The KCAI Career Zone in partnership with PRO PLAN Returns to Crufts 2015!

News from Clarges Street KCAI Career Zone 2015 Modules Under the Microscope The Physiology of Working Dogs

The StandardIssue No 17 - Spring 2015

March is getting ever closer which means it’s almost once again time for everyone’s favourite dog show - Crufts, which at KCAI HQ means only one thing - the KCAI Career Zone in partnership with PRO PLAN!

For new Scheme members or anybody who has not previously attended Crufts, the Career Zone is a huge feature of the show, offering four days of learning, educational and networking opportunities for anyone who works or volunteers with dogs.

KCAI and PRO PLAN have worked together to provide you with a stand in Hall 5 of the NEC, featuring a large lecture theatre, offering a diverse educational programme of informative lectures that will assist you in continuing your professional development. As well as this, you can chat to the ‘Expert Panel’

of industry luminaries, who are available to offer one-to-one advice in a variety of topics about the dog world, and of course you can come and visit the KCAI Team and other like-minded people in the KCAI Lounge.

KCAI is once again partnering with PRO PLAN which has a passion for educating people to make the best nutritional choices for their dogs to change their lives for the better. PRO PLAN will be offering scientific, unbiased lectures on the extremely popular topic of nutrition, as well as offering nutritional advice on a one-to-one basis as part of the Expert Panel. PRO PLAN is proud to work with the KCAI Scheme to provide the very best advice and learning opportunities.

More information on the Career Zone inside!

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Hello from the Editor, Di Morgan

Having welcomed in 2015, it is now time for another edition of The Standard. In the last publication, we announced a few changes in the KCAI team. I am delighted to introduce myself as your new Editor and I hope that I will be able to maintain Annie Clayton’s high standards.

I have been involved with the KCAI Scheme in a number of ways for a good many years and seen it grow and develop.

In this issue, much of the focus will be on the KCAI Career Zone at Crufts with a preview of sessions. With support from PRO PLAN, this lecture programme offers canine professionals and students a great opportunity to learn from experts. Whatever your interests, there is bound to be something to take your fancy. The KCAI team, Board members and Regional Mentors will be out in force as usual to speak with existing members, provide information about the KCAI Scheme and encourage people to get involved.

Update on ‘B’ Modules

New Accreditation Module in Clicker and Target Training!

This new qualification is aimed specifically at those running clicker and target training classes or workshops. It also covers people’s active involvement with clicker and target

training and its use within general training, sports, activities and problem solving.

This Module is now available as a Supporting Module. Since this module criteria was made available, the KCAI team has identified a need to align the KCAI Scheme Code of Practice and associated complaints procedures with public land managers and owners’ policies and procedures relating to professional dog walkers licensing and access arrangements.

The KCAI team will be working over the next year to develop a robust and credible Accreditation module which will be supported by key stakeholders.

News from Clarges Street

Di Morgan

CONTENTS

From the Editor 2

Meet the KCAI team 3

All about the KCAI Career Zone 4 - 7

2015 in partnership with PRO PLAN

General information, lecture schedule and interviews

with some of the presenters

Modules under the microscope 8 - 9

Now the series focuses on teaching and instruction. .

The physiology of working dogs 10 - 13

Presenting scientific information in an interesting

and accessible way.

KCAI Preferred Educational 14

Providers

Your Regional Mentor roundup 15

2015 EVENTS CALENDAR

5-8 March KCAI Career Zone Event, in partnership with PRO PLAN

12-13 September KCAI Try Out Take In and Teach (TOTIT) – 2-day annual educational event

1 November

The annual Canine Sports Science Seminar (CSSS) is back

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To contact the KCAI team:

Tel: 01296 318540

Email: kcai@thekennelclub.org.uk

You can join our Facebook group by heading to: www.facebook.com and searching for ‘The Kennel Club - KCAI’

To find out more about all KCAI Scheme modules, please go to:

www.thekennelclub/KCAI/MemberZone

Update on Professional dog walkers module

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Introducing….Lorraine Carney - KCAI Business Manager

I joined the Kennel Club in September 2014 as the Business Manager for the Kennel Club Accreditation Scheme for Instructors (KCAI). I have over 20 years’ experience at senior level in business development and management roles and have a business management degree and a Prince2 practitioner level project management qualification.

Before joining the KCAI Team, I worked with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) on a one year contract, leading and managing a project team to bring about a significant increase in participation in ‘Britain in Bloom’, the largest community gardening programme in the UK.

Prior to that, I spent 16 years with a consumer-safety charity, Electrical Safety First. One of my roles there was to manage a registration and membership department that maintained a customer base of over 12,000 approved electrical contractors.

Since arriving at the Kennel Club, I have been exploring with my team a number of ways to improve the scheme for the benefit of everyone involved. I’ve been getting to grips with the scheme to more fully understand the needs of KCAI members in order to better support them to achieve KCAI accreditation. At the same time, I’ve also been looking at ways to enhance support provided to accredited members.

We also want to introduce initiatives that will improve communication with, and customer service for, scheme members. I’m keen for KCAI members to take full advantage of the resources and support available to them from our network of Regional Mentors and from my team which will help them move towards accreditation more quickly and easily. Over the coming months the team intend to develop activities that will also raise the scheme’s profile among canine professionals and encourage a significant increase in membership.

Currently the KCAI team is very busy preparing our annual flagship event, the Career Zone at Crufts (5-8 March 2015), run in partnership with PRO PLAN. I’m very much looking forward to meeting and chatting to KCAI members at the event to gain their views on the challenges and opportunities facing the scheme.

I’m confident that I will be able to use my knowledge and experience to drive forward all aspects of the KCAI scheme to bring about changes for the benefit of the KCAI membership, its key stakeholders, and the dog-owning public.

Aby Wojcik - KCAI Team Leader

Aby oversees and manages communications and marketing, as well as business development and events management. She has worked on the KCAI team since moving to London in 2009. Aby has a wealth of knowledge and experience about all matters concerning the KCAI Scheme.

Clare Hitchcox – KCAI Specialist

Clare manages the day to day administration of KCAI Scheme membership. So, whether you have a query about the KCAI information pack, would like to book an assessment or have a query about any aspect of KCAI membership, Clare is your point of contact. Clare has been with the Kennel Club for over ten years.

Rhea Harries – KCAI Specialist (part-time)

Rhea oversees the KCAI assessment activities. Her role also includes responsibility for supporting the KCAI Business Manager in developing and improving the KCAI Scheme systems, processes and procedures. In addition, Rhea provides admin and support to the KCAI Board. Rhea has been with the Kennel Club for over 12 years.

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From left to right: Claire Hitchcox, Lorraine Carney, Aby Wojcik and Rhea Harries

Meet the KCAI TeamAs we move through 2015 with a new KCAI Business Manager - here is another opportunity to ‘meet’ the

KCAI team and learn all about their roles and responsibilities!

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To find out more about activities and events at the Career Zone, go to

www.crufts.org.uk/kcaicareerzone

The KCAI Career Zone in partnership with PRO PLAN had a very successful second year at Crufts 2014, with positive feedback from delegates and peers on the informative seminars and learning opportunities offered.

The 2015 event sees a line-up which includes popular speakers returning to the Career Zone, as well as some brand new bookings!

KCAI and PRO PLAN are very proud to announce for 2015; key note speaker Professor Daniel Mills, European and RCVS recognised specialist in veterinary behavioural medicine, and the first Professor of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine based at the University of Lincoln. Professor Mills will be delivering a lecture titled “Training a dog not to show pain doesn’t stop it hurting - Insights into the role of pain in problem behaviour”, which is scheduled to be presented consecutively on Friday 6th March.

Other exciting lectures from our speakers include “Training and Behaviour - “No Walks No Worries”, “Clicker Training”, “The Truth About Wolves and Dogs” and many more relating to training and behaviour. As well as this, you will find sessions covering guidelines for professional dog walkers, how to run a successful business, Tellington Ttouch, Gundog training and many more.

Aspiring vet nurses can attend one of the daily lectures hosted by the British Veterinary Nursing Association, and of course PRO PLAN will be returning with a brand new programme of science based, unbiased lectures surrounding canine nutrition.

The KCAI Career Zone in partnership with PRO PLAN5 - 8 March 2015 NEC Birmingham

Crufts 2014 Day 3 Image: Paul Rawlings

The KCAI Career Zone

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KCAI Career Zone lecturesHere is a full list of Career Zone lectures and details. If a lecture you are interested in has sold out, you can still register

your interest which will entitle you to a free ticket to Crufts. Just go to www.crufts.org.uk/kcaicareerzone . You can contact the office email; kcai@thekennelclub.org.uk to be added to a Reserve List. Alternatively come to the Career Zone in Hall 5

on the day of the lecture you would like to attend to check availability.

Thursday 5th March

10.00 - 11.00 Gundog Training with Adrian Slater

11.00 - 12.00 Congenital Diseases: Introducing New

Dog Owners and Testing with Samantha

Thompson

12.00 - 13.00 Introduction to Canine Nutrition with Esther

Rawlinson BVMS MRCVS PRO PLAN

13.00 - 14.00 Core Stability v. Stability with Julia Robertson

14.00 - 15.00 Fit for function? – A Scientific Approach

to Ensuring Health and Welfare of the

Performance Dog with Dr Jacqueline Boyd

15.00 - 16.00 Gundog / Companion Dog Training with Jane

Hanshaw (CDA, BehA)

16.00 - 17.00 Training and Behaviour - “No Walks No

Worries” with Sian Ryan, MSc CAB, MAPDT,

UK 1090 - ROAPE Tutor

Friday 6th March

10.00 - 11.00 Clicker Training with Angela White Fellow

KCAI (CDA GCDSA ObA BehA)

11.00 - 12.00 First Aid for Pet Owners with Sarah Wyatt

DipAVN (Surg) BSC (Hons) CVN MBVNA

12.00 - 13.00 Nutritional Requirements of Growing Puppies

- Esther Rawlinson BVMS MRCVS PRO PLAN

13.00 - 14.00 Rescue and Rehoming - “Training Needs

for Dogs in Rescue” - Natalie Ingham

KCAI (RRA)

14.00 - 15.00 Training a Dog Not to Show Pain, Doesn’t

Stop it Hurting! - Insights into the Role of Pain

in Problem Behaviour with Professor Daniel

Mills BVSc PhD FHEA CBiol FSBiol CCAB Dip

ECAWBM MRCVS

15.00 - 16.00 Training a Dog Not to Show Pain, Doesn’t

Stop it Hurting! - Insights into the Role of Pain

in Problem Behaviour with Professor Daniel

Mills BVSc PhD FHEA CBiol FSBiol CCAB Dip

ECAWBM MRCVS

16.00 - 17.00 Building a Super Successful Dog Business

with Kim Lyddon MBA

Saturday 7th March

10.00 - 11.00 Professional Dog Walking – More Than Just

a Walk in the Park! With Steve Jenkinson MSc

11.00 - 12.00 Preventing Parasites - Protecting Pets with

Bizzy Allen-McClure RVN MBVNA

12.00 - 13.00 Nutritional Requirements of the Senior Dog -

Esther Rawlinson, BVMS MRCVS PRO PLAN

13.00 - 14.00 The Truth About Wolves and Dogs with

Toni Shelbourne

14.00 - 15.00 Getting in TTouch with Dogs with

Sarah Fisher

15.00 - 16.00 The Canine Collective Noun with Ross

McCarthy & Lez Graham

16.00 - 17.00 Dangerous Dogs – Are Puppy Parties to

Blame? With Jane Hanshaw KCAI (CDA, BehA)

and Jeannette Watson

Sunday 8th March

10.00 - 11.00 Inside The Dog Owners Mind™ -

Kim Lyddon MBA

11.00 - 12.00 Making the Most of Your Veterinary Nurse -

Fiona Andrew RVN MBVNA

12.00 - 13.00 Feeding the Skin: Nutrition for Optimal Skin

and Coat - Esther Rawlinson, BVMS MRCVS

PRO PLAN

13.00 - 14.00 How Does a Dog Demonstrate Muscle Pain?

With Julia Robertson - Lead practitoner Galen

myotherapist

14.00 - 15.00 Dog Behaviour and Training - “Predatory

Chase” with Jane Arden BSc (Hons) CBT,

DipCABT, CAPBT, MAPDT1058, CAP2

15.00 - 16.00 Canine Science - From Theory to Application”

– How to Ensure That You are Applying The

Most Current and Relevant Scientific Findings

with Dr Jacqueline Boyd

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Jane Hanshaw Dip CABT KCAI (CDA BehA )

Jane is delivering two lectures - Gundog and Companion Dog Training on Thursday 5th March from 3.00pm - 4.00pm, and “Dangerous Dogs – Are Puppy Parties to Blame?” with veterinary nurse Jeanette Watson, on Saturday 7th March from 4.00pm - 5.00pm.

What is your lecture about?

To consider gundogs whose role is that of a companion dog and discuss how challenging these dogs can be for instructors.

Who will it appeal to?

Either newer instructors who want to gain practical tips for their classes, or any instructor who has little personal experience of training a gundog breed.

Why do you think Career Zone is so important?

It’s not just important ...it’s fabulous. Where else can you get to listen to such a diverse group of people, exchange ideas and be challenged ...all in one day!

Any lectures you would like to see yourself?

I always love listening to Adrian Slater and Kim Lyddon is inspiring. This year we are really lucky to have Professor Daniel Mills I think this lecture will be very interesting.

What message would you like canine professionals to take away from the Career Zone?

Keep an open mind and value everyone’s opinion because we are all learning all the time.

Nathalie Ingham KCAI (RRA)- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home Canine Welfare Trainer

Nathalie will be giving a lecture titled Rescue and Rehoming - “Training Needs for Dogs in Rescue” on Friday 6th March from 1.00pm - 2.00pm.

What is your lecture about?

My lecture is about the training that we carry out at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to help provide dogs with mental and physical stimulation which in turn can reduce their stress levels as well as improve their rehoming chances.

Who will it appeal to?

Rescue centre staff and volunteers and trainers working with clients who have taken on rescue dogs.

Why do you think the Career Zone is so important?

It’s a great platform to network with individuals from other fields within the canine industry and an excellent opportunity to continue learning.

Any lectures would you like to see yourself?

With my own dog on limited exercise and rest I’m definitely planning on seeing Sian Ryan’s talk “No walks, no worries”.

What message would you like canine professionals to take away from the Career Zone?

There’s so much to learn, so try to choose one key point from each lecture you attend that you can implement to improve the work you do.

KCAI Career Zone in partnership with PRO PLANWe spoke to some of our Career Zone speakers in the lead up to the event, to find out what they will be

speaking about and their thoughts on the Career Zone:

Jane Hanshaw

Nathalie Ingham

Spotlight on Crufts 2015 Dog Activities Ring – Barry Gilbert KCAI (WTS)

What is your involvement in Crufts? I’m representing the sport of Working Trials in the Dog Activities ring.

How did this come about? I’ve been doing this for over ten years so it is hard to remember how I first became involved at Crufts. Within the sport I’m a competitor, judge and trials manager.

Which of your dogs will be involved and why? My Border Collie ‘Cossie’ (WTCH Glenalpine Cosworth) as he is the dog I currently compete with.

What message are you aiming to put over to members of the public? To inform people about a dog sport in which any dog can compete regardless of breed which is a complete test of the dogs’ abilities in nosework, obedience and agility.

What aspects of Working Trials do you enjoy most? Firstly that every test is different in some way, either the land and weather conditions or the venue and test the judge has set. Secondly that progression is by achieving the required marks to qualify, not by winning.

What misconceptions do people have about Working Trials that you would like to correct? That the jumps are dangerous, particularly the scale. The reality is that they are not really a problem for a dog with correct conformation, training, weight and fitness.

What questions do you get asked by members of the public at Crufts? They ask where they can find training in their own area.

I’m guessing that the venue rather limits what you can demonstrate, how do you get round that? We demonstrate every exercise and have videos to show working trials outside in competition and training.

The KCAI Career Zone

Spotlight on Crufts judge and KCAI Accredited Member and Regional Mentor: Gina Pink KCAI (HTMA Ob)

Gina will be busy at Crufts, as she will be judging the Heelwork to Music competitions. Here she explains how this appointment came about and what is involved.

This year I have been asked to judge the Crufts Heelwork to Music (HTM) National finals and International competitions in the Main Arena. These take place over 3 days – Thursday Freestyle, Friday Heelwork to Music, and Saturday the International Freestyle competition.

The initial selection process for Crufts’ judges starts some three-four years ahead with the HTM Working Party. Three judges are required for each competition and all must be experienced and qualified to judge advanced classes at Kennel Club (KC) licensed HTM shows. The Working Party also requires a good reputation for judging with integrity, and prefers judges with experience of working their dogs at advanced level in both HTM and Freestyle. Working Party recommendations must be approved by the KC Activities Sub Committee and subsequently by the General Committee.

I love Crufts; its atmosphere is electric and so exciting, and being asked to judge at the Best Dog Show in the World is an extreme honour. The HTM Crufts semi-finals don’t take place until the end of January when only the top 10 HTM and Freestyle teams will secure their place in the finals.

Preparation for judging at Crufts starts many months before the event. Obviously, you must know the rules inside-out and backwards and I always carry a copy of the HTM L Regulations with me marked for quick reference. I also brush up on my quick marking skills by watching old DVDs of HTM competitions – we only have 60 seconds to give our scores at Crufts as the competition is streamed live around the world. The very precise time schedule leaves no time for indecision.

I will be Head Judge this year; and, if there are any difficult decisions to make the final word will rest with me. Not a popular job but someone has to do it.

One final thing to think about on the girly side, finding the right outfit for such an important event is one thing, but as the competition is spread over three days you have to find three! Turning up in jeans and a jumper is simply not acceptable and the colours you wear must not clash with the other judges.

2014 KCAI Trainer of the Year in partnership with PRO PLAN

This Award has been introduced, in partnership with PRO PLAN, to recognise the outstanding talents of our KCAI Members, who are either working towards accreditation or who have already achieved it.

The aim of this initiative was to promote KCAI dog trainers to the dog owning public. The public were asked, through various media and social networking channels, to nominate the KCAI member they felt truly deserved recognition for their contribution to the dog world.

There was a great response with over 900 nominations received for over 60 trainers. A judging panel consisting of representatives from KCAI and Purina PRO PLAN selected four finalists and made a recommendation for an international commendation.

The public were then invited to visit the Kennel Club website to vote for one of the four finalists they felt was most worthy of the Award.

Our finalists and commendation nominee have been invited to an Awards Ceremony at Crufts 2015, where the winner will be announced.

The 2014 KCAI Trainer of the Year finalists are:

Allyson Tohme - Wiltshire

Carolyn Menteith - Surrey

Joe Collings-Nutkins - Essex

Linda Dewey - East Sussex

An international commendation will be awarded to:

Shirin Merchant - India

The 2014 KCAI Trainer of the Year will be announced at CruftsThe Obedience Ring (Hall 5)Saturday 7th March12.00 - 1.00pm

7The Standard Spring 2015

More on Crufts What else is happening at the world’s largest dog show

Find out more about HTM competitions by visiting

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/activities/heelwork-to-music/heelwork-to-music-at-

crufts

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C1 i general qualities

Which qualities do clients value in an instructor? Try listing those required for effective teaching. Start by thinking of them in terms of knowledge, skills, attributes and attitudes. Think how an instructor can motivate, encourage, guide and

help owners train their dogs. If an owner’s actions cause problems, how can the instructor gain commitment to change? How can an instructor be a good role model and positively influence dog training standards?

Use your own experiences as a learner, positive or otherwise. Negative ones can give insight too!

C1 ii personal qualities

Reflect on these in comparison with those in the previous element. Everyone has individual strengths as well as areas they find more difficult. Most instructors enjoy training people and their dogs, but there are always some situations that prove more challenging. Are there particular instances which cause you to be more critical or judgemental of owners? How could you overcome this?

C1 iii personal performance

Many people find assessing their performance hard. An alternative is to discuss this with someone who knows you well. Feedback forms can be used to gain a range of views from clients. Peer feedback is also useful and some training clubs have Instructor meetings which include this. Instructor courses also include feedback on teaching. Videoing training sessions can also be instructive.

C1 iv education and theoretical knowledge

Instructors need a firm foundation of knowledge, understanding and practical experience with dogs evidenced in their A & B modules. For C modules, instructors need to show understanding of people and human learning theories.

‘Train the trainer’ or coaching skills courses attended through employment are relevant to many aspects of the C modules. Websites like the Training Zone www.trainingzone.co.uk give hints on training practice whilst The Education and Training Foundation gives details of the new Professional Standards for Teachers and Trainers in Education and Training - England (issued in May 2014) www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ETF-Prof-Standards-Guidance-v2-2.pdf These standards apply to everyone involved in Adult Learning and link with the KCAI Scheme. They are also relevant to those who teach in schools and whose qualifications focus on children.

C1 v importance of experience

Members must have a level of personal achievement in handling and training skills in their accreditation B modules. Hands-on experience of dog training is vital in order to understand the problems and pressures on owners and provide

practical and effective instruction. Members can develop relevant experience through volunteering with rescue organisations, fostering, dog walking and/or helping at classes. Others gain from training their own dogs in different disciplines, helping at competitive events etc. If you wish to gain experience and want to visit or help at other events or classes, ask politely and turn up when requested. Remember that they have their reputations to uphold and so you may be given simple tasks until they have checked your abilities.

KCAI Scheme: Modules Under the MicroscopeC modules relate to your coaching skills; your ability to instruct and advise people based on your knowledge and experience with dogs. As KCAI accreditation is a nationally recognised teaching qualification the importance of this section is vital.

You must be able to provide evidence of study of the various types of instructing roles, understanding of learning theories and techniques and show how you continue to improve your own skills as an instructor. During your assessment the assessor will observe your teaching and how you put all of this into practice.

Following the previous series which covered the A modules, this series will take a look at the C modules and the overall instructing experience, starting with C1 - Qualities Required.

Image: Suzanne Webster / The Kennel Club ©

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Image: Jo Hobman / The Kennel Club ©

You can find the Modules Under the Microscope series for Sections A and C on

the KCAI Member Zone

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KCAI Focus on learning

C1 vi practical courses

Courses on instructional techniques focus on your teaching skills and may include the opportunity to run short training sessions and receive feedback. They will supplement your ‘subject knowledge’ and help you discover improved ways to impart this knowledge. You can learn from the course presenter and from other participants.

Attending ‘handling’ courses is also useful in observing instructing styles. Think of these in terms of ‘content’ - what you are learning - and ‘process’ – how you are learning and the impact of the instructor’s communication skills.

C1 vii qualifications

Increasingly clients focus on qualifications. Unfortunately some qualifications have little relevance to real life and many rely on ‘attendance’ rather than ‘achievement’. The training delivered may be worthwhile but a certificate of attendance does not prove the level of knowledge or information gained! In the past many talented and inspirational instructors improved their skills by practical experience as there were few qualifications available. Now KCAI gives them the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised qualification without duplicating areas in which they are already proficient.

All members should be engaged in continuous professional development (CPD) to remain current and demonstrate best practice despite professional and other commitments. Details can be recorded in the KCAI Diary/ CPD Log and used to update summary sheets.

C1 viii influences

Most members will be able to identify key individuals who have influenced their training and instructing styles. Some instructors feel that they ‘just know what they know’, but usually it emerges that they were influenced, although this may result from a negative experience and a desire to find a better approach.

C1 ix absorbing ideas

Those with many years instructing experience often have tried and tested methods, but this is no reason for discounting different approaches. Accredited members repeatedly say that research done whilst on the Scheme has not only been enjoyable but has exposed them to new and beneficial ideas. Attending courses or training leading to a qualification can be a stimulus to improving skills.

C1 x recognising your influence and limitations

Instructors have significant influence on people and dogs, both positive and negative. Consider the ways that you can be a positive influence in your training.

Members need to consider their areas and levels of instruction and set limitations accordingly. Such limitations might include time, facilities, personal interest as well as knowledge and expertise. Networking is also helpful in identifying specialist sources of instruction for clients.

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KCAI Educational Resources and Materials

Don’t forget you can use your KCAI workbook to assist you through the Scheme - You can find it free to download from the Member Zone, or you can purchase it in one of three formats over the phone - just call Clare Hitchcox on 01296 318540 ext. 321 to order yours today.

You can access the Member Zone for your free download by heading to www.thekennelclub. org.uk/training/kcai/kcai-members-zone/

Price ListColour deluxe workbook folder £36.00Black and White Workbook £10.00Memory Stick £5.00

To support your learning you can purchase the useful range of Jargon Busters from the online shop, covering the following titles:Health & Safety £1.75Biology, Health and Vaccinations £1.75Emergencies and Poisons £1.75Behaviour and Learning Theory £1.75Law and Legal Responsibilities £2.50

You can also buy your CPD diary for just £1.25 - a fantastic way to record any learning or development undertaken this year!

Visit: http://www.thekennelclubshop.org.uk/collections/publications

The KCAI Capsule Library

The KCAI Scheme has developed a specialist capsule book-lending service in conjunction with the Kennel Club Library: a not-for-profit subject-specific educational library. If you would like to borrow any of these books, you can borrow it for up to one month from the date of issue, and must be prepared to confirm receipt and post it on to the next member who wishes to read it after you, or back to the Kennel Club. Find out more on the Member Zone.

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Energetics

Every living cell requires a constant source of readily available energy, and biological energy currency is the Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) molecule. Energy is stored in ATP’s high-energy phosphate bonds from where it can be released very quickly, forming ADP, as a phosphate group is lost. ATP-driven systems are found everywhere, including DNA synthesis and replication, excretion and secretion pathways, active transport pumps, such as the proton pumps of calcium channels, and in muscle contraction. However, ATP is stored in tiny amounts and there is only ever enough available to power a given system for just a few seconds. This limitation is offset by several other active chemical pathways that rapidly re-synthesise ATP by adding phosphate groups back to ADP molecules. The substrates for these pathways are creatine phosphate, carbohydrates, fats and proteins. These pathways are discussed below and summarised in Fig. 1.

1. Creatine phosphate: Creatine phosphate is found in limited quantities in the brain and skeletal muscles. While available, it sacrifices a phosphate group to ADP which is converted back into ATP. This reaction is direct and very rapid, and is completely anaerobic as no oxygen is required. Creatine phosphate is exhausted in a few seconds however, after which ATP synthesis switches to another pathway.

2. Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates (glucose and glycogen as the stored form in the liver and muscles) are the substrates for glycolysis, the splitting of glucose molecules into glucose-6-phosphate and, after several other chemical reactions, into pyruvate. The glycolysis chain reaction requires ATP as the catalyst to get it going, but ultimately yields more ATP that it consumes. Pyruvate, the end product of glycolysis, is itself just an intermediary, energy-carrying molecule, and its fate is determined by the availability of oxygen in the surrounding tissue. If global oxygen demand is high, leaving tissues like muscle temporarily depleted, for example a greyhound starting his sprint out of the trap, pyruvate is converted anaerobically to lactic acid. This reaction yields ATP and its advantage is that it is very rapid, just what is required when energy is in high demand. The disadvantage is that lactic acid builds

up rapidly in the muscles leading to muscle fatigue and impaired performance. When oxygen is readily available, pyruvate is converted into acetyl-CoA, which is then drawn into the Krebs cycle, a chain of further aerobic (oxidative) chemical reactions that require oxygen. The end product of the slower, but more sustainable, Krebs cycle is again more ATP.

3. Fats: Free fatty acids, the end products of the lipolysis of triglycerides, are also substrates for acetyl-CoA through the process of beta oxidation, from where they can then enter the Krebs cycle and generate more ATP. Acetyl-CoA derived from the metabolism of fats is a hugely important source of energy for dogs.

4. Proteins: Oxidation of amino acids can account for up to 6% of the energy requirement of endurance exercise. Amino acids are converted directly into acetyl-CoA, or into glucose first, then to acetyl-CoA through glycolysis. However, protein is not an efficient or sustainable source of energy and the by-products of protein catabolism (urea and salts) put an additional burden on the renal system.

The two primary sources of energy are carbohydrates and fats. How each of these energy sources is used depends very much on the type of exercise being engaged in. During extreme physical activity, such as a fast sprint, metabolism is predominantly anaerobic and carbohydrates are the primary source of energy in both humans and dogs. In contrast, during less intense, but longer-duration endurance exercise, such as a marathon, metabolism is predominantly aerobic and fats are the primary source of energy in humans and in dogs.

The Physiology of Working DogsRobert Falconer-Taylor BVetMed, DipCABT, MRCVS, Centre of Applied Pet Ethology

When I started off in veterinary practice, I spent a lot of time with the racing Greyhounds running at the local track in Hove. This sparked by interest in the fascinating world of exercise physiology in dogs so this article is a follow-up to the informative article Esther Rawlinson BVMS, MRCVS gave us, ‘Feeding the canine athlete’, in Issue 13 of the KCAI Standard, Winter 2013.

Following the end of the Second World War, concerns about the health and fitness of the population gained renewed momentum. The Journal of Applied Physiology (JAP) started publishing high-quality papers on exercise physiology in 1948, and in 1953 Krebs and Lipmann won the Nobel Prize for their work on the Krebs Cycle and Coenzyme-A. In the 1984 Olympic games the 3,000 metres race and a marathon for women were allowed for the first time by the International Olympic Committee. Through the decades of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s an enormous number of studies took place, not just in humans but in other mammals as well, including dogs. The physiological mechanisms of physical exercise - and how to improve both endurance and performance - had become serious science, and much of the knowledge still used today in the training regimes of both human and canine athletes comes from the work done in these ‘golden decades’. Many of the papers cited in this section of the course notes were published in this era.

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Portia King / The Kennel Club ©

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Fig. 1. Relative contribution of energy substrates to cellular energy (ATP)

Carbohydrate in the form of glucose is derived from glycogen stores in muscle and from gluconeogenesis in the liver. Fats are derived from triglyceride stores in muscles and other tissues and are available as circulating free fatty acids. However, metabolism during exercise is not exclusively carbohydrate- or fat-driven, it is more a matter of degree. For example, muscle glycogen metabolism is about twenty times higher in sled dogs undergoing high-intensity anaerobic exercise than in sled dogs undergoing less intense aerobic exercise. On the other hand, a sprinting Greyhound relies much more on fast, short lived bursts of energy.

Fig. 2. Energy sources for an 815 metre sprint in a Greyhound

Fig. 2 shows the sources of energy for a Greyhound running a fast, 815 metre sprint over a time period of 60 seconds. Within the first 10 seconds, as the dog leaves the trap, all ATP and creatine phosphate (CreatP) reserves are consumed. The rapid release of energy required at the start of the race comes predominantly from anaerobic glycolysis, along with the formation of lactic acid. In the meantime, slower aerobic glycolysis gradually takes over and is the predominant source of energy for the rest of the race. The oxygen debt refers to the oxygen that is needed to replenish stores of ATP and creatine phosphate.

Measuring performance

An organism generates energy by the combustion of substrates, and oxygen is the catalyst in this reaction, and in biology one litre of combusted oxygen generates 4.8kcal of energy. In human sports physiology, measuring performance by measuring the maximum capacity at which an athlete can consume oxygen (called VO2 max) is used widely because it relates directly to how efficiently the muscles are working, and allows comparisons between athletes to be made. It has also been used in other animals including dogs and horses, and has been studied in a variety of domestic and wild species.

Fig. 3. Typical VO2 max curve for a mammal

The VO2 max of an animal’s performance can be divided into three zones as shown in Fig. 3. Low-, moderate- and high-intensity zones quantify how hard the animal is working as a percentage of his maximum oxygen consumption capacity, which is 100%. The zone the animal is in as he performs also correlates with the substrate pathways being used to generate the energy being consumed, as described above.

When the animal is in the low-intensity zone (up to 40% VO2 max), energy generation is predominantly aerobic through beta oxidation of FFA’s. As the animal works harder and reaches the moderate-intensity zone (40% to 70% VO2 max), energy generation switches to predominantly aerobic glycolysis of carbohydrates. The boundary between low-intensity and moderate-intensity performance is called the carbohydrate threshold. When the animal reaches the high-intensity zone (70% to 100% VO2 max), energy generation switches to predominantly anaerobic glycolysis and results in the production and build-up of lactate in the muscles. The boundary between moderate-intensity and high-intensity performance is called the lactate threshold. The positions of the low- moderate- and high-intensity VO2 max thresholds, and what substrate pathways are being engaged to generate energy, are a constant across all species, regardless of size and fitness level. The only variable that can be changed is the VO2 max ceiling, and this is discussed further over the page.

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KCA

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ture As the graph on page 11 suggests, animals are potentially

able to increase performance above their VO2 max, called supra-maximal performance. In practice however, it is very difficult to persuade most animals to do this. One study tested 9 different species on a treadmill. They chose a range of animals according to size including pigmy mice, mini pigs, lion cubs, dogs and ponies. Once trained, all the animals were able to continue running at speeds of up to their VO2 max (called sub-maximal performance). Beyond that, however, all the animals quickly gave up. The limiting factor in these animals was the rapid rise of lactate in the muscles as they crossed their VO2 max threshold. Below VO2 max, when the animals were performing sub-maximally, there was a rapid build-up of lactate during the first minute of exercise, then it stabilised and remained constant for the duration of the trials. Interestingly, in this study, the researchers were unable to reach VO2 max in their dogs and horses on the equipment they were using, and resorted to jacking the treadmill up on an incline to achieve the performances they needed from these species.

Fig. 4. Average VO2 max for a range of mammals

In another study, comparing the VO2 max across a range of wild and domestic species, as expected there was a linear relationship between VO2 max and body weight (Fig. 4), but in some domestic species of comparable weights, dogs and horses scored a VO2 max of more than three times that of sheep and cows respectively.

Much has been written about the famous sled dog races such as the Iditarod where dogs are running 100 miles a day for up to 9 days at a time. By way of comparison, the now infamous (for all the wrong reasons) Lance Armstrong managed a personal best VO2 max of 85 during the 2009 Tour de France. By comparison, the VO2 max of the fit physically much smaller Sled Dog is around 300. All these findings highlight just how special dogs are when it comes to aerobic capacity and athletic performance.

Muscle anatomy and physiology

Different levels of physical activity engage different types of muscle fibres making up the bundles of striated muscle that attaches to the skeleton. In humans at rest, about 15% to 20% of cardiac output blood flows through the skeletal muscles, while during exercise this rises to a staggering 70% to 85%. Inevitability, this means that of all the organs, skeletal muscle must have enormous adaptive ability and it is indeed the organ most affected by exercise. The myocyte, or muscle cell, is the basic building block of skeletal muscle and they are easily recognisable by their long, cylindrical, multinucleated myofibrils running longitudinally through the body of the muscle. There are several different subtypes of myofibrils, originally classified histologically according to their affinity to take up a stain. Different levels of stain uptake happen to correlate with their capacity for oxidative phosphorylation and variations in the type of myosin they contain - the key to how they work and what they do.

Type 1 muscle Fibres

• Dark red in colour as a result of high levels of myoglobin, the oxygen carrier molecule.

• Densely populated with capillaries and mitochondria, and use predominantly fats (FFA) as their fuel source, but are also able to utilise glucose to an extent.

• Perform best during endurance activities where metabolism is primarily aerobic.

• Occur in greater abundance in weight-supporting muscles attached to the long bones, for example the quadratus and anconeus muscles in dogs.

Type 2 muscle Fibres

• Anatomically more variable as a result of variations in concentrations of fast-twitch myosin (FTM), which determines what they do. This variation is on a continuum from Type 2a (lowest concentrations of FTM) to Type 2x (intermediate concentrations of FTM) to Type 2b (highest concentrations of FTM).

• The higher the concentration of FTM:-• the fewer capillaries they have and the less

myoglobin they contain (so they are lighter in colour)• their oxidative capacity is less so they become

fatigued more readily• but the greater their anaerobic, glycolytic activity and

so the greater their power production which equates to physical strength.

• Fast-twitch fibres perform well during both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism and are associated with short, intense bursts of activity.

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Other muscle fibre facts

The relative proportion of slow- and fast-twitch muscle fibres within a muscle is not fixed, that is it can be changed by a training regime that conditions and optimises the muscles for the type of exercise they are required to engage in. As a rule, sprint athletes have an abundance of fast-twitch fibres, while in endurance athletes slow-twitch fibres predominate.

In dogs and horses, Type 2a fibres predominate over Type 2b fibres, favouring endurance over speed, while in cats Type 2b fibres are more important, favouring speed over endurance.

In dogs 2 additional subtypes of Type 2 muscle fibres have been identified - Type 2Dog and Type 2C - both of which are more oxidative, that is, more like Type 1 muscle fibres.

Finally, supplementing the diet of dogs undergoing intense exercise with additional fat favours free fatty acid metabolism and spares breakdown of glycogen by utilising slow-twitch muscle fibres.

Calculating energy requirements

The Resting Energy Requirement of a dog can be calculated using the allometric equation -

RER = 70 x (body weight in kg)0.75 kcal/day

RER assumes that the dog is fit and healthy, of normal body weight and is lying down doing as little as possible beyond breathing.

Then, the Maintenance Energy Requirement, defined as the energy required to maintain a healthy dog at his current weight, can be calculated using the allometric equation -

MER = 130 x (body weight in kg)0.75 kcal/day

The MER equation as it stands is simplistic and inaccurate, especially when it comes to trying to calculate energy needs for working dogs. The reality is that it is not possible to come up with an accurate figure for an exercising dog’s daily MER. Think about the average 30kg Labrador. He is asleep in front of the fire, so his RER is 13 x 300.75 = 41 kcal/hr. The dog now stands up which raises his resting energy needs by 50% = 61 kcal/hr. The dog then runs at 3 km/hr for 3 km, that’s a one hour run, which adds another 90 kcal = 151 kcal/hr. Now, what if the dog instead ran at 6 km/hr for 3 km, taking just half an hour, then lay down for the remaining half hour. In this case his total energy consumption would be 141 kcal/hr, less than the previous run because the dog has spent 30 minutes less time standing, but the energy required to complete the 3km run is the same. Complicated isn’t it? But there is more – all of the following factors complicate matters even further.

• Kinetic energy matters: Heavier dogs use more energy while accelerating and changing direction rapidly. This applies to working dogs, dog in agility, even dogs chasing a ball in a field.

• Standing matters: A Border Terrier moving round the house most of the day will use more energy than a Greyhound that lies down most of the day except for 3, 30 second sprints round the garden.

• Terrain matters: Running uphill uses more energy than running downhill, but overall muscle efficiency is only 40% so energy is still required going downhill. Running downhill does not ‘cancel out’ running uphill in terms of energy consumed.

• The weather matters: Wind and rain, mud, sand, water all cause incalculable resistance.

• Thermodynamics matter: Exercising dogs have to cool down, especially on a hot day, and this consumes energy.

• The dog’s behaviour matters: Dogs play, jump about, lick, groom, scratch, chew on hide treats and Kongs, bark at the doorbell and chase the neighbour’s cat out the garden expending incalculable amounts of energy.

• The dog’s temperament matters: Dogs get excited at the prospect of exercise and perhaps nervous in a new environment or around strange dogs expending incalculable amounts of energy.

• Avoiding labels matters: Be cautious making assumptions based on a dog’s breed/type, e.g. working dog, racing, agility, herding, tracking, police, pet etc. ALL dogs are resting or asleep for 60% of the day when they are not engaged in their particular ‘work’.

So, the only way to accurately measure an exercising dog’s daily energy consumption is to use 24-hour monitoring electronic equipment such as accelerometers, pedometers, heart rate monitors, thermometers etc.

All is not lost, however. A best guestimate can be made for an individual dog’s energy needs by comparing his activity levels with the four ‘dog types’ shown in Fig. 6, along with the information provided above.

Fig. 6. Daily energy requirements of different types of dog

Copyright © Robert Falconer-Taylor, 2014

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KCA

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l pro

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COAPE provides distance learning and residential courses, including a two year Diploma covering:Year 1: Principles of behaviour and training.Year 2: Practical aspects of behaviour and training.www.coape.orginfo@coape.org.uk 0844 344 0817

Doglaw specialises in advising dog owners in both criminal and civil cases, and cover the whole of England and Wales. Presented by solicitor Trevor Cooper, the seminars cover a wide ranging mix of legal issues that are important to dog owners.

PLUS Doglaw.tv: webinars from renowned experts, for you to watch at a time convenient to you, from your own home or office.

Galen offers course and taster sessions in canine anatomy and physiology, canine myotherapy, canine exercise physiology and much more.www.caninetherapy.co.ukmail@caninetherapy.co.uk0845 3751 767

IABTC: provides specialist courses in canine behaviour and training for instructors, behaviourists and other professionals.

The Dog Business Academy: Get the personal help you need to grow your dog or pet business through coaching, workshops and seminars.

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KCAI Preferred Educational ProvidersLooking to learn about a particular Module on the KCAI Scheme?Looking to plug some of those gaps in your knowledge by taking a course that addresses particular elements of a Module where you need help?Want to know what a particular course covers?

The following KCAI Preferred Educational Providers will help you address your educational and learning needs:

For more information on KCAI Preferred Educational Providers visit

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The Standard Spring 2015

KCAI Regional Roundup

15

South East & East of England

Ali Fell KCAI (RRA)

Ali gained her accreditation in Rescue and Rehoming at the Advanced level in 2012; the first person to achieve this qualification. She now works as a dog trainer where she

lives in Brighton. Ali is keen to help Scheme members in the South East and East of England work towards accreditation whether this be goal setting, help with motivation, scoring or getting to grips with the paperwork.

You can contact Ali by calling 07828 237489 or by emailing ali@brightondogtraining.com

South Central & South West

Gina Pink KCAI (HTMA Ob)

Gina covers the South Central and South West Regions from Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxford, all the way down to Cornwall. She became an Accredited

Instructor in 2012 and is currently working towards accreditation in other modules. Gina is helping members in the South Central and South West regions work their way towards Accreditation. You can contact Gina by emailing busydogs@hotmail.co.uk

Midlands & Wales

Christine Meaney KCAI (CDA GCDSA)

Christine (Tina) is a Kennel Club Accredited Instructor. She is a canine behaviourist, a canine psychologist, the Deputy Chief Training Instructor at one club,

and joint Chief Training Instructor at another. She is also a volunteer trainer/behaviourist at three local dogs’ homes with 10 years’ experience as a trainer. Tina will be helping members in the Midlands and Wales regions to work their way towards Accreditation. You can contact Tina by calling 07903 849204 or by emailing cmeaney11@aol.com

North West

David Campbell KCAI (CDA GCDSA)

David is a Kennel Club Accredited Instructor. He has been a dog trainer for over 25 years and canine behaviourist for more than 20 years. David

is helping members in the North West region work their way towards Accreditation.

You can contact David by calling 07961 671089, or by emailing d.i.campbell@btinternet.com

North East

Jane Hanshaw KCAI (CDA BehA)

Jane holds an HNC in Canine Behaviour and Training, the Advanced COAP Diploma and is a Kennel Club Accredited Instructor. Jane will be helping

all members in the North East Region work their way towards Accreditation. You can contact Jane by calling 07900 186117 or by emailing her on janehanshawdogtags@outlook.com

Scotland & Northern Ireland

Lynn Aitchison KCAI (CD)

Lynn is well known locally as Lynn the Dog Lady. Lynn is a Kennel Club Accredited Instructor in Companion Dog Training. She is here to help KCAI members in the Scotland

and and Northern Ireland region work their way towards Accreditation.

You can contact Lynn by calling 0131 669 1108 or by emailing lynnthedoglady@gmail.com

Regional Mentor RoundupYour Regional Mentors are there to guide and help you work your way towards achieving KCAI accreditation.

If you have more than five years’ experience and think you are ready for assessment, then why not contact your Regional Mentor, who will be more than happy hear from you.

You can find a full Regional Roundup on the KCAI Member Zone