All prospective teams must pass a comprehensive
practical and oral exam to demonstrate their suitability for working
together in novel and potentially stressful environments. The exam was
developed and written by trained canine behaviorists, experienced AAT
providers, and professional educators with the goal of assessing as
accurately as possible a team's ability to provide the best standards of
care in a visiting environment.
- The exam tests basic obedience and
handling skills while applying increasing pressure on both canine and
handler, mimicking the types of stressors likely to be experienced
during a therapy visit.
- While we take care to eliminate excessive
stress during the test, the exam is designed to provide realistic
challenges that could elicit a reaction from your dog that would not be
acceptable in a therapy setting.
- The exam includes a temperament overview
that assesses emotional stability, obedience skills, and management of
novel and unusual situations.
- The exam also includes comprehensive testing for potential resource guarding of the handler, food, and/or toys.
- Dogs must demonstrate basic obedience
skills in an unfamiliar environment, appropriate stress and recovery
responses, interest in human interaction, and the ability to respond
consistently to humane cues from the handler.
- Handlers must demonstrate basic humane
handling skills; the ability to recognize and manage stress responses
from their canine partner; and sufficient knowledge of AAT best
practices (demonstrated in both the practical and oral portions).
If the test seems intimidating, please keep in
mind that many of the skills required are learned behaviors and we can
help you teach your dog. While some dogs are not temperamentally suited
to AAT work, most dogs have the right combination of social desire and
willingness to work. Your relationship with your dog is the foundation
of all the therapy work you will do, and that is a big part of what we
are looking for in our exam. We test each team as individuals with the
capacity for ongoing growth, but also with unique gifts. Please contact
us with any questions about your dog's readiness for Connecting Canines'
training or testing.
Please Note:
You must complete your shadow visits and submit your completed
registration with payment within 30 days of passing your exam, except by
prior arrangement with the program director. Registrations received
more than 30 days past the exam are subject to a $20 late fee. After 60
days your exam is invalid, so please complete your shadows and send in
your registration as soon as possible!
