Certification & Training

Health Documentation & Appearance
The handler provides up to date vaccination records and proof of a city license (hard copy ONLY to save in the team's volunteer file). The evaluator examines the dog's appearance and determines they are in good health based off weight, energy level, condition of skin and/or fur, overall appearance, etc.
A dog that exhibits any sign of illness will not be allowed to test and must reschedule for a future date when their dog is cleared and healthy. A female in heat may be tested if approved by the evaluator.

Basic Obedience
The handler will be asked to have their dog perform the following basic obedience commands. Verbal repetitions must stay to a minimal and harsh corrections and/or physical force are NOT ALLOWED.
1. Sit
2. Down
3. Stay (20 feet back and forth)
4. Come (20 feet away)

Leaving Objects Alone
The evaluator will place a dog toy and treat of their choosing on the ground. The team will walk around those items within a 10 foot diameter until instructed to stop. They are allowed to utilize basic obedience commands as well as "attention getting noises" to keep the dog's focus off the resources.
The dog is allowed to sniff and show minimal interest in the toy and treat, however, cannot pull their owner to the objects.

Meeting a Stranger
(Part 1) A stranger will calmly walk up to the handler, shake their hand, and exchange pleasantries. During the interaction the dog must stay calm. Light sniffing is acceptable, however, this exercise is to demonstrate that they are capable of staying relaxed while their handler engages with new people.
(Part 2) The stranger will ask to pet the dog. They are allowed to wiggle and calmly engage with them, however, cannot get overly excited. They will pet the top of the head, ears, pads, back and tail.
(Part 3) The stranger will stand up from petting them, circle around the team and walk away. During this time the handler must keep the dog relaxed and focused on them. They dog is not allowed to pull on the leash in attempt to follow or continue engaging with the stranger.

Accepting a Hug
This test demonstrates the dog is comfortable being hugged by a person, which is a common form of interaction in therapy work. The evaluator will approach the team and ask permission to pet the dog. The handler is allowed to manage the interaction and explain to the stranger how the dog prefers to be hugged. They dog must experience some form of restraint approved by the evaluator in order to pass.
Pulling away or freezing up are not acceptable behaviors during this exercise.

Taking a Treat Politely
They dog will be offered a treat by the evaluator. If they choose to take it, they must do so gently without snapping or biting down on the hand. The dog can still pass this test item without accepting the treat as long as they are well mannered around the door.
The owner is allowed to provide the treat if their dog has dietary restrictions.

Walking Through a Crowd
At least three volunteers are required for this test item. They will walk tightly around each other to simulate a busy sidewalk or crowded hallway. The team must weave around them until told to stop.

Crowded Petting
The dog will be approached by a team of at least three people. They will then begin to engage with the dog by appropriately petting them and trying to get their attention in an excited manner. The owner may control the interaction by instructing the strangers how the dog prefers to be pet. They evaluator may increase the intensity of the interaction if the team is enjoying it.

Reaction to Distraction
Visual - The evaluator will start by having a stranger move around the dog (approximately 5 feet in diameter) using some form of medical equipment (ex: wheelchair, walker, or crutches). The dog is allowed to show minimal interest but may not jump on, become over-exuberant, or show signs of fear/ anxiety.
Noise - The evaluator will create a loud noise (ex: dropping a pile of books on the ground) 5 feet from the dog. They may display initial signs of being started (freezing, moving away, barking no more that a few times) but are expected to recover quickly.

Role Play
The following exercises are designed to demonstrate the dog's ability to accept and/or tolerate a variety of circumstances they may come across while working.

(a) Excessive and clumsy petting: This test will demonstrate a dog can be comfortable working around people with limited physical abilities or for those who do not know how to appropriately interact with dogs. A stranger will use clenched fists, elbows, high pitched squeals, clapping and clumsy movements while petting and engaging with the dog. The dog should not show a decrease level of enjoyment or stress signals during this interaction.

(b) Angry yelling: This test will demonstrate your dog will not become upset around people with strong emotions. Two people will begin to shout in an angry manner toward each other and wave their arms around frantically. The dog can appear startled, however, must be able to maintain appropriate behavior and recover quickly.

(c) Medical Equipment Manners: This test will demonstrate that the dog can engage appropriately around people with injuries or limited physical abilities. The stranger will approach the team using a wheel chair, walker or crutches and ask to pet the dog. They may not jump on, be over-exuberant or show signs of fear/ anxiety.

Dog Interactions
(a) Initial Response: The team will see another dog 25 feet away. The testing dog is allowed to show initial excited behavior, however, must be easily redirected and calmed down by the handler. They are expected to then just show casual interest in each other. An initial bark is acceptable as long as it is not paired with aggressive body language. (Determined by the evaluator)

(b) Moving Past a Dog: The teams will then move toward each other and pass by with no more than 6 feet of space between them and walk to the space where the other dog last stood. The dog should be easy to manage on leash and show no more than slight interest in the other dog.

(c) Close Proximities: The evaluator will mark two spots for the teams to walk to (6 feet apart). When they arrive, the dog must be placed in a sit or down stay and remain relaxed until told to stop. The dog should show no more than slight interest in the other dog.

Supervised Separation
The handler will bring their dog up to a stranger and hand them the leash. They will then be instructed to walk out of sight for 2 minutes. During their absence, the dog is allowed to show minimal signs of concern or stress, however, must be easy for the stranger to manage. The stranger is not allowed to offer an excessive amount of praise/ thought with the intent to distract them from their owners departure.