Advance Your Knowledge: New Dog Welfare Certificate is Here

Can a dog eat tomatoes? How do I know what a dog is trying to tell me? I want to care for a street dog, but don’t have money to spare.

If you have ever asked yourself these questions or had similar thoughts, we have the perfect course for you!

The Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) is excited to announce the launch of its new Dog Welfare Certificate (DWC) course, designed to provide essential knowledge for anyone involved or interested in canine care. Whether you're a seasoned dog owner or someone new to dog welfare, this course offers invaluable insights and practical information and tips for ensuring the well-being of dogs, particularly in low-resource settings. For example, it provides practical tips for individuals who may not have access to things like commercial dog food or the means to purchase expensive store-bought kennels. The DWC course offers guidance on how to provide a balanced diet for a dog using affordable, locally available ingredients. It also includes innovative ideas for constructing safe and comfortable sheltering from readily available materials, allowing caregivers to provide appropriate shelter without incurring significant costs.

Who is this course for?

The DWC course offers foundational knowledge crucial for any person who is looking to care for a dog – whether it is their own, or a dog in the community.

Course Accessibility and Certification

The DWC course is free and self-paced, making it accessible to anyone with (even limited) internet access. Participants can complete the course online or download it for offline study. We have included a huge number of pictures, infographics and other downloadable resources to help your learning, and to ensure that you have information easily on hand to share with others or to remind yourself later. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate, just like with all of GARC’s online courses.

What the Course Covers

The course is structured around the Five Freedoms of animal welfare, providing practical knowledge and solutions tailored to low-resource environments.

Key topics include:

• Diet: How to provide the best possible diet for a dog with the resources available.
• Shelter: Creating a safe and comfortable shelter for a dog with limited materials.
• Body Language: Understanding dog body language and its impact on welfare.
• Behavior: Differentiating between healthy and problematic dog behavior.
• Health: Identifying key methods to ensure and maintain dog health.

Support and Collaboration

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Battersea for their support and to the professionals who collaborated with us to develop the course content. Their expertise has been invaluable in creating a comprehensive and practical guide for dog welfare.

Conclusion

GARC's Dog Welfare Certificate course is a significant addition to our educational offerings, providing essential knowledge and practical solutions for dog care and welfare. Whether you're enhancing your existing knowledge or learning the basics, this course is an excellent resource for ensuring the well-being of dogs in any setting.

Enroll today and take the first step towards becoming a certified dog welfarist!

-> Are you an REC graduate? Take the DWC course now!

-> Not an REC graduate? Take the REC course first!

Article contributed by: Kerenza Vlastou, Outreach Manager, GARC.