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Volunteering with your pet is a team activity, thus both the Handler and Pet are evaluated during the testing process.
Delta Society has a rather strict testing process which ensures that every team out in the field wearing their green vest has been deemed suitable for animal assisted therapy and activities.
The Handler must demonstrate behaviors that are:
- Reliable
- Confident and natural in their interactions with people and animals
- In control of their animal
- Inspires confidence
- Actively engages with people and accepts and forgives differences in people’s reactions and behaviors
- The Animal must demonstrate the following:
The Animal must demonstrate the following:
- Basic level of training so they are reliable and under control, even in crowded situations or around new environments
- Convey the image that they are well behaved and have good manners
- Be clean and well groomed
- Be predictable in their behaviors
- Inspire confidence
- Is controllable
What makes a good Handler during the testing process?
- Friendly with evaluator and assistants, making eye contact, smiling, etc.
- Is aware of possible animal responses, behavior and position and reassures, cues or commands to help their animal be successful
- Ensures the animal’s well being
- Does not yell or use a loud voice or forcefully jerk the leash
- Demonstrates gentle interaction with the animal and speaks in a friendly, calm, conversational tone of voice
- Is confident, natural, engaging and relaxed
- Praises, encourages, reassures the animal as needed through the exercises
What makes a good Animal during the testing process?
- Shows no signs of shyness or resentment
- Does not eliminate
- Shows no aggression or fear
- Has a soft body and mouth and relaxed face
- Friendly, relaxed or wagging tail
- Demonstrates non-threatening or neutral body position
What would cause an Evaluation to stop and the team being tested scored “Not Appropriate for Visiting”:
- Handler displays inappropriate conduct or is seen to kick, strike or roughly manhandle an animal at any time during the testing or on the premises
- Handler treats people inappropriately at any time
- Handler is under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Animal growls, threatens, snaps, bites, attacks or attempts to attack any person or another animal
- Animal continually vocalizes as part of aggressive behavior
- Animal shows aggression or escalating fear
If any behaviors are observed that cause the Evaluator to be reluctant to perform an exercise due to concern for the safety of evaluator, assistants, or other animals, the test stops.
If you found this article helpful, please read these prior columns
Photos provided by Sue Grundfest and Dana Provost
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