Dog Safety Awareness in Housing

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Stay safe during home visits where dogs may be present. This course introduces how to recognise dog behaviour, understand basic legal responsibilities, and reduce the risk of bites or injury in housing settings. You will learn how to spot warning signs and take simple steps to protect yourself and others during visits.

Dog Safety Awareness in Housing is designed to raise awareness of the risks associated with dogs for staff working in social housing and visiting residential properties. This course covers the fundamentals of staying safe around dogs, including how to recognise warning signs in behaviour, assess risk before and during a visit, and reduce the likelihood of bites or injury. It is ideal for training new staff or building confidence for those who regularly interact with tenants and enter homes as part of their role.

Learners will gain insight into canine body language and stress signals, and review key legislation such as the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which outline responsibilities for employers and dog owners. The course also highlights practical steps that can be taken to protect staff while maintaining positive professional relationships with residents.

Ready to protect yourself and your colleagues during home visits? Scroll down for more details.

Did you know?

Even ‘good dogs’ can bite if they feel vulnerable or threatened, so it is important to ensure that measures are put in place to reduce this risk.

Source: Howes Percival

Course Delivery: E-Learning
Enrolment Duration:
365 days
CPD Hours: 0.5 Hour(s)
Cost: from £45+VAT
Sector Safety and Compliance
Roles

Customer Service, Housing Officers, Resident-Facing Teams, Finance, Operations, Human Resources, Support Staff.

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Who is this suitable for?

ASCP Bitesize Learning is designed for everyone!

All the Bitesize series of courses are designed for the housing sector giving an awareness level knowledge that broadens and shapes good safety culture.

This could include:

  • Customer Services
  • Housing Officers
  • Resident-Facing Teams
  • Finance
  • Operations
  • ....and any other roles!

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes clarify expectations, focus training on key safety and compliance aspects, and align learning with business goals to enhance workplace competence and safety. This streamlined approach helps ensure measurable and relevant results for the organisation.

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By the end of this ASCP Bitesize training, you will be able to:

  • Recall key terms and concepts related to dog behaviour and signals that indicate stress, fear, or aggression.
  • Describe common scenarios in housing visits where interactions with dogs may lead to risk
  • Identify early warning signs in dog body language that may indicate a potential bite risk.
  • List basic legal and employer responsibilities relevant to managing dog-related risks when visiting properties.
  • Explain simple risk reduction practices that can help protect staff, visitors and tenants during home visits.
  • Recognise typical high-risk behaviours that may increase the likelihood of a dog bite in residential settings.

Course Syllabus

What to expect before, during, and after your course
  • Before the course starts

    Our Bitesize Learning courses are available as soon as you enrol. All you need is an internet connection and a supported browser to begin.

  • During the course

    The course is a self-paced online training course broken into smaller Bitesize Learning chunks. You will cover the following topics:

    This opening module explains why dog safety matters in UK housing. It introduces the scale of dog ownership across housing stock and highlights when and where incidents most commonly occur, such as at front doors or when leaving a property. Learners will understand why any dog can behave unpredictably in its home environment and why awareness is essential for anyone carrying out visits.

    This module explores how dogs communicate through posture, movement and facial expression. Learners will identify common signs of stress, fear and potential aggression, such as stiff body language, growling or avoiding eye contact. The aim is to help staff recognise early warning signs and avoid misinterpreting behaviour that could increase risk.

    This module explores how dogs communicate. Learners will recognise common signs of relaxed, anxious, fearful or defensive behaviour, including changes in posture, eye contact, tail position and vocalisation. The focus is on identifying early warning signs so staff can make safer decisions before behaviour escalates.

    This module focuses on planning and prevention. Learners will review how to check records, consider known risks, communicate expectations to residents, and position themselves safely when approaching a property. The importance of not entering premises where a dog is loose or uncontrolled is reinforced.

    This module focuses on practical safety strategies. Learners will review how to remain calm around dogs, what to do if a dog becomes agitated, how to leave safely if concerned, and the correct actions to take following a bite or near miss. Realistic housing scenarios reinforce the key messages and help build confidence when working in homes where dogs are present.

    This module provides an overview of relevant UK legislation, including the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Learners will understand the responsibilities of dog owners, the duties placed on employers, and their own rights as workers. The importance of reporting bites and near misses to protect colleagues and improve organisational safety is clearly explained.

    This module reviews real-world examples and common themes in dog related incidents within housing. Learners will reflect on what can go wrong, how risks escalate, and what lessons can be applied in future visits. The aim is to reinforce practical awareness and build confidence in making safer decisions.

  • Assessment

    To pass this course learners will need to demonstrate their knowledge with a short 10 question assessment.

  • Certification

    Learners will receive a CPD certificate on our Accredible certificates platform. This is a shareable demonstration of your knowledge

Produced by the experts at CORGI

Every course produced has years of subject matter expertise behind it.

Don't settle for generic content for your safety and compliance training. Choose tailored quality from CORGI.

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Your Compliance Covered!

Produced by the best, our subject matter experts live and breathe safety and compliance, providing you with the knowledge you need.

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Sector Specific Knowledge

We are safety and compliance specialists, drawing on a vast range of knowledge and experience in the housing sector.

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Regular reviews

With a rapidly changing landscape, you can trust that our courses are up to date with the latest information.

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An Expanding Library

As the sector evolves, so do we! Look forward to new content to fill in all your development needs.

Pricing

Simple pricing, buy individually to tailor the courses or buy the entire suite and save

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Member Price: £35.00 +VAT

Non-Member Price: £45.00 +VAT

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Non-Member Price: £265+VAT

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