Therapy Dog Association Certification Criteria
PET CERTIFICATION SUMMARY OF INITIAL EVALUATION ITEMS
The evaluated test items must be passed without the use of treats, harsh verbal or physical corrections, and without the dog displaying any of the following disqualifying behaviors at any point once the dog enters the evaluation facility:
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Growling
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Raising lips in a snarl
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Biting/nipping
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Attempts to drag handler away from, or towards evaluator or test dog
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Urination anywhere inside the test facility before, during, or after the test begins
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Excessive whining
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Excessive barking
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Other signs of excessive stress
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Avoidance of evaluator/staff (can include flattened ears, crouching, backing up, submissive belly roll)
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Jumping on the evaluator or evaluation staff inside the test facility before, during, or after the test begins
Section A - Temperance & Appearance
Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
Reaction to Another Dog | Handler will walk with the dog toward another certified dog and handler (test team). Both dogs must stay on the left side of their handler’s body, making no contact with each other. The dog may be curious about the test team, but must not react aggressively. Handlers will stop, shake hands and continue walking. The handler may choose to put the dog in a sit stay while he/she shakes the hand of the test dog’s handler, though this is not required. Dog and handler will then stop and hold a stationary position while the test team approaches from the front and walks in a circle around them maintaining a distance of 3-4 feet. The dog being evaluated must remain under the handler’s control. Barking, if any, must be brought under control within 3 barks or it will be considered excessive. |
Comfort in a Crowd | Three people will approach the dog at the same time and pet the dog from different angles to determine if the dog is comfortable or welcoming, or if it shows signs of fear, stress, or aggression. |
Medical Articles | Dog will be presented with 2-3 medical apparatus items: crutches, walker, and wheelchair. Evaluator will use each apparatus, moving past the dog. The handler will then be asked to approach the evaluator in each apparatus and position the dog for petting. For small dogs, handlers will be required to either place pet on a towel in evaluator’s lap while evaluator sits in the wheelchair, or handler will hold the small dog in their arms, close enough for evaluator to reach for petting. In addition, the crutch will be dropped to see how the dog reacts to the loud noise. |
Approach Variation | Dog sits or stands beside handler while the evaluator moves towards them as described below. The evaluator will stop 2-3 feet before reaching the dog and will not interact with the dog.
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Appearance | The dog must not have any of the following conditions:
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Examination/ Petting/ Hugging | Dog will be examined and handled by the evaluator as described below. The dog may sit, lie down or stand while the evaluator approaches and does the following:
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Interest in Interaction | Evaluator will approach handler and dog for an introduction and to prepare handler for the test. Evaluator will invite the dog to approach for a greeting. The dog must approach the evaluator without force or coercion and without jumping. |
Section B - Handler Skills
Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
Reaction to Children & Elderly | Dog will pass by a child and an elderly. Dog must demonstrate no signs of aggression towards children or elderly. Show signs of interest to interact. |
Take It | Dog is offered a food treat and must be able to “take it” gently without excessive mouthing or contact with the evaluator’s hand. |
Leave It | Dog is placed in a sit or down stay. A food treat is placed two feet from the dog by the evaluator. The dog must be able to “leave it.” The evaluator will then pick the treat up and replace it further away on the ground while the dog is watching. The handler must then walk the dog past the treat, no further than two feet away from the treat and the dog must “leave it.” |
Loose Leash Walking | The handler will walk the dog on a 4’ or 6’ leash around the room along a path directed by the evaluator. The path shall include two turns and a stop at the end. The dog must walk on a loose leash without pulling the handler. |
Basic Commands | The dog must be able to do the following:
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A Note Regarding Multiple Handlers:
If a dog is being tested with multiple handlers on the same day, all items will be tested by the initial, primary handler applicant. The second (or third, etc.) handler(s) will only be asked to perform tasks 4 - 11.
For the dog’s comfort and to minimize stress, it is highly recommended that multiple handlers be tested during separate evaluation sessions.
If your dog does not successfully pass the initial evaluation after three attempts, we require that you take a six-month break to obtain documented, professional training before being retested.
