Abstract
Australia’s working dogs are valued to the point of being iconic but paradoxically the working dog industry is unsupported by cohesive research and development. The Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS) was developed by the Australian Government in consultation with state and territory governments, animal industry organisations, animal welfare groups and the general public. The AAWS have funded two projects to advance the welfare of dogs in the Australian Working Dog Industry. The inaugural Australian Working Dog Survey 1 was conducted in 2009. Benchmarking information was collected about the sourcing, breeding, assessment, training, housing and veterinary care of 4195 Australian working dogs from private industry, government, assistance and sporting dog sectors. These preliminary findings were extended in the follow up project, The Australian Working Dog Industry Action Plan - a strategic plan that will now be used to advance the canine welfare and productivity measures of the Australian Working Dog Industry. What differs between working dog sectors is the task that the dogs are trained to perform. In this sense, the working dog industry sectors have much in common. High standards of animal welfare underpin both industry productivity and sustainability. It is recognised that not all members of the working dog industry will be motivated to change their current practices solely to improve animal welfare standards. However, it would be cognisant for the industry to recognise that market expectations are moving toward higher standards of animal care and greater transparency of processes. Industry-wide adoption of an ethos of continuous quality improvement, voluntary welfare accreditation and certified training qualifications will result in a degree of difference occurring between service providers. Market forces will influence the adoption of best practice by this industry. The Australian Working Dog Industry should acknowledge the need to increase the understanding of factors affecting working dog welfare and it is recommended that a multi-disciplinary research program is pursued to deliver the best welfare and productivity outcomes from cradle to grave.
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