Any Security Service Provider or Organisation who wishes to provide our use dogs and/or trained handlers must comply with the minimum standards in terms of the Government Gazette No. 19067 Board Notice 120, and Government Gazette 19740 Board Notice 15.

The minimum standards determine that:

A security officer working with a dog must be trained at an accredited dog training and dog supplier centre.
A Security Service Provider who provides dogs and trained handlers must be accredited as a Security Dog Supplier.
Clients who make use of dogs and/or handlers must ensure that their Security Service Providers comply with the relevant legislation.
All security officers working with dogs must be trained at a PSIRA accredited dog training centre.
All dogs used must have the necessary identification, and must have been trained at an accredited dog training centre.

Braveheart Bio-Dog Academy is an accredited training service provider for PSIRA, and can train any individual to the level required for the issuing of a PSIRA certificate stating his level of competence with regard to dog training/handling. The Academy trains handlers from DH (Dog Handler)1 to DH5 level, and can also make arrangements for PSIRA registration.

DH1	Basic obedience and aggression on leash. Classification and use of dog breeds. Care and utilization of dog breeds
DH2	Advanced obedience and aggression on leash. Working with your dog in an environment where people are present.
DH3	Advanced obedience and aggression + remote control. 5 – 10 metre distance control with your dog.
DH4	Highest level of obedience, independent work on and off leash. Attack off leash.
DH5	Substance detection (narcotics, explosives etc). Full control of your dog, working off leash.

NB: Training is proficiency based – time is used efficiently and effectively, with acknowledgement of RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning). This ensures that a specific outcome is achieved.

Board and lodging is available for students, if required.

NB: Braveheart Bio-Dog Academy can also evaluate private individuals who are interested in a career in dog handling for PSIRA registration and, if successful, prepare them for PSIRA certification

Attack Dog Training Photo: Felix Dlangamandla/Beeld Newspaper

DH5 training (Substance detection: explosives and narcotics)

Braveheart Bio-Dog Academy is one of only a few private Service Providers in South Africa accredited by PSIRA Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority) to train dog handlers to DH5 level for the handling of specialized sniffer dogs for detecting narcotics and explosives (drugs and bombs).

Using a new technique developed by Braveheart Bio-Dog Academy (see Research & Development), neither dog nor handler get into contact with the actual substances. Potentially dangerous side effects are thus avoided.

The new technique for the application of sniffer dogs has opened significant new career opportunities in specialised dog handling for both private security firms who want to have their officers trained for narcotics and explosives detection making use of dogs, and for private individuals who want to follow a lucrative career in specialised dog handling.

2. SASSETA training courses

SASSETA = Safety And Security Sector Education And Training Authority

POSLEC = Police, Private Security Legal, Correctional Services and Justice SETA

DIDTETA = Diplomatic, Intelligence, Defence, and Trade Education And Training Authority

POSLEC SETA and DIDTETA amalgamated into SASSETA, which is now responsible for promoting and expanding skills development in this sector.

Braveheart Bio-Dog Academy is a SASETA accredited Training Provider, offering training against Unit Standards - a registered statement of desired education and training outcomes and their associated assessment criteria, together with administrative and other in formation as specified by SAQA South African Qualifications Authority) regulations - and is registered with SAQA, which allows a learner to accumulate credits towards a national qualification.

Training against the following Unit Standards is currently presented

by Braveheart Bio-Dog Academy:

1.	243188	Care for a service dog.
2.	243190	Handle a trained service dog to deter crime
3.	120463	Handle a patrol dog to assist in searching for and the apprehension of a suspect.
4.	243196	Supervise kennel practices
5.	120461	Handle a trained sniffer dog to assist in the detection of substances

Our training is outcomes based – based on achievement of end results – and is centred on the learner. Firstly, a learner needs to demonstrate that the outcomes have been attained; and

secondly, the focus is on the instructive and learning process that will guide the learner to the end results. The outcomes are used as the focus point when instructional decisions are taken.

A practical example is that of learner pilots who are required to demonstrate their skills to fly an aircraft, and not merely sit passively through the required instruction. Just as a pilot has to demonstrate his/her ability to fly an aeroplane at certain levels of proficiency before a pilot's license is issued, learners will be required to demonstrate the outcomes of their learning in order to advance.

braveheart bio-dog training academy braveheart bio-dog academy

Students in training sessions (Caring for the welfare of a service dog)

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Legal Requirements

It is imperative that more specific information should be provided regarding dog and handler training because, in terms of the Private Security Regulation Authority (PSIRA) Act, no. 56 of 2001 there are specific requirements that must be adhered to by any Security Service Provider who wishes to provide and/or use dogs and/or trained handlers in compliance with Section 3, with regard to the enforcement of minimum standards in terms of Government Gazette 19067, Board Notice 20; and Government Gazette 19740, Board Notice 15.

What is even more important, is that Clients who make use of the services of dogs and/or handlers may also be penalised severely under the law if their Security Service Provider does not comply with the stipulations of the relevant legislation.

Here is a summary of the minimum standards set by the Act with regard to Security Officers, Security Service Providers, Dogs, and Clients or End Users:

Security Officers:
• A security officer working with a dog must have been trained at a PSIRA accredited dog training centre.
• He/she must be in possession of a certificate issued by PSIRA, stating the level of competency with regard to dog training (DH 1 – DH 4 for patrol work; DH 5 for substance detection work (Explosives, Narcotics).

Security Service Providers:
• A Security Service Provider who supplies dogs and trained handlers must be accredited as a Security Dog Supplier.
• Security Service Providers must know that legislation is in place that makes it a criminal offence to make use of dogs and handlers who do not comply with the minimum standards as laid down by the relevant Act and Government Gazettes,
• In terms of the said Act, if a Security Service Supplier fails to comply with the set norms and standard of services, it constitutes improper conduct in terms of the Code of Conduct for Security Service Providers, as well as a criminal offence.

Dogs:
• Substance detection dogs must have positive identification (for example a tattoo or microchip).
• Every substance detection dog must have a certificate that indicates that the dog is trained to identify substances positively, issued by an accredited DH 5 instructor at an accredited DH 5 dog training centre, with date of certification.
• Work Dogs Dh 1 to DH 4 (patrol dogs) must have positive identification (for example a tattoo or microchip).

Clients or End Users:
• Clients/End Users who make use of dogs and/or handlers must ensure that their Security Service Providers comply with the relevant legislation.
• The End Users must protect themselves against prosecution in terms of regulations set by the Private Security Industry Regulation Act (Act 56 of 2001, Section 38). In terms of the PSIRA Act, persons who do not ensure that their service provider rendering a service complies with the relevant Act, are guilty of a criminal offence, and are liable to a fine, or imprisonment, or both.

Training standards for Security dogs and handlers document
(click for document)

THE ROLES OF PSIRA and SASSETA

PSIRA (Private Security Industry Regulations Authority) is responsible for quality assurance of training of handlers and dogs for the Private Security Industry in South Africa.

SASSETA (Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority) is responsible for learning programmes offered to handlers. Training is much more comprehensive and based on unit standards as laid down by the NQF (National Qualifications Framework).

Constitutional Court Judgement

As soon as the Minister as per Government Gazette number 32670 (30 Oct 2009) repeals the validity of handlers only obtaining a PSIRA training level they will have to undergo the much more comprehensive SASSETA training referred to in the previous paragraph.

The reason for dog handlers not being allowed to have only a PSIRA DH certificate to work in the industry is explained by a verdict delivered in a case heard by the Constitutional Court of South Africa “The sheer size of the private security industry, as well as the coercive power it wields during the regular conduct of its business underscore the need for regulation and adherance to appropriate standards. Close Control and management of this massive industry is imperative” (Case CCT 77/08 [2009] ZACC 11).

The judgement stresses that it is imperative that they (security officers) are appropriately trained and skilled, empowering them to perform their duties in terms of the set norms and standards stipulated by the Act (Private Security Industry Regulation Act, Act no 56 of 2001).

PSIRA/SASSETA alignment of competencies

For a complete list - click here

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