Why it is important to retest animal assisted therapy teams

The first time a Pet Partner team takes their animal assisted therapy test, everything they have learned is fresh in their minds. Both the handler and the dog are excited and anxious to get started and use the skills they have achieved.

As both the dog and handler age or experience changes in their lives, it is important to retest to ensure that the team is still capable of working with the public.

Delta Society retests therapy teams every two years. This way we can observe if any behaviors over time have altered, such as a dog no longer wishing to be brushed or touched on his feet.

As a dog ages and sight and other senses are failing, we watch to see if the dog reacts to handling in a negative way, is fearful or exhibits growling or snapping. Or if the dog is like Coco and seems to still enjoy being with people despite her sensory losses.

We also observe if the handler has had any changes in his/her life that would preclude visiting or simply necessitate new techniques. For instance a handler may have had some injury and now needs to work with their dog in their lap.

It is a good time to make sure the team is still committed to volunteering and actually keeping up with their assignments. It is also a good time to refresh some behaviors or learn new ones.

The retesting process is actually quite fun because we get to see the progress new teams make with experience. The role playing takes on new meaning as we can discuss actual scenarios they have seen in the field and share best practices for how they approached each new situation.. And as both dog and handler become more experienced, and love what they are doing, showcasing the team’s abilities is a joy to watch.

Of course, over time it is also critical to observe if a dog or handler is ready for retirement. The toughest decision to make is to recognize when a dog can no longer be effective and that working may be too stressful on the animal. But this is why retesting is so important. Understanding that the animal’s welfare and the welfare of the clients you visit is of utmost importance and makes a team reliable over time and ensures that everyone involved is well taken care of.

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Photos provided by Sue Grundfest