Our Public Access Test is similar to the ADI PA test but has a couple of additional parts to it including the dog going in a lift and being stepped over while settled.
Scottish Assistance Dog Association
Public Access Test
ASSISTANCE DOG PUBLIC ACCESS ASSESSMENT
HANDLER NAME: ___________________________________________
DOG’S NAME:_______________________________________________
NAME OF ASSESSOR: _______________________________________
DATE OF ASSESMENT: _______________________________________
LOCATION OF ASSESSMENT: __________________________________
ASSESSMENT (PLEASE CIRCLE ONE): FIRST PAT YEARLY FOLLOW-UP
PURPOSE: The purpose of this Public Access Test is to give certification that a dog is safe, well behaved and trained to accompany their handler in public. Dogs are not robots so mild deviations should not be penalised as long as their behaviour is not unruly or unsafe. Any deviations should be documented.
FAILURE: Aggressive behaviour such as growling, raising hackles, showing teeth or biting will have their test immediately stopped. Eliminating in a building or any unruly behaviour will all cause the test to be stopped and the dog failed. Barking as long as quickly stopped should not cause failure depending on context and whether aggressive or alerting.
BEFORE PAT: The team show video evidence of various training sessions in public access areas before the Assessment with Charity Assessor. Dogs will only be put forward for test once they have shown the ability to work in high distraction areas, around food, in lifts, restaurants and passing strange dogs. Check sheet of behaviours should be attached.
TO QUALIFY AS A SCOTTISH ASSISTANCE DOG ASSOCIATION ASSISTANCE DOG: As well as this PAT assessment dogs must have passed Kennel Club Good Citizen Award and have mastered and demonstrated that they can carry out tasks to aid their handler.
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TESTING EQUIPMENT: All equipment used should be humane and as minimal as possible. Preferable equipment would be a Y front harness that does not tighten. Acceptable equipment includes a flat collar and a 6 food lead. Martingale collars may be worn if the handler has hand mobility issues or the dog has a small head to neck. They should be fitted so that they do not restrict the neck when pulled to minimum size. Head collars may be used if the dog is stronger than the handler due to size or handler disability. Equipment that is not allowed includes French collars (thin cord choke collars), slip leads, choke chains, prong collars, electric collars and any other equipment deemed to be abusive. The handler will have been given a copy of the assessment before the test. They will have had anything they are not sure of explained. During the test the assessor will follow the team unobtrusively and only speak to the handler to give instructions.
CUES: Cues can be given by verbal, hand signal or both. They may occasionally be repeated but should not have to be given several times unless under severe distractions.
REWARDS: The dog may not be lured during the test when carrying out exercises but may be rewarded as they normally would during them working when out and about. Rewards should be preferably given at the end of exercises.
Scoring Factors of the Public Access Certification Test
Yes: Activity carried out to required standard
No: Activity not carried out or carried out to an unacceptable standard
Acceptable: Minimal deviation to activity (please document)
1) CONTROLLED UNLOAD OUT OF VEHICLE: The handler will park their vehicle in a suitable location. Where possible the dog should remain in the vehicle and not jump out (or be lifted out if required) until cued by handler. Mobility dogs or dogs whose handlers are disabled may require to adapt this to their own needs as the dog may need to be outside the vehicle before them to assist them getting out. The dog should wait calmly next to the vehicle on lead while any required equipment is removed and vehicle closed and locked.
___YES* ___NO The dog waited in the vehicle until released.*
___YES ___NO The dog waited outside the vehicle under control.
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
2) APPROACHING THE BUILDING: Dog and handler must then make their way to the building. While doing this they should demonstrate that the dog is confident and calm around traffic and show that they can sit at a road crossing and cross to the other side calmly on cue from their handler. The dog should keep a steady heel position close to the handler preferably beside them. In some cases a dog may be required to walk slightly ahead or behind the handler and this should be documented. Lead should be loose unless handler requires the dog to guide/assist mobility which should be documented. While guiding the dog should not be pulling forward unless physically helping mobility and this should be in a controlled manner.
___YES* __NO The dog was calm around traffic and crossing road.*
___YES ___NO The dog maintained relative heel position without pulling.
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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3) CONTROLLED ENTRY THROUGH A DOORWAY: The dog should enter as instructed by the handler either before or after them but must go through the door calmly and under control then wait patiently til the team are together through the doorway. On entry they must not approach other people or sniff at anything in the building.
___YES* __NO The dog waited quietly at the door until cued to enter.*
___YES* __NO The dog waited on the inside until able to rejoin the handler.*
Acceptable Deviation:______________________________________________________
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4) HEELING THROUGH THE BUILDING: Once inside the building, the individual and the dog must walk through the area in a controlled manner. The dog should always be within touching distance where applicable or no greater than a foot away from the individual. The dog should not solicit public attention or strain against the lead (except in cases where the dog may be pulling the individual’s wheelchair or assisting mobility). The dog must readily adjust to speed changes, turn corners promptly, and travel through a crowded area without interacting with the public. In tight quarters, the dog must be able to get out of the way of obstacles and not destroy merchandise by knocking it over or by playing with it
___YES ___NO The dog was within the prescribed distance of the individual.
Acceptable Deviation:______________________________________________________
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___YES ___NO The dog ignored the public, remaining focused on the individual.
Acceptable Deviation:______________________________________________________
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___YES ___NO The dog readily adjusted to speed changes.
Acceptable Deviation:______________________________________________________
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___YES ___NO The dog readily turned corners–did not have to be tugged or jerked to change direction.
Acceptable Deviation:______________________________________________________
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___YES ___NO The dog readily maneuvered through tight quarters.
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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5) SIX FOOT RECALL ON LEAD: A suitable area should be found for this exercise. The handler should move to the end of their 6 foot lead and recall the dog to in front of them. The dog should come to them promptly and move to where they can be touched. A second cue may be given if the dog is distracted but they should not need several calls.
___YES* __NO The dog responded readily to the recall cue– they did not move away, seek attention from others, or dawdle .*
Acceptable Deviation:______________________________________________________
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___YES* __NO The dog remained under control and focused on their handler.*
Acceptable Deviation:______________________________________________________
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___YES* __NO The dog came within touching distance of the handler.*
Acceptable Deviation:______________________________________________________
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___YES* __NO The dog came directly to the handler.*
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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6) SITS ON CUE: The team will be asked to demonstrate the Individual’s ability to have the dog sit three different times. The dog must respond promptly each time with no more than two cues. There should not be any extraordinary gestures on the part of the people approaching the dog. Normal, reasonable behaviour on the part of the people is expected.
a). This sit may be done in the restaurant setting. The dog should be cued to sit and then the handler place a plate or bowl with food on it in front of them within their reach. They may cue them to sit/leave as they put it down. The plate/bowl should be left down long enough to be sure the dog will not try to take the food then should be lifted away. The dog may be given a cue to sit or leave the food if they at any point attempt to take it.
___YES* __NO The dog remained under control around food–not trying to get food and not needing physically restrained from it.*
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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b). This sit should. be done on an isle as they are approached by someone with a shopping trolley. The dog should remain in a sit as the trolley passes them.
___YES* __NO The dog remained composed while the shopping cart passed–did not shy away, show signs of fear, etc. shopping cart should be pushed normally and reasonable, not dramatically.*
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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c).This sit should take place while the team is approached by a strange adult. The dog may be reminded to sit while the person pets them gently. The dog should not jump up on the person but may move and be repositioned in sit as long as under control.
___YES* __NO The dog maintained a sit-stay while being petted by a stranger.*
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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d).This sit should be next to a display of fresh meat. The dog should remain sitting while the handler looks at the items for sale for 30 seconds. The dog should not sniff or touch the meat display and should be under control at all times.
___YES* __NO The dog maintained a sit without sniffing or touching the produce.*
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
e). This sit should be in a lift while travelling.
___YES* __NO The dog maintained a sit while the lift changed floor
7. DOWNS ON CUE:
a). The first down will be at a table where food will be dropped on the floor. This may be done during the restaurant section. The dog should not break the down to go for the food or sniff at the food. The individual may give extra cues to maintain the down/leave the food. After it being obvious that the dog is not going to pick up the food the handler or assessor should remove it.
___YES* __NO The dog remained under control around the food–not trying to get food and not needing physical corrections.*
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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b).The dog will be cued into a down, and then an adult and child should approach the dog. The dog should maintain the down and not solicit attention. If the child pets the dog, the dog must behave appropriately and not break the stay. The individual may give extra verbal cues if the dog begins to break the stay. There should not be any extraordinary gestures on the part of the people approaching the dog. Normal, reasonable behaviour from the people is expected
___YES ___NO The dog remained in control while the child approached–child should not taunt dog or be overly dramatic.
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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c). The dog will be cued into a down and then the assessor will step over the dog. If the dog moves they should be cued back into the down.
___YES ___NO The dog remained in a down while stepped over. The dog may be spoken to as this is done.
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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8. NOISE DISTRACTION: The team will be heeling along and the tester will drop a clipboard to the ground behind the team. The dog may acknowledge the noise, but may not in any way show aggression or fear. A normal startle reaction Is fine–the dog may jump and or turn–but the dog should quickly recover and continue along on the heel. The dog should not become aggressive, begin shaking, etc. The handler should be warned of the noise beforehand so they do not get startled.
___YES* __NO The dog remained composed during the noise distraction.*
9) RESTAURANT: The team and tester should enter a restaurant and be seated at a table. The dog should go under the table or, if size prevents that, stay close by the individual. The dog must sit or lie down and may move a bit for comfort during the meal, but should not be up and down a lot or need a lot of correction or reminding. This would be the sensible place to do the food drop during a down. (See no 7) and the sit while a plate/bowl of food is put down (See no 6)
___YES* __NO The dog is unobtrusive and out of the way of patrons and employees as much as possible.*
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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___YES* __NO The dog maintained proper behaviour, ignoring food and being quiet.*
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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10) DOG TAKEN BY ANOTHER PERSON In a medical emergency the dog may require to be handled by a stranger without aggression or excessive stress. (taking into account most assistance dogs are with their handlers 24/7 a certain amount of reluctance for this should be expected in some cases) The assessor should hold the lead while the handler moves approx. 20 feet away. (should the person have limited mobility the assessor may move the dog away)
___YES ___NO Another person can take the dog’s leash and the dog’s partner can move away without aggression or undue stress on the part of the dog.
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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11) OFF LEAD: The handler will be asked that while walking normally they casually drop the lead and continue walking. The dog should be aware that the lead is dropped. The handler should be able to walk a few paces with the dogs lead trailing and the dog remaining in normal heel position. They should then take the lead again or the dog may hand the lead back to the handler if this is one of their tasks.
___YES* __NO When told to drop the lead, the remained under control and the handler got the lead back in position.*
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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12) CONTROLLED EXIT: The team will then leave the building and return to their car again showing calm behaviour exiting the door and crossing the car park.
___YES* __NO The dog stayed in relative heel position.
___YES* __NO The dog was calm around traffic.*
___YES* __NO The dog stopped when the individual came to a halt.
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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13) CONTROLLED LOAD INTO VEHICLE: The dog will then wait while the handler opens the car and enter when cued by the handler either before or after them as required. The dog should then wait in the car while travel restraint fitted or crate closed.
___YES ___NO The dog waited until cued to enter the vehicle.
___YES ___NO The dog readily entered the vehicle when cued.
Acceptable Deviation:_____________________________________________________
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TEAM RELATIONSHIP
___YES ___NO When the dog did well, the person praised/rewarded the dog.
___YES ___NO The dog is relaxed, confident, and friendly.
___YES ___NO The person kept the dog under control.
Scoring: All questions must be answered YES unless an acceptable deviation has been entered.
Additional Examiner Comments
PASS FAIL (Circle relevant answer)
EXAMINER SIGNATURE
DATE