Massachusetts Pet Partners - Pet Partner Team Evaluations

Team Evaluations

Delta Society Pet Partners Team Evaluation

The Team Evaluation process evaluates the animal and handler team, how well the handler interprets and manages the animal's behavior, and how well the animal responds to the handler.

Team evaluations are performed by Delta-licensed Team Evaluators.

There are 2 parts:

Pet Partners Skill Test
Pet Partners Aptitude Test

Pet Partners Skills Test (PPST)

This portion of the evaluation shows whether the animal can be controlled by you and follow basic commands.

During the PPST, you will be assessed on how you interact with the evaluator, the evaluator's assistants, the animal, and the environment around you.

Delta Society models the Pet Partners Skills Test after the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test offered by the American Kennel Club (AKC). More information about the CGC is available from the AKC.

Pet Partners Aptitude Test (PPAT)

This portion of the evaluation is designed to simulate conditions that may be encountered on a visit. This screening helps determine the most appropriate environment for you and your animal. Many people compare this to a temperament test.

During the PPAT, you will be assessed on how well you interact with the evaluator and evaluator's assistants as you simulate being on a visit. They will be acting as though they are in a facility. Your interactions may be in the form of questions, responses to the evaluator and evaluator's comments, eye contact, smiling, head nodding, directing the animal to interact, or other verbal and nonverbal methods of communicating.

The Goal

Unlike obedience competitions, you and your animal do not have to perform the exercises with precision to pass the evaluation. You are also encouraged to talk to your animal during the entire evaluation. The main emphasis is that the animal is under control.

One of the goals of the Pet Partners Program is to ensure that we can all be proud of the visiting teams because they are safe and reliable. The evaluation process gives a complete picture of each handler/animal team. This process is the safest way to identify acceptable visiting teams.

At no time will your animal be put in a situation that is dangerous to the animal's welfare.

The Delta-licensed Team Evaluators who conduct the PPST and PPAT are trained and learn that the well being of animals comes first, no matter what. At no point during the evaluation will animals be hurt or intentionally frightened.

The PPAT is designed to resemble an animal-assisted activities/animal-assisted therapy visit with situations that might occur when the animal goes on a visit. If you are uncomfortable with or unsure of what is going on during the evaluation, please let the evaluator know. You are encouraged to be your animal's advocate.

Congratulations

After you have passed the PPST and PPAT, the Team Evaluator will give you a signed and dated copy of your test forms for you to include when you submit your completed Registration Packet to Delta Society, a certificate of completion and photograph of you and your animal companion.