PRACTICE ASSESSMENT

This is a self-assessment tool to determine your readiness to begin Phase 2: Advanced Skills.

You may use this assessment as many times as you would like while practicing Phase 1 skills. There is a notes field at the end of each section so that you may list training goals for yourself.

The results of this assessment will be sent to your email address. Good Human will be alerted to the submission.

All items within the Handler Discussion, Skills, and Temperament Checkpoint sections must be reviewed with your trainer to complete Foundation Skills before moving to Advanced Skills. You may schedule an in-person lesson to review the assessment or send videos to your trainer for review. Video Guidelines are in the course content.

The assessment should occur in a mildly distracting environment, such as a familiar group class, an outdoor setting, or a dog-friendly establishment. 

The handler may cue their dog up to three (3) times per skill.

Each skill may take up to two (2) minutes.
e.g., you may give the cue, and if your dog does not respond, you may reset them before cueing the behavior again.

Cues should be timed so that there are no additional distraction elements.
e.g., if another dog is barking at your dog or a person is walking by within four (4) feet, hold off on giving the cue.

If you have already taught your dog a different name than the cue listed below, the equivalent cue may be used if it will not confuse your dog later in the training process.

Behaviors may be rewarded with treats, but treats may not be used in luring and should remain in a pouch or pocket.

If up to three (3) items do not meet the criteria initially, it may be necessary to continue training for those particular skills.

 

To move to the next phase of training, we would like to see a video of you and your dog completing the following behaviors in a mildly distracting environment, such as a familiar group class, outdoor, or dog-friendly establishment. 

Stay – The dog will remain sitting on a flat, dry surface for ten (10) seconds while the handler walks to the end of the leash and returns.

Come – Recall. The dog responds to the recall cue from ten (10) feet away. It is preferred that the dog sits in front of the handler, but the handler may cue sit. No mention of a treat or clapping/leg patting should be used.

Leash Manners – The dog walks with the handler on the lead for twenty (20) steps and responds to tension on the leash by matching the handler's pace. Frequent pulling and loss of focus on the handler are unacceptable. A flat collar, harness, or head collar may be used.

Leave It – The dog ignores a food treat within their reach and directs focus to the handler. The dog should not need to be told to leave it repeatedly or remain fixated on the food. A separate treat should be used if the handler rewards the dog following the LEAVE IT cue.

• The handler may cue their dog up to three (3) times per skill.
  Each skill may take up to (two) 2 minutes.
  e.g., The handler may give the cue, and if the dog does not respond, the handler may reset the dog before cueing the behavior again.

• Cues should be timed so that there are no additional distraction elements.
  e.g., If another dog is barking at your dog or a person is walking by within four (4) feet, hold off on giving the cue.

• If the handler has already taught the dog a different name to the cue listed below, the equivalent cue may be used if the assessor believes the equivalent cue will not confuse the dog later in the training process.

• Behaviors may be rewarded with treats, but treats may not be used in luring and should remain in a pouch or a pocket.

   

Met Criteria = Completed skill with 0-3 resets. The dog understands the cue for this skill.

DID NOT meet criteria = Needed 3+ resets. The dog DOES NOT understand the cue for this skill.

Note: If up to three (3) items do not meet the criteria initially, the assessor may determine if further training is needed or if they will allow a re-assessment on those items.

IMPORTANT: The dog should be comfortable and not have a high-stress level. Moderate stress may be normal for the situation, but a quick recovery is key. A dog that is either generally uncomfortable or particularly stressed in situations described in this assessment may need to be desensitized through further training before another attempt.

If the assessor has ANY hesitation or is uncomfortable performing the temperament portion of the assessment, this section should be completely skipped. If a section has been skipped, additional training may be needed until such time as the assessor is comfortable completing that item.