PRACTICE ASSESSMENT

• Use this as a self-assessment tool to determine readiness for the Phase 2 Assessment with your trainer.
• There is a notes field at the end of each section so that you may list training goals for yourself.
• These results will be sent to your email address. Take it as many times as you would like!
• This is the Phase 2 - Advanced Skills assessment in its entirety. No surprises, no tricks. We want you to succeed!

• All items within the Handler Discussion, Skills, and Temperament Checkpoint sections must be completed to pass Phase 2: Advanced Skills before moving to Phase 3: Service Tasks.
  
  

• An independent AKC evaluator will assess this phase to reduce unintentional bias.
  
  
• This assessment should be conducted in a public dog-friendly establishment with medium-level distractions.
  
  

• Items may be passed throughout multiple sessions, if necessary, within one (1) week. If there is a gap of more than one (1) week, the previously passed items will need to be re-tested.
  
  

• 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 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.
  
  

• We recognize that food and toys may provide valuable reinforcement or encouragement during the training process, but these items MAY NOT be used during this assessment.
  
  

• 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-test on those items.
  
  

• If a re-test on those items is allowed, the team may re-test either on a different date (within one week) OR after a break from the original assessment.
  
  

• The re-test must be in a new location with equal or greater stimuli.
  
  

• Completing this assessment also earns the team completion of the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test.

Met Criteria = Completed skill with 0-2 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-test 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, 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.

Completing the requirements of Phase 2: Advanced Skills also fulfills the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluation requirements. If the assessor is a CGC Evaluator, the CGC form may be completed after the assessment.

Requirements for training any and all weight-bearing tasks:

• For average adults, The dog should be at least 22″ tall, weigh at least sixty (60) pounds, lean.
• The dog must be two (2) years old.
• Radiographs certified through Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)

Note: Additional supportive tasks may be trained until the above criteria are met for weight-bearing tasks.