Therapy Dog Testing Requirements

You will need to provide documentation from your veterinarian regarding your dog s age and medical history.

Therapy dog testing requirements.

Therapy dogs are tested by a tdi certified evaluator. To maintain therapy dog certification your pet needs to be current on all vaccinations that are required by local laws and have a negative fecal test every 12 months. Have undergone a medical health check up by a vet in the last 12 months. 2 dogs 1 handler 20 00.

1 dog 1 handler 10 00. The basic skills test usually tests your dog s basic obedience skills. Most of the tests are designed to test dogs specifically because the majority of therapy pets are dogs. However if the test site charges a fee for the use of their location or the evaluator must travel to the location of the test the fee may be higher testing fees are charged per dog.

The tdi test is designed to simulate a visit with a therapy dog at a facility. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise the dog throughout the test. 1 dog 2 handlers 10 00. Akc therapy dog akc fit dog.

The dog should not jump on people in the crowd or strain on the leash. Rules for tdi testing. They are treated as regular pet dogs. Though the exact requirements of each test varies most of them require the same skills demonstrated in some way.

The temperament evaluation is not included in this number. This test reflects realistic situations and should be helpful in evaluating the potential therapy dog. How to make your dog a therapy dog. A dog should have a health certificate signed by a vet with current shots.

Tested dogs need to be at least one year of age. Akc therapy dog excellent thdx must have completed 200 visits. Akc therapy dog distinguished thdd must have completed 400 visits. Alliance of therapy dogs is a national therapy dog organization providing testing certification registration support and insurance for members.

The tdi test is divided into two phases and has 13 individual tests and additional exercises within each test. Testing fees the fee for a tdi evaluation of a dog handler team should not exceed 10. Most therapy dog certification organizations require dogs to be at least one year old and fully updated on all vaccines and shots. The law does not give therapy dogs any special rights.

Therapy dogs should always be clean and well groomed too. Your dog must first demonstrate friendliness with people by allowing a stranger to approach and shake hands with his owner and then approach to pet him without jumping or nipping. Be current on their core vaccinations. Prior to being admitted to the evaluation a brief temperament test will be performed on the dog by the evaluator.