Junior Dog Handler
The Junior Member level recognises individuals who are beginning practical experience in professional dog handling and are developing safe handling practices under the guidance of a more experienced handler.
This tier provides an entry pathway into the professional canine care industry and supports the development of safe public-space handling, welfare awareness, and responsible control.
Junior Members are not recognised as independent professional dog walkers and are expected to operate under supervision or mentorship while building experience.
Annual Membership: $95
Junior Membership is an entry-pathway membership designed for learning, mentorship, and supervised experience within the canine care field.
The fee contributes to education resources, administration, and member support services. This tier is a training and development pathway and does not include independent business insurance coverage.
Core Handling Practices
Junior Members are developing competence in:
• Basic leash handling and physical control
• Awareness of canine body language, including early stress and avoidance signals
• Safe management of one (1) or two (2) compatible dogs only
• Basic welfare monitoring (hydration, temperature, fatigue, and environment)
• Public-space etiquette and nuisance prevention
• Understanding owner instructions and maintaining appropriate records
Scope of Practice
Junior Members:
- Should not independently manage multi-dog groups
- Should not handle behaviourally complex, aggressive, or high-risk dogs
- Should work under guidance, supervision, or mentorship where possible
- Are not listed publicly as independent professional operators
Learning & Development
Junior Members may:
- Attend CPDW workshops and education sessions
- Log practical handling hours
- Receive mentorship from Advanced Members
- Become eligible to progress to Intermediate Membership once safe handling practices are demonstrated
Insurance
Junior membership does not provide independent business insurance coverage.
It is an education and supervised experience pathway only.
Framework Alignment
This membership pathway is designed to broadly reflect foundational learning outcomes comparable to introductory animal care competencies (NZQCF Level 3 indicative learning stage), however CPDW Inc is not an NZQA training provider and does not issue formal qualifications.
Memberships Explained
Intermediate Dog Handler
Independent handling with structured safety practices
The Intermediate Member level recognises individuals who are independently caring for and exercising dogs while applying consistent safety, welfare, and public-space responsibility practices.
This tier represents handlers who have progressed beyond supervised experience and are developing reliable handling routines, client care systems, and structured risk awareness in shared environments.
Intermediate Members operate their own services and remain individually responsible for complying with all local bylaws and regulatory requirements.
Annual Membership: $320
Intermediate Membership supports individuals independently providing routine dog-walking services while developing consistent safety and handling practices.
The fee contributes to administrative oversight, risk-management resources, documentation support, and eligibility for inclusion in the CPDW Inc group liability insurance policy (subject to compliance with membership requirements and the Code of Conduct).
Core Handling Practices
Intermediate Members are developing and applying competence in:
• Safe management of compatible dog groups
• Exercise planning based on breed type, age, fitness, and environmental conditions
• Reliable physical control and recall management suited to the environment
• Recognition of canine body language, including arousal, stress, and avoidance signals
• Environmental risk awareness (traffic, terrain, wildlife, weather, and public interaction)
• Client communication and duty of care
• Early prevention and management of common behavioural issues
• Record keeping of dogs under their care (attendance, behaviour observations, and incidents where applicable)
Scope of Practice
Intermediate Members:
• May manage compatible dog groups up to four (4) dogs per handler as the recommended maximum handling capacity for this development stage
• Must only select dogs suitable for safe group compatibility
• Should not manage behaviourally complex, aggressive, or high-risk dogs in group settings
• Must not exceed a number of dogs they cannot safely control physically and behaviourally
• Should refer complex behavioural cases to experienced handlers, trainers, or behaviour professionals where appropriate
CPDW Inc does not determine legal dog limits. Members must comply with council bylaws and any applicable exemption requirements.
Learning & Development
Intermediate Members may:
• Attend CPDW workshops and continuing education sessions
• Use CPDW risk-management and documentation templates
• Participate in handling discussions and practical development
• Log practical handling experience
• Become eligible to progress to Advanced Membership once consistent safe handling practices are demonstrated
Insurance
Intermediate Members may be eligible for inclusion under the CPDW Inc group liability policy, subject to compliance with membership requirements and the Code of Conduct.
Framework Alignment
The Intermediate Member stage reflects independent application of skills and responsibility for routine tasks comparable to practical animal-care roles associated with Level 3 learning stages of the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).
CPDW Inc is not an NZQA training provider and does not issue formal qualifications, academic credit, or nationally recognised certificates.
Supporting Member
Supporting safe, responsible and evidence-informed canine practice
The Supporting Member level recognises individuals, businesses, and community members who support the development of safe, responsible, and welfare-focused dog handling standards within Christchurch and the wider region.
Supporting Members are not operational dog-walking members but contribute to strengthening professional accountability, public safety awareness, and industry collaboration.
This tier is suitable for dog owners, trainers, groomers, veterinarians, pet industry businesses, allied professionals, and community members who support structured canine practice standards.
Annual Membership: $50
Supporting Membership is for individuals and organisations wishing to support safe, welfare-focused canine handling standards and responsible dog ownership within the community.
The fee contributes to public education initiatives, community engagement, advocacy work, and development of professional practice resources. Supporting Members do not receive operational handling privileges or insurance coverage.
Core Support Principles
Supporting Members align with:
• Promotion of responsible dog ownership
• Support for evidence-informed handling practices
• Public safety and nuisance prevention awareness
• Ethical animal welfare standards
• Constructive collaboration between industry and regulators
• Ongoing development of professional capability within the canine sector
Scope of Involvement
Supporting Members:
• Do not operate under CPDW handling membership tiers
• Are not listed as professional dog walkers
• Do not receive operational or business insurance coverage
• May publicly identify as a CPDW Supporting Member if desired
• May participate in community events, workshops, and education initiatives
Engagement & Development
Supporting Members may:
• Attend CPDW public seminars and information sessions
• Receive updates regarding industry developments and advocacy
• Contribute feedback on welfare and safety discussions
• Support community-based education initiatives
Insurance
Supporting Membership does not include eligibility for the CPDW Inc group liability policy.
Framework Alignment
Supporting Membership is not a competency-based tier and does not align with NZQCF learning stages. It represents community and industry support for professional canine handling standards.
CPDW Inc is a voluntary professional association and not an NZQA-approved training provider.
Important Notice
CPDW Inc is a voluntary professional association.
Membership does not grant legal permission to operate or override local bylaws.
Supporting Membership does not constitute a professional qualification or operational approval.
Advanced Dog Handler
Structured multi-dog handling and risk-managed public operation
The Advanced Member level recognises experienced handlers who provide structured dog-walking services and manage larger compatible groups in public environments using established safety, welfare, and risk-management practices.
This tier represents professional operators who apply judgement, planning, and preventative handling strategies to maintain control, minimise nuisance, and protect both canine welfare and public safety.
Advanced Members operate independently and remain responsible for complying with all local bylaws, exemption requirements, and regulatory conditions.
Annual Membership: $420
Advanced Membership is intended for experienced professional handlers managing structured multi-dog group services.
The fee supports professional oversight, advocacy representation, operational guidance, incident-support processes, and eligibility for full inclusion in the CPDW Inc group liability insurance policy (subject to compliance with membership requirements and safe handling practices).
Core Handling Practices
Advanced Members demonstrate and apply:
• Structured multi-dog group management (6 or more compatible dogs where appropriate and legally permitted)
• Advanced understanding of canine body language, arousal thresholds, and group dynamics
• Proactive risk assessment before and during walks
• Reliable recall and physical control suited to the environment
• Strategic selection of locations, timing, and group composition
• Prevention and de-escalation of behavioural conflict
• Clear criteria for group inclusion and removal
• Incident awareness, documentation, and response procedures
• Professional client communication regarding behaviour, welfare, and safety expectations
Scope of Practice
Advanced Members:
• May manage larger compatible dog groups where safe physical and behavioural control can be maintained
• Recognise that structured professional capacity may extend beyond four (4) dogs per handler where permitted by law or exemption
• Should only manage dogs assessed as socially compatible and environmentally suitable
• Must remove any dog presenting safety or welfare risk
• Must adjust group size according to environment, terrain, and control reliability
• Should operate within a recommended upper professional handling threshold of twelve (12) dogs per handler, subject to demonstrated control and legal compliance
CPDW Inc does not determine legal dog limits. Members must comply with council bylaws and any applicable exemption approvals.
Learning & Development
Advanced Members may:
• Participate in advanced CPDW education sessions and professional development
• Mentor Junior and Intermediate Members
• Contribute to structured safety practice discussions
• Maintain handling logs and incident documentation
• Support public education and responsible dog ownership initiatives
Insurance
Advanced Members may be eligible for full inclusion under the CPDW Inc group liability policy, subject to compliance with membership requirements, documented safe handling practices, and the Code of Conduct.
Framework Alignment
The Advanced Member stage reflects higher levels of responsibility, applied judgement, and risk management comparable to practical roles associated with Level 4 learning stages of the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) within animal-care operational environments.
CPDW Inc is not an NZQA training provider and does not issue formal qualifications, academic credit, or nationally recognised certificates.