What skills does a guide dog instructor need?

A guide dog instructor needs 15 essential skills including animal welfare legislation, visual disability, guide dog training methods, communicate with customers, control animal movement. Core competencies include .

Will AI replace guide dog instructor jobs?

The AI disruption score for guide dog instructor is 15/100 (low risk). Some tasks may be automated but the role will evolve rather than disappear entirely.

Social ServicePersonal service workersISCO 5164

guide dog instructor

Guide dog instructors train dogs to be responsible in guiding blind people to travel effectively. They plan the training sessions, match guide dogs with their clients and ensure overall routine care of the training dogs. Guide dog instructors also provide advice to the blind people in the use of techniques that facilitate dogs' travel skills and mobility.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (15)

animal welfare legislationanimal welfare legislationThe legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.visual disabilityvisual disabilityImpairment of the ability to naturally discern and process viewed images.guide dog training methodsguide dog training methodsThe methods that are used to train dogs to guide people who are visually impaired.communicate with customerscommunicate with customersRespond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.control animal movementcontrol animal movementDirect, control or restrain some or part of an animal's, or a group of animals', movement.advise customers on appropriate pet careadvise customers on appropriate pet careProvide information to customers on how to feed and care for pets, appropriate food choices, vaccination needs, etc.evaluate dogsevaluate dogsAssess whether certain dogs are ready to work as a guide dog or not, whether certain dogs should be withdrawn from the training programme, need extra training or a different approach, etc.assess the compatibility of individuals and animals to work togetherassess the compatibility of individuals and animals to work togetherEnsure work harmony between humans and animals, regarding to physical characteristics, capacity, temperament and potential.protect health and safety when handling animalsprotect health and safety when handling animalsProtect health and welfare of animals and their handlers.create animal recordscreate animal recordsCreate animal records according to industry relevant information and using appropriate record keeping systems.assist social service users with physical disabilitiesassist social service users with physical disabilitiesHelp service users with mobility problems and other physical disabilities such as incontinence, assisting in the use and care of aids and personal equipment.implement exercise activities for animalsimplement exercise activities for animalsProvide exercise opportunities that are suitable for respective animals and meet their particular physical requirements.'.provide animal trainingprovide animal trainingProvide training in basic handling, habituation, and obedience to enable the completion of day-to-day tasks while minimising the risks to the animal, the handler, and others.train animals and individuals to work togethertrain animals and individuals to work togetherTrain animals and individuals to work together, including the match between individuals and animals, the design of integrated training programmes for people and animals, implementation of integrated t...deal with challenging peopledeal with challenging peopleWork safely and communicate effectively with individuals and groups of people who are in challenging circumstances. This would include recognition of signs of aggression, distress, threatening and how...

Optional (19)

animal welfareanimal welfareUniversally recognized animal welfare needs as applied to species, situation and occupation. These are: need for a suitable environment need for a suitable diet need to be able to exhibit normal behav...physiology of animalsphysiology of animalsThe study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.assistive instrumentsassistive instrumentsThe field of dealing with people in need of service animals and the working of assistive devices and technologies.anatomy of animalsanatomy of animalsThe study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.manage a small-to-medium businessmanage a small-to-medium businessManage the organisational, financial and day-to-day operation of a small-to-medium enterprise.provide nutrition to animalsprovide nutrition to animalsProvide food and water to animals. This includes preparing food and water for animals and reporting any changes in the animal feeding or drinking habits.'.provide an enriching environment for animalsprovide an enriching environment for animalsProvide an enriching environment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, and including adjusting environmental conditions, delivering feeding and puzzle exercises, and implementing m...design training programmes for animalsdesign training programmes for animalsAssess the training needs of the animal and select appropriate methods and activities to meet training objectives.advise on animal purchaseadvise on animal purchaseAdvise clients and customers on the purchase of animals.assist in transportation of animalsassist in transportation of animalsAssist with the transportation of animals, including the loading and unloading of animals, the preparation of the transport vehicle, and maintaining the wellbeing of the animal throughout the transpor...provide first aid to animalsprovide first aid to animalsAdminister emergency treatment to prevent deterioration of the condition, suffering and pain until veterinary assistance can be sought. Basic emergency treatment needs to be done by non-veterinarians ...interview peopleinterview peopleInterview people in a range of different circumstances.stay alertstay alertStay focused and alert at all times; react quickly in the case of unexpected events. Concentrate and do not get distracted performing a task over a long period of time.maintain animal accommodation hygienicmaintain animal accommodation hygienicMake sure animal enclosures such as habitats, terrariums, cages or kennels are in the appropriate and hygienic condition. Clean the enclosure and provide new bedding material if called for.maintain professional administrationmaintain professional administrationFile and organise professional administration documents comprehensively, keep customer records, fill in forms or log books and prepare documents about company-related matter.work with veterinarianswork with veterinariansConsult veterinarians and assist them in the examination and nursing of animals.instruct on animal careinstruct on animal careProvide employees in animal care with information on how to treat the animal, the animals eating habits, nutrition and medical condition and needs.tolerate stresstolerate stressMaintain a temperate mental state and effective performance under pressure or adverse circumstances.support individuals to adjust to physical disabilitysupport individuals to adjust to physical disabilityAssist individuals to adjust to the implications of physical disability and to understand the new responsibilities and level of dependency.