Entrance Evaluation

This  evaluation does NOT certify your dog as a Service Dog or as a Service Dog in Training nor is certification required by law. The privilege to use a service dog is granted, under the law, by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and local governments.

This evaluation is offered to help you better understand what your dog's potential is for this demanding job. WAGS, Louisiana feels this is a minimum starting point 
and encourages all members who pass the WAGS, Louisiana Entrance Evaluation to pursue an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate, Novice AKC title or better. We also encourage working with a Service Dog in training in Therapy situations, also encouraging Delta Society certificates or certificates from other therapy organizations that may welcome Service Dogs in Training.  Service Dogs must be exposed to many situations throughout their careers and we encourage exposure to those situations which would seem intimidating to most, but encourage these types of interactions because to a Service Dog  these situations would become part of everday life.
 

Evaluation Requirements

 This Evaluation consists of three parts, Attitude, Aptitude and  Access. In each part of the evaluation the team must score 100% to be rated as a "Service Dog" applicant. A score of 70% or higher rates the team as a "Service Dog in training" applicant. A score of 70% or lower will disqualify the team from Active Renewable Membership, but the applicant may still qualify for a Sponsor membership.  A Sponsor membership requires the applicant to aquire a sponsor and to attend "Task Support Sessions" which involve training of skills neccessary to the team to be a Service Dog Team. Board Members may recommend a course of action for the team in this situation. All decisions are made on a case- by - case basis.
A separate Public Access evaluation will be given during another scheduled time, evaluating the SD or SDIT reaction to public stimulus and how they behave in a public setting. They must score in accordance with the two previous tests in order to be accepted for membership.
 

*Treats and toys cannot be used during the evaluation (testing of skills) except when it is needed for one of the exercises. Only specific equipment may be used during the test. Acceptable equipment includes: buckle collars (all leather or all fabric) and leashes no more than 6 feet in length (all leather or all fabric). No pinch, slip, chain or electronic collars allowed for this evaluation. Martingale collars are acceptable. Please let us know ahead of time what equipment your  Service Dog must wear to assist you during the evaluation.

The Evaluation

Part 1- Skills 
- Accepting a friendly stranger
- Accepting petting
- Appearance and Grooming
- Heel on left or right
- Left and right turns
- Walk through a crowd
- Reaction to a neutrl dog
- Reaction to distractions (One visual and one auditory)
- Sit on command
- Down on command
- Stay in place on command
- Out of site Stay on command (2 minutes)
- Come when called ( one call only)
- Standing on command
- Go under a desk or table on command
- Back up with or without handler on command
- Watch handler's face on command
- Go to a specific location on command
- Advanced retrieve (keys or pencil) on command
- Places the object in hand or lap without a command after retrieval
- Crates on command

Part 2 Aptitude:
- Allows body exam
- Clumsy petting
- Restrained hug
- Staggering and gesturing from a stranger
- Angry yelling
- Bumped from behind
- Crowed and petted by several people
- Takes treat on command
- Refuses treat on command
- Down- Stay quietly under a table on command (2 minutes)
- Walks on unstable surface and changes in surface
- Walks through a doorway
- Provides support for handler: 
Mobility assistance
- Helps a handler get to their feet: Mobility assistance and seizure assistance
- Alerts a handler to dropped objects or sounds: Hearing assistance
- Finding and stopping at a curb: Guide assistance
- Informed refusal of commands: Guide assistance
 

Volhard's Aptitude:
1. Social interaction- degree of social interaction to people, confidence or independence.
2. Following- willingness to follow a person.
3. Restraint - degree of dominant or submissive tendency and ease of handling in difficult situations.
4. Social Dominance - degree of acceptance of social dominance by a person.
5. Elevation - degree of accepting dominance while in a position of no control, such as at the veterinarian.
6. Retrieving - degree of willingness to do something for you. Together with social interaction and following a key indicator for ease or diffilculty in training.
7. Touch Sensitivity - degree of sensitivity to touch, a key indicator to type of training equipment required.
8. Sound Sensitivity - degree of sensitivity to sound, such as lud noises or thunderstorms.
9. Sight Sensitivity - degree of response to a moving object, such as chasing bicycles or squirrels.
10. Stability - degree of startle response to a strange object.




 
 
 
 
 
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