15 Questions for Therapy Team Candidates (update)

*** IMPORTANT NOTE: These questions are already included in our Team Application. If you have already submitted them with the application there no need to submit them again but if you & your animal Pet Partner candidate have either advanced or declined since your initial application please use this form to update. Also, if you are planning to register more than 1 animal please submit these questions for each animal.

15 QUESTIONS FOR THERAPY TEAM CANDIDATES

This is not a test! Your candid answers to these questions will simply provide us, and you, with the information we need to know to help you to succeed in our program.

Please remember that there is a big difference between having a fabulous dog (or other pet) that will make an exceptional therapy pet and being ready to pass the skills and aptitude test as a TEAM right now – and continue on to be a safe and effective Therapy Team. Chances are, you do have the perfect pet but may not be ready yet. So don’t despair if you can’t answer “yes/always”, to all or even most of these questions. We are here to help you!

If you can answer a solid “yes/always” to all of the following Skills & Aptitude questions you are exceptional may already be ready to pass the Skills & Aptitude Test. However it’s very important to be objective and try these things with complete strangers in UNFAMILIAR indoor locations before assuming the answer is “yes/always”. Be sure to review all the Skills & Aptitude Test purpose, process and scoring information on our web site.

If you are able to answer “yes/always” or “most of the time” to the aptitude questions but not all of the Skills questions you are like most of the people who inquire about being a therapy team and are very fortunate to have a dog who would probably make a wonderful therapy dog with some training. VERY few teams come to us already able to answer “yes/always” to all or even most of these questions.

If you are able to answer “yes/most of the time” or “sometimes” to most of the aptitude questions you may still have a wonderful therapy pet with a little extra help. Please contact us for more information to learn how we might be able to help you prepare for the next step.

ALL dogs need training and consistently communicated boundaries to be able to willingly respond to the necessary verbal/visual cues we require. Can you imagine how your children would behave in a restaurant or even at home if they had never been taught manners? Didn’t it take a lot of repetition before they could reliably be counted on to behave well at the dinner table, in public and with guests? Dogs are no different except that they don’t speak English. And try to think of the various levels of manners required for children. The manners expected at McDonald's are quite different from the manners expected at Bob Evans or eventually in a fancy restaurant with white linen table cloths. ALL dogs need systematic training to learn the level of reliable manners required to be a therapy dog.

Similarly, most dogs need a fair amount of exercise in order to learn and behave well in public. Can you imagine how difficult it would be for children to learn and behave well in public if they weren’t allowed to run and play outside to drain all that energy? Dogs are no different. Various forms of mental stimulation and diverse interests make wonderful therapy pets! The happier and more fulfilled they are the more they have to give others.

So, here goes… Remember, please be completely objective about your animals behavior while practicing in unfamiliar locations with unfamiliar people …

* Species specific Questionnaires for alternate species will be forthcoming but for now thank you for doing your best with added explanations as needed.

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Handler Name *

First

Last

Animal Name *

Species *

Breed *

Age *

Email *

Previous Training? *

Collar/Equipment used? *

Training Method(s) *

Phone Number *

Please tell us about your training thus far & what work you have completed since your previous application if you are updating. *

SKILLS
Please choose 1 from drop down menu - Remember, THIS IS NOT A TEST! but please be as objective as possible and remember to answer questions based on behavior using only a flat buckle collar & leash or other acceptable equipment. Loose Leash means consistent visible slack in the leash - a curved rather than straight line from your hand to your animal.

1. Can my pet sit, lay down, and come to me from 10 feet away (while on leash) with only a verbal &/or visual cue? (For candidates with SMALL PETS, can they sit quietly on a strangers lap for 3 minutes or so? For EQUINES, can they stand still while you step aside from 3 feet away? Will equine back up on cue?) *

2. Can my pet (or large animal) walk with me within arms length on a LOOSE leash without pulling? *

3. Can my pet wait patiently before greeting people - no jumping or pulling - using only a verbal &/or visual cue (no tight leash)? *

4. Can my pet pass a toy on the ground (or held close to smaller pets) without pulling to sniff or touch it using only a verbal &/or visual cue? *

5. Can my pet pass a neutral dog & handler on a LOOSE leash, stopping briefly for me to say hello without crossing over to say hello to the other dog or handler? *

6. Can I work smoothly with my pet at the SAME TIME I am interacting with strangers who may be behaving in a difficult or unfamiliar manner? *

7. Am I willing to accept constructive feedback about how I interact with my pet and other people? *

*** If you think you need dog training help, or even if you don't, please click on highlighted text to visit our Does My Dog Need Special Training to be a Therapy Dog? , Recommended Therapy Dog Training and other related Dog Training pages.

APTITUDE
Please choose 1 from drop down menu - Remember, THIS IS NOT A TEST! but please be as objective as possible and remember to answer questions based on behavior using only a flat buckle collar & leash or other acceptable equipment. The questions are not meant to refer to how often you and your pet participate in these interactions but rather about how your pet experiences these interactions when you do participate in them.

1. Does my pet seek and enjoy interaction with friendly STRANGERS? *

2. Does my pet seek & enjoy interaction with friendly strangers AWAY FROM HOME? *

3. Does my pet seek and enjoy interaction with friendly strangers in INDOOR, UNFAMILIAR locations away from home (NOT a pet store, vet office, relative or friends home)? *

4. Does my pet seek and enjoy SUSTAINED (5 - 10 minutes or longer with each individual up to 1-2 hours) interaction with friendly strangers in unfamiliar indoor locations away from home? *

5. Does my pet happily allow STRANGERS to touch all body parts including mouth, ears, tail, tummy, front & back paws? *

6. Does my pet willingly tolerate strangers who are behaving STRANGELY - exuberant & clumsy petting, staggering and gesturing, angry yelling, crowded & petted by several people at once? *

7. Is my pet comfortable around medical equipment (walkers, crutches and wheelchairs) and loud noises? *

8. Am I comfortable with friendly interaction with people who may be sick in potentially emotionally charged situations? *

Additional Comments *

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Please click HERE to complete an Angel Paws' Therapy Team Application
Please click HERE to complete a Pet Partners Handlers Workshop Registration or for more information about our Handler Workshop