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 will be forthcoming but for now thank you for doing your best with added explanations as needed.