official veterinarian according to § 6 . For keeping dogs on the breed list that goes beyond this , the certificate of competence can also be issued by recognized experts (Section 10). The catalog of expert questions must contain at least 100 questions, of which the dog owner is asked at least 30 questions, whereby he must achieve at least 2/3 of the points in order to pass the test. Proof of competence is also required for keeping large dogs according to § 11. This can also be issued by authorized veterinarians. A questionnaire containing a total of 80 questions is then used for the examination.

In Berlin, for example, owners of so-called “dangerous dogs” or a dog that has become conspicuous must answer at least 11 out of 15 expert questions (70%) correctly in order to pass the test.

In Lower Saxony, proof of competence has been required for all dog owners since July 1, 2013. This is regulated in the Lower Saxony law on keeping dogs (NHundG), an amended version of which came into force on July 1, 2011. Until July 1, 2013, transitional provisions applied.

Non-official certificates of competence

The Association for the German Dog Industry (VDH) requires proof of competence for dog sport tests in order to participate in its dog sport tests . This five-part test also forms the theoretical part of the VDH companion dog test .

Many dog driving licenses, such as the VDH dog driving license, contain a comparable test of expertise.

The BHV's dog driving license contains a theoretical part with a total catalog of 170 questions, including on dog behavior and training, of which 40 questions are presented to the dog owner.

The GTVMT has compiled questions from various dog handler licenses and already used questions of individual federal states into a questionnaire with 186 questions for a knowledge test. The aim was to find a nationwide solution for the requirements of expertise by the interior ministries. The questions are assigned to seven subject areas. The dog owner must answer 37 out of 50 questions (74%) correctly.

Expertise examinations of the Federal Veterinary Association

The then working group for dog keeping of the German Federal Veterinary Chamber has been working as "AK for expert dog keeping" since 2001 in cooperation with animal welfare, veterinary and canine organizations such as BPT , VDH , DJV and DTSchB recommendations for expert examinations. In October 2007, it introduced the DOQ-Test 2.0 examination with the aim of establishing a uniform national standard. The competence test is now three-stage: It enables proof of competence for dog owners, for professional dog trainers and for tradespeople who need technical knowledge according to §11 Animal Welfare Act.

The theory test for dog owners, which any registered veterinarian can take and which is also available online, comprises 30 multiple-choice questions from seven subject areas and is considered passed if in each subject area at least 50 percent and the overall result 75 percent is achieved.

Austria

In Vienna , since July 1, 2019, every person has to complete a training course of at least four hours before buying a dog. a. Acquires knowledge of dog ownership, animal-friendly dog ​​training and the relevant legal provisions.

In Upper Austria , dog owners must complete at least two hours of theoretical training on specified content as proof of their expertise in dog ownership.

Switzerland

As of January 1, 2017, the compulsory certificate of competence was abolished.

In Switzerland from 2008–2016, first owners had to attend a theory course of at least four hours when acquiring a dog (regardless of its breed or size) and provide proof of competence in order to prove sufficient knowledge about keeping and handling dogs.

In addition, a practical certificate of competence had to be provided with every newly kept dog, which includes at least four lessons with content prescribed by law ( FSVO ).

All trainers and institutions licensed by the FSVO, as well as online dog schools, were authorized to conduct the certificate of competence courses.

Competence certificates for certain professional groups

Further dog-specific certificates of competence can be a prerequisite for an activity, for example, as a trainer for protection dogs , operator of an animal shelter, commercial dog trainer or dog dealer. In Germany, among others, which regulates animal protection law in § 11 cases in which a certificate of competence is needed for the work with dogs, in addition there are country-specific regulations .

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Nathaly Brengelmann: Study of the expertise on dogs, dog ownership and behavior of dog owners living in Germany . Diss., Berlin, 2008
  2. ^ State dog law - LHundG NRW
  3. ↑ State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection North Rhine-Westphalia (LANUV): Recognition of experts, required documents for the application
  4. ↑ tieraerztekammer-nordrhein.de: Certificate of competence by veterinarians of the Veterinary Chamber of North Rhine
  5. ↑ With the central register and the certificate of competence, all regulations of the dog law are in force from 01.07.2013 . Press release
  6. ↑ VDH dog driving license
  7. ^ BHV dog driving license ( Memento from March 22, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
  8. ^ BHV questionnaire ( Memento from February 7, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
  9. ↑ GTVT certificate of competence ( Memento from August 7, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  10. ↑ DOQ test of the Federal Veterinary Association
  11. ↑ DOQ examination regulations (PDF; 200 kB)
  12. ↑ Vienna Animal Husbandry Act. Retrieved June 23, 2020 .
  13. ↑ Vienna Dog Qualification Ordinance. Retrieved June 23, 2020 .
  14. ↑ Upper Austrian dog-keeping expert regulation
  15. ↑ Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO: From 2017 there will no longer be any mandatory dog ​​courses throughout Switzerland. Retrieved December 16, 2017 .
  16. ↑ archive.is: Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO, Switzerland ( memento of February 16, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) on the FSVO website, accessed on February 16, 2015
  17. ↑ Recognized dog trainers on the website of the FSVO, accessed on February 16, 2015