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Canine Caretakers
for Life
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SERVICE DOG PUBLIC ACCESS CERTIFICATION TEST
NAME OF HANDLER: ___________________________________
ADDRESS: ________________________________________
CITY ________________STATE___________ ZIP ____________
PHONE: ( ) __________________
DISABILITY DOCUMENTATION VERIFIED, CHECKED AND COPY FILED ___________
NAME OF DOG: ______________________________________
BREED:__________________________________ COLOR: ___________________
AKC REGISTERED? Y N IF SO, REG # ________________________
SEX: M F SPAYED/ NEUTERED: Y N
MICROCHIP: Y N IF SO, # _______________________
TATTOO : Y N IF SO, DESCRIBE __________________________
RABIES VACCINATION VERIFIED: _______
PRIOR CANINE GOOD CITIZEN (CGC) CERTIFICATION: YES NO IF SO, # _________
NAME OF TESTER: ________________________________________________
ADDRESS: ________________________________________
CITY ________________STATE___________ ZIP ____________
PHONE: ( ) __________________
DATE OF TEST: _____________
EQUIPMENT USED:______________________________________________
FINAL RESULT (PLEASE CIRCLE ONE): PASS FAIL
PURPOSE: The purpose of this Public Access Test is to ensure that dogs who have public access are stable, well-behaved, and unobtrusive to the public. It is to ensure that the handler has control over the dog and the team is not a public hazard. This test is NOT intended as a substitute for the skill/task test. It is to be used in addition to those skill/task tests. It is expected that the test will be adhered to as closely as possible. If modifications are necessary, they should be noted in the space provided at the end of the test. Blind handlers have the option of modifying or not completing all off leash work at their discretion excepting the dropped leash. This should be indicated in each section.
DISMISSAL: Any dog that displays any aggressive behavior (growling, biting, raising hackles, showing teeth, etc.) will be eliminated from the test. Any dog that eliminates in a building or shows uncontrollable behavior will be eliminated from the test.
BOTTOM LINE: The bottom line of this test is that the dog demonstrates that he/she is safe to be in public and that the person demonstrates that he/she has control of the dog at all times.
TESTING EQUIPMENT: All testing shall be done with equipment appropriate to the needs and abilities of the team but at no time will be required to have their dog "dressed" or prevented from dressing their dog. All dogs shall be on-lead at all times except where prescribed and in the vehicle at which time it is optional. This test is to take place in a public setting such as a mall where there are a lot of people and natural distractions. The individual will handle the dog and can use any reasonable/humane equipment necessary to ensure his/her control over the dog. The evaluator will explain the test thoroughly before the actual testing, during which he/she will follow discreetly to observe when not directly interacting with the individual on a test related matter. The only things an evaluator needs are a clip board, an assistant, another dog, a plate with food, and access to a shopping cart.
COMMANDS: Commands may be given to the dog In either hand signals or verbal signals or both.
1. CONTROLLED UNLOAD OUT OF VEHICLE: After a suitable place has been found, the individual will unload the dog and any necessary equipment (wheelchair, walker, crutches, etc.) out of the vehicle. The dog must wait until released before coming out of the vehicle. Once outside, it must wait quietly unless otherwise instructed by the Individual. The dog may not run around, be off lead, or ignore commands given by the individual. Once the team is out of the vehicle and settled, the assistant should walk past with another dog. they should walk within six (6) feet of the team. The Assistance Dog must remain calm and under control, not pulling or trying to get to the other dog. The emphasis on this is that the Assistance Dog remain unobtrusive and is unloaded in the safest manner possible for everyone.
2. APPROACHING THE BUILDING: After unloading, the team must maneuver through the parking lot to approach the building. The dog must stay in a relative heel position and may not forge ahead or lag behind. The dog must not display a fear of cars or traffic noises and must display a relaxed attitude. When the individual stops for any reason, the dog must stop also.
3. CONTROLLED ENTRY THROUGH A DOORWAY: Once at the doors of the building, the individual may enter however he/she chooses to negotiate the entry safely. Upon entering the building; however, the dog may not wander off or solicit attention from the public. The dog should wait quietly until the team is fully inside then should calmly walk beside the individual. The dog must not pull or strain against the lead or try to push its way past the individual but must wait patiently while entry is completed.
4. HEELING THROUGH THE BUILDING: Once inside the building, the individual and the dog must walk through the area in a controlled manner. The dog should always be within touching distance where applicable or no greater than a foot away from the individual. The dog should not solicit public attention or strain against the lead (except in cases where the dog may be pulling the individual's wheelchair). The dog must readily adjust to speed changes, turn corners promptly, and travel through a crowded area without interacting with the public. In tight quarters, the dog must be able to get out of the way of obstacles and not destroy merchandise by knocking it over or by playing with it.
5. REACTION TO DISTRACTING STRANGER: The tester ( or an assistant) will make distracting high pitched cooing noises and tell the dog how beautiful it is approximately 3 feet from the dog, tempting the dog to go to them and distracting it from its work while the handler ignores the stranger. Dog may look, wag its tail and vibrate in place but must remain controlled and may not verbalize or go to the enticing tester.
6. IMMEDIATE TURN AWAY FROM DISTRACTING STRANGER: Handler will indicate to the dog they are proceeding and dog will, without hesitation, proceed with its handler away from distracting stranger without excessive correction or being "dragged".
7. SITS ON COMMAND: The team will be asked to demonstrate the Individual's ability to have the dog sit three different times. The dog must respond promptly each time with no more than two commands. There should not be any extraordinary gestures on the part of the people approaching the dog. Normal, reasonable behavior on the part of the people is expected. The first sit will be next to a plate of food placed upon the ground. The dog must not attempt to eat or sniff the food. The individual may correct the dog verbally or physically away from the food, but then the dog must maintain a sit while ignoring the food. The dog should not be taunted or teased with the food. This situation should be made as realistic as possible. The second sit will be executed, and the assistant with a shopping cart will approach within three feet of the dog and continue on past. The dog should maintain the sit and not show any fear of the shopping cart. If the dog starts to move, the individual may correct the dog to maintain the sit. The last sit will be a sit with a stay as a person walks up behind the team, talks to the person and then pets the dog. The dog must hold position and remain calm and controlled. The dog may not break the stay to solicit attention. The individual may repeat the stay command along with reasonable physical corrections.
8. THE WORKING STAY: Tester will find a store environment with aisles if possible if no aisles may do this in other places as well. Handler will have the dog in a sit or a down in an aisle then leave the dog to go to near the end of the aisle- at least 6 feet, stop for a moment or two then back towards the dog then turn around and again go away from the dog, then back to the dog and take up the leash. Dog must remain where it is left with no getting up and walking around and ignore distractions but may change position (ie from a sit to a down, from a down to a sit). The emphasis is on the dog waiting quietly and patiently while the handler searches up and down a store aisle for an item. Emphasis is on the handler being able to leave the dog in a stay and have the dog remain calm and in place.
9. REACTION TO OTHER ANIMALS/SERVICE DOGS: If tester is not using a service dog at the time of the test, assistant with dog must pass testing handler and dog. Testing dog may look and wag its tail but at no time should try to go to the other dog, verbalize, or leave its handlers side and must always behave in a calm, controlled manner. This may be done with another service dog or a pet dog.
10. DOWNS ON COMMAND: The down exercises will be performed in the same sequence as the sits with the same basic stipulations. The first down will be at a table where food will be dropped on the floor. The dog should not break the down to go for the food or sniff at the food. The individual may give verbal and physical corrections to maintain the down. There should not be any extraordinary gestures on the part of the people approaching the dog. Normal, reasonable behavior from the people is expected. The second down will be executed, and then an adult and child should approach the dog. The dog should maintain the down and not solicit attention. If the child pets the dog, the dog must behave appropriately and not break the stay. The individual may give verbal and physical corrections if the dog begins to break the stay. The third down will be accomplished, and then either a stranger or the assistant will be asked to step over the dog. The dog may not break the stay to solicit from the stranger. The individual may give corrections as indicated above.
11. NOISE DISTRACTION LEASHED: The team will be heeling along and the tester will drop a clipboard to the ground behind the team. The dog may acknowledge the noise, but may not in any way show aggression or fear. A normal startle reaction Is fine--the dog may jump and or turn--but the dog should quickly recover and continue along on the heel. The dog should not become aggressive, begin shaking, etc.
12. RESTAURANT/ FOOD: The team and tester should enter a restaurant and be seated at a table. The dog should go under the table or, if size prevents that, stay close by the individual. The dog must sit or lie down and may move a bit for comfort during the meal, but should not be up and down a lot or need a lot of correction or reminding. This would be a logical place to do the food drop during a down. (See #7)
13.DROPPED LEAD: Sometime during the test, where appropriate, the person will be instructed to drop the leash while moving so it is apparent to the dog. The individual must show the ability to maintain control of the dog and get the leash back in its appropriate position. this exercise will vary greatly depending on the person's disabilities. The main concern is that the dog be aware that the leash is dropped and that the person Is able to maintain control of the dog and get the leash back into proper position.
14. WALK OFF LEAD: Handler will drop or remove leash as if having arms full of packages and proceed forward into and through the next section (leaving the building) with the dog remaining close to its handler and resisting distractions and with no detours. Blind handlers may take up the lead immediately upon exiting building if desired.
15. CONTROLLED UNIT: The team will leave the building in a similar manner to entering, with safety and control being of prime importance. The team will proceed across the parking lot and back to the vehicle. The dog must be in appropriate heel position and not display any fear of vehicle or traffic sounds.
16. CONTROLLED BREAK TIME: Tester will find a grass or dirt area. Handler will drop or remove leash and indicate to the dog it is on break (bathroom time) for one minute. Dog may sniff and eliminate and trot around but must ignore strangers and remain within a radius of approximately 30 feet of the handler but in no case may disturb others or put itself in danger. At the end of the minute the handler will call the dog who must immediately return to handler within touching distance and allow leashing or retrieval of the leash. Handler may issue reasonable directive commands to control dog and keep it within its radius and out of trouble during the one minute as needed. (blind handlers may do this leashed or not at all if desired). Emphasis is on safety and control during relaxed times.
17. CONTROLLED LOAD into VEHICLE: The individual will load the dog into the vehicle, with either entering first. The dog must not wander around the parking lot but must wait patiently for instructions. Emphasis is on safety and control.
Scoring Factors of the Public Access Certification Test A= Always M= Most of the time (more than half of time) S= Some of the time (half or less of the time) N= Never
1. CONTROLLED UNLOAD OUT OF VEHICLE:
Dog did not try to leave vehicle until given release command. ___YES* __NO
The dog waited in the vehicle until released.* ___YES ___NO
The dog waited outside the vehicle under control.
2. APPROACHING THE BUILDING:
Relative heel position, not straining or forging. __A __M __S __N
The dog stayed in relative heel position. ___YES* __NO
The dog was calm around traffic.* __A __M __S __N
The dog stopped when the individual came to a halt.
3. CONTROLLED ENTRY THROUGH A DOORWAY:
___YES* __NOThe dog waited quietly at the door until commanded to enter.
___YES* __NOThe dog waited on the inside until able to return to heel position.
4. HEELING THROUGH THE BUILDING:
__A __M __S __N The dog was within the prescribed distance of the individual.
__A __M __S __N The dog ignored the public, remaining focused on the individual.
__A __M __S __N The dog readily adjusted to speed changes.
__A __M __S __N The dog readily turned corners--did not have to be tugged or
jerked to change direction.
__A __M __S __N The dog readily maneuvered through tight quarters.
5. REACTION TO DISTRACTING STRANGER:
___YES* __NO The dog remained quiet.
___YES* __NO The dog remained under control*
___YES* __NO The dog did not go to stranger.*
6. IMMEDIATE TURN AWAY FROM DISTRACTING STRANGER:
___YES* __NO The dog quickly proceeded with it handler.
7. SITS ON COMMAND:
__A __M __S __N The dog responded promptly to the command to sit.
___YES* __NO The dog remained under control around food--not trying to get food
and not needing repeated corrections.
* ___YES* __NO The dog remained composed while the shopping cart passed--did
not shy away, show signs of fear, etc. shopping cart should be pushed normally
and reasonable, not dramatically.
* ___YES* __NO The dog maintained a sit-stay while being petted by a stranger.*
8. THE WORKING STAY:
___YES* __NO The dog is unobtrusive and out of the way of patrons and employees
as much as possible.*
___YES* __NO The dog maintained proper behavior, remained in place and remained
quiet.*
______Disability related exemption/ modification, explain at end of test form
9. REACTION TO OTHER ANIMALS/SERVICE DOGS:
___YES* __NO The dog remained fairly quiet.
___YES* __NO The dog remained under control*
___YES* __NO The dog did not go to other animal.*
10. DOWNS ON COMMAND:
__A __M __S __N The dog responded promptly to the command to down.
___YES* __NO The dog remained under control around the food--not trying to get
food and not needing repeated corrections.*
___YES ___NO The dog remained in control while the child approached--child should
not taunt dog or be overly dramatic.
___YES* __NO The dog maintained a down-stay while being stepped over by a stranger.*
11. NOISE DISTRACTIONS:
If the dog jumps, turns, or shows a quick startle type reaction, that is fine.
The dog should not show fear, aggression, or continue to be affected by the
noise. ___YES* __NO The dog remained composed during the noise distraction.*
12. RESTAURANT/FOOD:
___YES* __NO The dog is unobtrusive and out of the way of patrons and employees
as much as possible.*
___YES* __NO The dog maintained proper behavior, ignoring food and being quiet.*
13.DROPPED LEAD:
___YES* __NO When told to drop the leash, the team maintained control and the
individual got the leash back in position.*
14. DOG TAKEN BY ANOTHER PERSON:
To show that the dog can be handled by another person without aggression or
excessive stress or whining, someone else will take the dog's leash and passively
hold the dog (not giving any commands) while the dog's partner moves 20' away.
___YES ___NO Another person can take the dog's leash and the dog's partner can
move away without aggression or undue stress on the part of the dog.
15. WALK OFF LEAD:
__A __M __S __N The dog stayed in relative heel position.
___YES* __NO The dog was calm around traffic.*
__A __M __S __N The dog stopped when the individual came to a halt.
______Disability related exemption/ modification, explain at end of test form
16. CONTROLLED EXIT:
__A __M __S __N The dog stayed in relative heel position.
___YES* __NO The dog was calm around traffic.*
__A __M __S __N The dog stopped when the individual came to a halt.
17. CONTROLLED BREAK TIME:
___YES ___NO The dog remained under good control.*
___YES ___NO The dog responded to verbal control*
___YES ___NO the dog returned fairly promptly when called*
______Disability related exemption/ modification, explain at end of test form
18. CONTROLLED LOAD INTO VEHICLE:
___YES ___NO The dog waited until commanded to enter the vehicle.
___YES ___NO The dog readily entered the vehicle upon command.
19. TEAM RELATIONSHIP:
__A __M __S __N When the dog did well, the person praised the dog.
__A __M __S __N The dog is relaxed, confident, and friendly.
__A __M __S __N The person kept the dog under control.
Scoring: The team must score all 'Always' or' Most of the time' responses on the A-M-S-N parts of the test. The team must score at least 80%(23) "yes" answers on the "yes" "no" portion of the test All questions marked by an asterisk must be answered by a "YES" response.
Were there any unique situations that made any portion of this test not applicable?
Were there any additional skills demonstrated not mentioned above?