Public Access Testing for Your Service Dog

So, your service dog is ready to work. He or she has been temperament tested, has all necessary health clearances, been through numerous obedience classes, and has passed the AKC's Canine Good Citizen test. What's next? Since there is no national certification program for service dogs, trainers like me offer our own service dog certification. Passing my public access test means that your service dog is trained properly for going out in the world with you. The test is administered at a shopping mall. The service dog team is accompanied by an evaluator and an assistant. The basic elements of the test follow. Contact me to schedule an evaluation to determine if you and your service dog are ready to test. Verbal cues or hand signals or a combination can be used throughout the test. No training treats are allowed during the test.

• CONTROLLED EXIT OF VEHICLE: Requires handler to safely and in a controlled manner exit vehicle with the service dog.
• APPROACHING A BUILDING: Handler makes his/her way through the parking lot with the service dog. Safety is key. The team should work comfortably together.
• ENTRANCE THROUGH A DOORWAY: Dog team enters through a door in a controlled manner.
• HEELING IN A BUILDING: Dog and handler walk in a controlled manner through the mall following instructions given by the evaluator. 
• COME WHEN CALLED: In a large, open area the handler sits or down/stays the dog, walks six feet away, and calls the dog. Dog remains on leash.
• SIT/STAY: When cued to sit, the dog must do so immediately. At the evaluator's instruction, the dog will sit/stay three times: with food nearby, with a shopping cart being pushed nearby, and when an adult surprises the dog from behind. 
• DOWN/STAY: Three distractions will be offered: a shopping bag or purse will be dropped on the floor near the dog; an adult and child will approach and stop to talk with handler; and an adult will step over the dog. Position must be maintained.
• NOISE: As the team walks through the mall, the evaluator drops a clipboard behind them. A startle reaction from the dog is expected but should be followed by an immediate return to task.
• RESTAURANT: The group enters a restaurant and is seated at a table. The dog will stay in a down under the table. If there is not enough room under the table, handler must determine the safest place for the dog to down/stay. Food will be dropped on the floor near the dog and must be ignored.
• OFF LEAD: Sometime during the test, the evaluator will tell the handler to drop the leash and continuing walking until told to stop. The handler will then be instructed to have the dog return to the heel position.
• LEAVING THE BUILDING: The team will leave the building in a safe and controlled manner and return to the vehicle.
• CONTROLLED LOADING INTO VEHICLE: The individual loads the dog into the vehicle in a safe and controlled manner. 

Interested in taking my public access test? Contact me for more information.