1. Health & Safety Commitment

That Dog Guy Ltd is committed to conducting its activities in a manner which is reasonably practicable to protect the safety and welfare of contractors, clients, members of the public and dogs under its care.

The business recognises that dog walking, training and transport activities carry inherent risks and therefore maintains operational procedures, risk controls and reporting expectations designed to reduce foreseeable harm.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all self-employed contractors, assistants, trainers, behaviourists and any other individuals carrying out work on behalf of That Dog Guy Ltd.

3. Contractor Responsibilities

• Work in a safe and professional manner.
• Follow operational procedures and risk controls.
• Review all pet notes, behavioural notes, medical information, management instructions and handling plans prior to taking a dog into their care.
• Report any missing, outdated or unclear handling information before commencing care.
• Report incidents, injuries, aggression, escapes, dogs running off, bolting, pinning or near misses promptly.
• Ensure equipment and trackers are adequately charged and maintained.
• Use leads, muzzles and management equipment where appropriate.
• Avoid leaving dogs unattended or in unsafe conditions.
• Exercise reasonable judgement when assessing dog compatibility and environmental risk.
• Ensure vehicles used for dog transport are roadworthy, ventilated, clean and safe.
• Not undertake handling or behavioural work beyond their level of competence.
• Seek guidance from management or an appropriately experienced trainer or behaviourist where uncertain regarding a dog’s behaviour, handling or safety risk.
• Decline work they do not feel competent to undertake safely.

4. Dog Handling Risk Controls

• Assessment of dog temperament and compatibility.
• Controlled introductions between unfamiliar dogs.
• Use of long lines, leads or muzzles where appropriate.
• Escalation procedures for reactive or difficult dogs.
• Monitoring for signs of stress, conflict or over-arousal.
• Immediate reporting of pinning, biting or aggression incidents.
• Avoidance of overcrowded or unsuitable environments where possible.
• Use of reward-based handling and training methods.

Off-Lead Safety Procedures

• Any dog exercised off lead in unenclosed areas must wear a functioning GPS tracker charged above 30% battery.
• Contractors must check tracker battery levels before commencing walks.
• If a tracker falls below 30% battery, the dog must remain on lead unless specifically authorised otherwise by management.
• Dogs may only be exercised off lead in unenclosed areas once reasonable recall and handling assessment has taken place.
• Assessment should, where reasonably practicable, include:
  - Harness handling
  - Long-line handling
  - Collar-grab conditioning
  - Recall reliability in lower-distraction environments
• Contractors must exercise professional judgement regarding environmental risk, distractions and dog suitability before allowing off-lead exercise.
• Contractors who are not professional trainers or behaviourists must not allow a dog off lead in unenclosed areas unless:
  - They have received instruction from a competent trainer or behaviourist regarding that dog’s handling; or
  - They have received management approval.
• In enclosed secure areas, dogs may be exercised off lead provided they trail a long line attached to a harness where reasonably appropriate for safety.
• Enclosed areas used for off-lead exercise must be checked for secure boundaries, functioning gates and foreseeable escape risks before dogs are released.

5. Vehicle & Transport Safety

• Vehicles must be maintained in a roadworthy condition.
• Dogs should be safely secured where appropriate.
• Contractors must monitor temperature and ventilation.
• Dogs must not be left in unsafe temperatures.
• Dogs should not be left unattended or out of sight for more than a couple of minutes when collecting other dogs.
• Contractors should remain within reasonable visibility or earshot where applicable.
• Breakdowns or vehicle safety concerns must be reported promptly.

6. Lone Working

• Carrying a charged mobile phone.
• Maintaining communication availability.
• Reporting unsafe situations promptly.
• Exercising caution in isolated areas.
• Avoiding unnecessary personal risk.

7. Incident Reporting

The following should be reported to management as soon as reasonably practicable:

• Dog bites or aggression.
• Escapes or near escapes.
• Vehicle incidents.
• Injuries to people or dogs.
• Equipment failures.
• Public complaints.
• Near misses or safety concerns.

Incident Logging

• All incidents, near misses, behavioural concerns, aggression, escapes, pinning incidents, injuries and safety concerns should be logged within the company software system by the admin team as soon as reasonably practicable after being reported.
• Contractors are expected to provide factual, objective and prompt accounts of incidents to assist accurate record keeping.

8. Training & Competence

That Dog Guy Ltd expects contractors to maintain appropriate competence for the work undertaken.

Contractors must ensure they are competent to do the work they are offered or ask for help or turn it down.

Contractors may receive guidance, mentoring, operational procedures and behavioural handling expectations relevant to the dogs and environments involved.

Optional additional training may be offered by the Company; however, contractors remain responsible for declining work they are not competent to undertake safely.

9. Review

This document will be reviewed periodically and updated where reasonably necessary following incidents, operational changes or evolving guidance.

Example Risk Assessment – Dog Walking & Behaviour Work

Hazard

Potential Harm

Controls

Dog fights or aggression

Injury to dogs or people

Compatibility assessment, lead/muzzle use where required, controlled introductions, monitoring body language

Dog escape

Loss or road traffic accident

Secure leads/harnesses, recall assessment, long lines where appropriate, GPS tracker use

Heat exposure

Heat stress or illness

Monitoring weather conditions, limiting exertion, ventilation, avoiding unsafe temperatures

Public interaction

Complaints or injury

Maintaining control of dogs, avoiding overcrowding where possible, lead use where necessary

Vehicle breakdown

Delay or welfare concern

Vehicle maintenance, access to water, communication procedures

Equipment failure

Loss of control

Routine checks of leads, collars, harnesses and trackers

Poor recall or inadequate off-lead control

Escape or injury

Recall testing, long-line assessment, trainer approval procedures, GPS tracker use

Inadequate information about dog behaviour

Injury or handling issues

Mandatory review of pet notes and incident history prior to care