Read the scope, outcomes and full checklist guidance
The outcome:Management systems remain proportionate to the business, support consistent practice and ensure dogs remain protected through staffing, service and organisational change.
EW12.1: Rostering, workload and substitutions
Scheduling must allow sufficient time for secure collection, transport, exercise, transitions, welfare checks, cleaning, records and communication without unsafe rushing or fatigue. A substitute walker must be competent, authorised, informed about each dog and accepted under the client agreement. A service must change or be cancelled if safe coverage is unavailable.
Assessor checklist
Requirement
Scheduling must allow sufficient time for secure collection, transport, exercise, transitions, welfare checks, cleaning, records and communication without unsafe rushing or fatigue. A substitute walker must be competent, authorised, informed about each dog and accepted under the client agreement. A service must change or be cancelled if safe coverage is unavailable.
What the Assessor Checks
Compare routes, collections, driving and records with rostered hours.
Review substitutions, handovers and missed-service communication.
Evidence
Roster, bookings, travel time, substitution records, terms and interviews.
Meets Standard
There is reasonable evidence that the requirement is met consistently in practice and achieves the required welfare, control and integrity outcome.
Action Required
The requirement is not yet demonstrated consistently in practice, or the available evidence is incomplete and requires a proportionate corrective action.
Critical Non-Compliance
Deliberately scheduling work that repeatedly makes safe custody or control impossible may be Critical Non-Compliance.
Result:☐ Meets Standard ☐ Action Required ☐ Critical Non-Compliance
Notes: ____________________________________________________________
EW12.2: Employees, contractors and delegated services
The business remains responsible for meeting these Standards when work is performed by employees, contractors, franchisees or another provider under its name or material control. Contracts must not avoid induction, competence checks, incident reporting, insurance, records or oversight. Any service outside certification scope must be represented clearly.
Assessor checklist
Requirement
The business remains responsible for meeting these Standards when work is performed by employees, contractors, franchisees or another provider under its name or material control. Contracts must not avoid induction, competence checks, incident reporting, insurance, records or oversight. Any service outside certification scope must be represented clearly.
What the Assessor Checks
Compare contracts with actual direction, branding, bookings and client relationships.
Sample contractor competence, insurance, records and incident escalation.
Evidence
Contracts, scope register, induction, competency, insurance, audit and client information.
Meets Standard
There is reasonable evidence that the requirement is met consistently in practice and achieves the required welfare, control and integrity outcome.
Action Required
The requirement is not yet demonstrated consistently in practice, or the available evidence is incomplete and requires a proportionate corrective action.
Critical Non-Compliance
Knowingly using an unsafe provider to evade certification responsibility may be Critical Non-Compliance.
Result:☐ Meets Standard ☐ Action Required ☐ Critical Non-Compliance
Notes: ____________________________________________________________
EW12.3: Review, trends and continuous improvement
At least annually, and after serious incidents or material changes, the business must review incidents, near misses, escapes, injuries, complaints, disease, vehicle issues, staffing, dog exclusions and corrective actions. The review must identify patterns, assign proportionate changes and verify improvement in practice.
Assessor checklist
Requirement
At least annually, and after serious incidents or material changes, the business must review incidents, near misses, escapes, injuries, complaints, disease, vehicle issues, staffing, dog exclusions and corrective actions. The review must identify patterns, assign proportionate changes and verify improvement in practice.
What the Assessor Checks
Review the latest management review and trace selected actions to completion.
Check whether repeat events led to deeper analysis rather than repeated reminders.
Evidence
Annual review, trend data, minutes, action register and effectiveness checks.
Meets Standard
There is reasonable evidence that the requirement is met consistently in practice and achieves the required welfare, control and integrity outcome.
Action Required
The requirement is not yet demonstrated consistently in practice, or the available evidence is incomplete and requires a proportionate corrective action.
Critical Non-Compliance
Ignoring a known repeated pattern creating serious welfare or safety risk may be Critical Non-Compliance.
Result:☐ Meets Standard ☐ Action Required ☐ Critical Non-Compliance
Notes: ____________________________________________________________
EW12.4: Material change and continuity planning
Material changes to ownership, key management, services, council approvals, routes, vehicles, locations, dog capacity or serious incident history must be disclosed to All Things Dog as certification conditions require. Proportionate continuity arrangements must cover sudden walker illness, vehicle failure, communication outage and loss of premises or access, ensuring every dog can be safely returned or transferred.
Assessor checklist
Requirement
Material changes to ownership, key management, services, council approvals, routes, vehicles, locations, dog capacity or serious incident history must be disclosed to All Things Dog as certification conditions require. Proportionate continuity arrangements must cover sudden walker illness, vehicle failure, communication outage and loss of premises or access, ensuring every dog can be safely returned or transferred.
What the Assessor Checks
Review changes since application or last assessment.
Use a scenario where the owner-operator is incapacitated while dogs are in custody.
Evidence
Change register, certification correspondence, continuity plan, contacts and scenarios.
Meets Standard
There is reasonable evidence that the requirement is met consistently in practice and achieves the required welfare, control and integrity outcome.
Action Required
The requirement is not yet demonstrated consistently in practice, or the available evidence is incomplete and requires a proportionate corrective action.
Critical Non-Compliance
Concealing a material change or having no means to protect dogs during foreseeable disruption may be Critical Non-Compliance.
Result:☐ Meets Standard ☐ Action Required ☐ Critical Non-Compliance
Notes: ____________________________________________________________