CANINE THERAPY CORPS Certification Test
The CANINE THERAPY CORPS Certification Test is PASS/FAIL. This means your dog must successfully complete ALL test exercises in order to become a CANINE THERAPY CORPS certified therapy dog.
In the exercises described below, you are the Handler, your dog is the Test Dog, CANINE THERAPY CORPS volunteers assisting at the practice and test are the Assistants and the person who ultimately makes the decision regarding each Test Dog's performance is the Evaluator.
Exercise 9
Walk Through a Crowd
PURPOSE: Demonstrates that the Test Dog can move about politely and comfortably in simulated hospital traffic and equipment.
DESCRIPTION OF EXERCISE: Assistants will assemble a chair and hospital equipment, such as a walker, wheelchair and crutches, and will congregate and move about, using the equipment, talking to each other and greeting the Test Dog by name in an animated, but friendly, manner. The Test Dog and Handler will walk around and pass close to the Assistants, one of whom will pet the Test Dog, possibly with a closed fist, and another of whom will tug on its tail. One of the Assistants will give the Test Dog a command, imitating the basic verbal commands given by clients in a therapy session in order to evaluate its behavior (if the Test dog does not obey the command, this is not a failure). The Handler and Test Dog will proceed through the crowd, and may be asked to pass through the crowd a second time.
EVALUATED ELEMENTS:
- Test Dog showed no sign of shyness or resentment.
- Test Dog was comfortable with the medical equipment.
- Test Dog's demeanor was appropriate, not over-exuberant.
- Test Dog did not strain the leash.
- Test Dog did not jump up on medical equipment or Assistants.
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(small dog will always be the left video, while big dog will be on the right)