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Vic Prefix Exam


SwaY
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In Feb Vic dog.

If a member has

- Failed part of the exam (Breeder prefix open book exam)

and then:

- Failed the supplementary exam

They will not be allowed to resit for a period of 12 months.

:thumbsup:

Great move

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Some of the questions in the nsw version require common sense and an ability to read betwwn the lines. It isnt just straight read the material get the answer. I think if someone whoose reading ability wasnt great it could be a bit of a challenge.

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I think it is a good idea, but I think the exam is confusing and badly worded. They could sort out those who know their stuff with something better than this I think. I read it when a friend was sitting it, and wondered who actually wrote the questions, very unprofessional.

That was a couple of years ago, hope they have improved it

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Dare i say it - i failed the first time, and i was right peeved about it as well.

To pass the exam you past get more than 50% in each section of the exam. I think i got two questions wrong in the whole thing, yet one of the questions i got wrong (and i got it wrong because it was badly written) was in a section that only had 2 questions!!!!!!!!!!

I resat that "section" which was dead easy and passed, but it was a waste of time and resources. The exam was poorly written and laid out (well at least at the time i did it was, that was a few years ago). I wrote a big long letter when i returned the extra test i had to do with lots of feed back. I doubt it was read though!

And thats my dirty little secret out :thumbsup:

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I also found it poorly worded (i am pretty sure we use the DogsVic test). Some of the questions are worded in such a way that they could have more than one answer, so I answered the questions by stating scenarios. I guess it worked for me :thumbsup: I think I may have done a little extra work to get my point accross!!

I think they should have breeder seminars, in which those who wish for prefixes do a course, have a test at the end (NOT open book) and then they can hand in their pre-filled prefix paperwork at the end if they pass. It isn't a totally unreasonable concept. Plus you have the added benefit of asking experienced course trainers questions. I think this system is done in Europe and i think it works quite well.

I guess the only downfall to this type of concept is those who go BYB instead of doing things right... but perhaps the idea of passing a course run by the ANKC gives them a further "edge" over bybs and this may attract them?

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I also found it poorly worded (i am pretty sure we use the DogsVic test). Some of the questions are worded in such a way that they could have more than one answer, so I answered the questions by stating scenarios. I guess it worked for me :hug: I think I may have done a little extra work to get my point accross!!

OH and I found that when we sat the DogsVic one recently. Also, it refers alot to the COE published in x year and only has the more recent one in the reference material, which could cause some people to answer questions incorrectly.

We provided this feedback to DogsVic.

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I think it is a good idea, but I think the exam is confusing and badly worded. They could sort out those who know their stuff with something better than this I think. I read it when a friend was sitting it, and wondered who actually wrote the questions, very unprofessional.

That was a couple of years ago, hope they have improved it

Couldn't agree more Jed. I wasn't going to say anything, but now that you mention it....

I sat the exam a couple of years ago, and at least 3 (if I remember correctly) of the questions were just wrong. they were ambiguous and it wasn't even a case of reading between the lines. The question contradicted the answers and the notes. And another 2 or 3 were borderline similar, but not quite as bad. I don't mind reading between the lines and using sensibility and prior knowledge etc, but some of those questions just needed to be completely changed.

As easy as I thought it would be, and for the most part was, with the poorly written questions, I was afraid I was going to fail.

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I got a couple of questions wrong- one I felt could have gone to 2 of the 4 answers, I happened to pick the wrong one :hug: (The question was "When do you begin socialisation?" and I put "At birth" where the correct answer was "Once all the pups are vibrant and mum is relaxed" or something. IMO every experience a puppy has is a form of socialisation :laugh: I don't see that I was *wrong* as such with that answer (and certainly not unworthy of dog ownership!!).

The other question I got wrong was the code of ethics re: how many sucessive litters a bitch can have, I had a brain fart and ticked "Not allow a bitch to whelp more than 3 times in 18 months" instead of 2 times :hug:

I don't do well in exams (even open book), I have brain farts often :o I find multiple choice particularly difficult as it gives my brain too many options and a chance to doubt my answer :eek: I would prefer to have had to attend a breeding seminar personally.

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Yep, dyzney, I found the same.

Spikes Puppy

I got a couple of questions wrong- one I felt could have gone to 2 of the 4 answers, I happened to pick the wrong one (The question was "When do you begin socialisation?" and I put "At birth" where the correct answer was "Once all the pups are vibrant and mum is relaxed" or something. IMO every experience a puppy has is a form of socialisation I don't see that I was *wrong* as such with that answer (and certainly not unworthy of dog ownership!!).

I thought that was a tricky question. A lot of them, imho, could have several correct answers, and some of them were only opinons and I think a lot of people would fail some aspect. With that particular question, the defining word is "socialisation", You can't "socialise" a newborn. Bu when do you start? And is touching a neonate "socialisation" at all. Too hard!!

Problem is, everyone who embarks on breeding thinks they knew a fair bit. And they probably do, but the learning never stops.

I've been going for years, and I still have heaps to learn (maybe I'm a slow learner).

I do believe the CCs should either have seminars on a regular basis for beginner breeders, or recommend books for them to read.

And then they should have a "real exam" - not too difficult, just to ascertain that people know the basics, and wont be swayed by what "people in the park" said, or some of the loony ideas that are out there.

I learned from more experienced breeders, books and my vets. I was lucky that one of my first vets loved to teach, and I've been lucky enough to know some wonerful breeders who are happy to share their knowledge, but it's such an all encompassing subject, it seems that every week, I learn a few more things. I've also learned from disasters. But every mating, every whelping, every new litter presents new challenges.

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I got a couple of questions wrong- one I felt could have gone to 2 of the 4 answers, I happened to pick the wrong one :thumbsup: (The question was "When do you begin socialisation?" and I put "At birth" where the correct answer was "Once all the pups are vibrant and mum is relaxed" or something. IMO every experience a puppy has is a form of socialisation :thumbsup: I don't see that I was *wrong* as such with that answer (and certainly not unworthy of dog ownership!!).

I got the same one wrong, I answered the same way.

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Yep, dyzney, I found the same.

Spikes Puppy

I got a couple of questions wrong- one I felt could have gone to 2 of the 4 answers, I happened to pick the wrong one (The question was "When do you begin socialisation?" and I put "At birth" where the correct answer was "Once all the pups are vibrant and mum is relaxed" or something. IMO every experience a puppy has is a form of socialisation I don't see that I was *wrong* as such with that answer (and certainly not unworthy of dog ownership!!).

I thought that was a tricky question. A lot of them, imho, could have several correct answers, and some of them were only opinons and I think a lot of people would fail some aspect. With that particular question, the defining word is "socialisation", You can't "socialise" a newborn. Bu when do you start? And is touching a neonate "socialisation" at all. Too hard!!

Problem is, everyone who embarks on breeding thinks they knew a fair bit. And they probably do, but the learning never stops.

I've been going for years, and I still have heaps to learn (maybe I'm a slow learner).

I do believe the CCs should either have seminars on a regular basis for beginner breeders, or recommend books for them to read.

And then they should have a "real exam" - not too difficult, just to ascertain that people know the basics, and wont be swayed by what "people in the park" said, or some of the loony ideas that are out there.

I learned from more experienced breeders, books and my vets. I was lucky that one of my first vets loved to teach, and I've been lucky enough to know some wonerful breeders who are happy to share their knowledge, but it's such an all encompassing subject, it seems that every week, I learn a few more things. I've also learned from disasters. But every mating, every whelping, every new litter presents new challenges.

Absolutely Jed, I agree, and well said, as usual.

There is always something new for all of us to learn, and the day we do not agree with that is the day we need to stop doing what we are doing, as a closed mind will always send us backwards.

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its a simple open book exam but questions are very poorly written. If you read the handout notes and re-read the questions and understand what they are trying to ask you shouldn't fail unless you circle something in error because you are tired which is what I did (:laugh: I put the correct order of a normal whelping in the wrong order by accidently putting 1 next to delivery of the pup prior to the dilation of the cervix - DUH I've had children I KNOW the cervix must dilate prior to anything happening).

Kudos to the VCA, I think if you fail twice you shouldn't be able to re-sit for 12months...or perhaps if you do fail twice you should be made to attend a seminar and then be allowed to resit say within 6 months...

ETA I didn't fail.

Edited by TrinaJ
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