Evaluation procedures
Prior to the dog evaluation day the volunteer must provide the area coordinator with:
- the volunteer application;
- a copy of a current vaccination certificate (minimum C5) and;
- a completed health screening form.
Please note: (the health screening form will be provided to you before the evaluation day)
Delta Therapy Dogs do not visit facilities in groups, but there could well be other teams in the facility when your team is there. It is also possible that a visitor may have permission to bring their dog to visit a relative. It is therefore important that Delta Therapy Dogs do not find the presence of other well managed dogs in their immediate vicinity stressful. There will be many other dogs on the grounds at the assessment day, and if your dog is uncomfortable in the presence of other dogs, they find it difficult to concentrate on the tests and not perform at their best. If your dog is in this category, we strongly recommend that you seek help from a reward based trainer before you proceed to the test.
On the evaluation day the dog must be presented in a clean and healthy condition and be free from internal and external parasites. If a dog is pregnant or in oestrus the assessor will not assess the dog that day. The volunteer must carry a plastic bag (to clean up after the dog) at all times and may be asked to produce one during the assessment.
All assessments must be performed on lead with the possible exception of “Release Dog and Recall”. If the assessment is held in an unfenced area then these exercises will be performed on a long lead.
The volunteer may use extra cues and verbal praise to encourage the dog during all exercises. The volunteer may use food rewards and stroking between exercises.
During the assessment the dog:
- must allow the assessor to examine its ears, mouth, feet, head and body;
- the dog must be fitted with an appropriate soft collar and soft or leather lead, minimum of 1.2 and a maximum of 1.8 metres. No check/choke chains, chain leads, head halters, harnesses or flexi/retractable leads are allowed. Any variation from this must be accompanied by a letter from the owner's veterinarian stating why this equipment is necessary. The decision on whether assessment should proceed will be at the discretion of the assessor.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
The handler and dog will be assessed throughout their evaluation on their ability to work together as a team. The dog will be observed to look to the handler for guidance and appear generally responsive and attentive to the handler. The handler should demonstrate an awareness of the dog’s body language and be able to respond appropriately.
The assessor will also observe the dog’s general level of interest in people during the assessment. The dog should appear comfortable and relaxed when interacting with unknown people (e.g. the crowd scene and stroking by a stranger). The dog should not jump on people or pull their owner towards people but should appear interested in meeting people.
SKILLS AND APTITUDE ASSESSMENT
All assessments will be graded as Ready, Not Ready and Not Suitable.
Ready. The dog may show mild apprehension; the handler is aware of the dog’s response to each situation and is able to encourage and support the dog.
Not Ready. The dog may be too exuberant or excitable. The dog may appear shy, slightly fearful or show mild signs of stress. The handler appears unaware of the dog’s body language and/or does not respond appropriately to the dog's concern.
Not Suitable. The dog becomes extremely stressed or shows extreme fear and/or aggression or avoidance behaviour. The handler appears unaware of the dog’s body language and/or does not respond appropriately to the dog's concern.
1. CONTROLLED WALK
Purpose: To ensure that the dog that can walk on a loose lead beside the handler for a short distance without pulling on the lead, and obey the basic cues sit and down.
Assessment: The dog must walk close to the volunteer's left or right side (heel position is not required). The lead must be loose at all times and handlers should not pull or tug on the lead when walking with their dog. The handler will be asked to demonstrate 'sit' and 'down' and may use 2 cues for each. The dog's response does not need to be immediate but should be within 5 seconds.
2. ACCEPTING A FRIENDLY STRANGER & SITTING POLITELY FOR STROKING
Purpose: To ensure that the dog will remain quiet and calm beside the handler while meeting a stranger and being petted.
Assessment: The stranger and volunteer will exchange pleasantries and the assessor will pet the dog on the chest. The dog must accept the attention happily and show no signs of shyness or fear.
3. HELD BY A STRANGER/HANDLER OUT OF SIGHT
Purpose: To demonstrate that the dog is comfortable being held by a stranger for a short time while the handler is absent.
Assessment: The assessor will hold the dog's lead while the handler goes out of sight for 30 seconds. The dog may move about, but should remain calm.
4. LEAVE AN ITEM
Purpose: To demonstrate that the dog can be taken to environments where human food is present and will not take food unless invited to do so.
Assessment: The handler will walk the dog within 1 metre past a table with a plate with 2 or 3 biscuits/muffins on it on it. The handler will ask the dog to leave the food; the handler may use any verbal cue or other encouragement except for food but the dog must not pull on the lead or physically manoeuvre the dog away from the table.
5. TAKE FOOD GENTLY
Purpose: To demonstrate that the dog is polite when fed by strangers.
Assessment: The assessor will offer the dog a plain biscuit or piece of muffin on their open palm – the dog should take the food gently using a soft mouth on cue from their owner. If the dog will not accept food from the assessor then the owner can feed the dog the biscuit to demonstrate this exercise.
6. RELEASE DOG AND RECALL FROM A MINIMUM OF 5 METRES
Purpose: To assess the dog’s level of basic training under distractions.
Assessment: This exercise may be done on a long line or off the lead if the testing area is securely fenced. The dog is allowed to relax and investigate its surroundings. When the dog is distracted the handler will call the dog and the dog must come readily and show attention and focus on the handler. The handler should attach the lead to the dog. The handler can use cues, food, toys and praise or move position or posture for this exercise.
REACTION TO DISTRACTIONS – PART TWO
The second component of the assessment is the dogs’ ability to cope with noises and distractions that may be encountered during facility visits. This assessment demonstrates that the dog is confident when faced with unusual and distracting environments. There will be moving pedestrian traffic with wheelchairs, walking frames, crutches etc. Noises will include loud talking and vacuum cleaner (if available), metal bucket on wheels, sudden dropping of metal bowl. The dog may express a natural interest and curiosity and may appear slightly apprehensive, but should not startle excessively or recover slowly. The dog should not try to run away, aggress, jump or bark.
1. REACTION TO ANOTHER DOG
Purpose: To assess that the dog can behave politely around other dogs.
Assessment: This involves another handler and their dog (an existing Delta Therapy Dog handler or a handler and dog who have already passed their assessment). Handlers approach each other from a distance of about 5 metres, pass at a distance of about 2 metres apart and continue for another 5 metres. The dogs should show no more than a passing interest in each other.
2. EXUBERANT AND CLUMSY PETTING
Purpose: To ensure that the dog will be confident around people who, due to physical disabilities or youth may be exuberant and clumsy. To determine the dog’s sensitivity to the human touch.
Assessment: The assessor will begin with the head and work their hands up and down the dog’s body with increasing intensity and ensuring that the ears and tail are handled. The dog should accept this calmly.
3. STAGGERING AND GESTURING INDIVIDUAL
Purpose: To observe the behaviour of the dog when faced with the actions of individuals who may be encountered in a visit to a health care or other facility.
Assessment: A person wearing a shawl, using a wheelchair, walking frame or walking stick will approach the dog at an unsteady gait. The person will gesture wildly and use a wailing voice, but will not threaten or directly target the dog. The dog may startle but should remain calm and the handler should be aware of their dog’s response and show calm leadership.
4. ANGRY YELLING
Purpose: To observe the behaviour of the dog when faced with the surprise actions of individuals who may be encountered in a visit to a health care or other facility.
Assessment: A volunteer standing approximately two to three metres away from the dog will shout in an angry voice and wave their arms about. The dog may startle but should remain calm and the handler should be aware of their dog’s response and show calm leadership.
5. WALKING THROUGH A CROWD AND REACTION TO DISTRACTIONS
Purpose: To assess if the dog can tolerate the close proximity of crowds and other distractions they may encounter whilst visiting various facilities.
Assessment: The dog and handler must walk around and pass close to a moving crowd of at least four people (both men and women), with the dog remaining close to the handler’s side. The dog may show some interest in strangers, without appearing over-exuberant, shy or fearful. The lead should be loose at all times and the handler should not be pulling or forcing the dog. The second time the dog and handler pass through the crowd, the crowd should make noise. The crowd may talk to each other and clap; one person may be using a cane, wheelchair or walking stick and make erratic hand or body movements. One of the crowd will drop a metal bowl from waist high on a hard surface no closer than 4 metres behind the dog (if testing is on grass then two saucepan lids should be banged to achieve a noise of similar loudness).
REACTION to PHYSICAL STRESS – PART THREE
1. CROWDED OR PATTED IN A GROUP
Purpose: To assess if the dog can tolerate close proximity of people and other distractions; to observe the dog’s tolerance when hemmed in by a number of people which might occur when visiting facilities or during promotional appearances.
Assessment: At least three people (both men and women) – one using a cane, crutches or walking frame - will gather closely around the dog and begin to gently touch it. All people will be talking and all will try to gain the dog's attention. The dog may startle but should remain calm and the handler should be aware of their dog’s response and show calm leadership.
2. BEING BUMPED FROM BEHIND
Purpose: To observe the dog’s reaction to being touched without warning.
Assessment: While the dog is distracted, a person will gently bump/nudge the body of the dog. If the dog is very small a hard stomp or loud clap will be made behind it. The dog may startle but should remain calm and the handler should be aware of their dog’s response and show calm leadership.
3. OVERALL OWNER AWARENESS SKILLS AND TEAMWORK
The assesor will be looking at you as a handler and your dog and then assessing the level of trust and understanding between you both. This will be consistently assessed throughout the whole time the dog is at the assessment day.
