Pet Partners Therapy Animal Team Evaluation

DOGS ON CALL, INC. PET PARTNERS TEAM EVALUATION

Evaluation is one of the four steps to become a registered Pet Partner

Evaluation Description

The evaluation process is not all about obedience, although the animal must sit, down, stay, come when called, and do a “leave it.”  It’s more about how the animal and handler perform as a team — how well the handler can predict and control the animal’s behavior and how well the animal responds to the handler. The evaluation allows Pet Partners a way to identify teams that will be safe and successful in the community. The emphasis is that the animal is under control at all times; is reliable, predictable, and controllable; will inspire confidence in those they visit (where we go).

The licensed Pet Partners evaluator observes and scores both the handler and the animal separately; both must pass. Evaluations are individual sessions with the prospective team and the evaluator. The session lasts about 40 minutes, and consists of two parts:

Evaluation Part 1: Skills Test
The Skills Test demonstrates basic skills — walk on a leash without pulling, handler follows directions and responds to evaluator cues while still being attentive to their animal, animal responds to handler’s cues. There will be people walking in front and behind the team, medical equipment passing in front, a loud noise behind, and the team must walk past a dog with an appropriate “neutral” or “nonreactive” reaction.

Evaluation Part 2: Aptitude Test
The Aptitude Test is designed to simulate conditions you may encounter on a visit and helps determine the most appropriate environment for the team to visit. It will demonstrate how well you can interact with those you will visit while still being attentive to your animal, how well you can support and encourage your animal in various situations such as meeting strangers, some of whom may use medical equipment, may touch your animal slightly roughly, may speak in varying tones, or walk in a manner unfamiliar to your animal. We will place your animal’s favorite toy on the floor that he must walk past and not touch, and the animal must take a treat gently out of the evaluator’s hand.

At the Pet Partners workshop, there will be a complete step-by-step evaluation for you to observe and determine what you feel needs to be practiced before you test.

Dogs On Call hosts at least 10 evaluation dates per year that you can sign up for whenever you feel ready.

Upcoming Evaluation Dates (pre-registration is required)

Please note: Completing the Pet Partners Online Course or attending an in-person Handlers Workshop is required prior to attending an evaluation.

Sign up for an evaluation directly on Pet Partners website (petpartners.org). Contact Artie; [email protected] with questions.