Announcing the new Crazy2Calm Public Access Evaluation for Service Dog Teams.
The Crazy2Calm Canine Coaches are happy to provide an assessment of Service Dog Team Skills to Owner Trainers either in-person or via online methods including Zoom sessions, video submissions, and written info provided by the handler requesting the evaluation.
The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Protects People with Disabilities by granting them access with a task trained service dog in places that are not pet friendly.
What is a service animal?
“Beginning on March 15, 2011, under Titles II and III of the ADA, the definition of a service animal is: "A service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks directly related to the person’s disability. The dog must be trained to take a specific action when needed to assist the person with a disability"
People with disabilities have the right to train the service dog themselves and are not required to use a professional service dog training program.
There is NO requirement for Service Dog Teams to take any test, evaluation or become certified in order to gain public access!
The goal is to provide a training evaluation of the Handler/Dog Team to determine if they meet the basic ethical standards to work in public places as a Service Dog Team.
Here are the skills that we will evaluate:
Handler Abilities
Handler is able to demonstrate the ability to handle their dog in public situations.
Handler has understanding of basic canine laws both federal & local.
Handler demonstrates humane training methods.
Handler can make sure the dog is healthy and well groomed, including up-to-date vaccinations.
Handler and dog can work together to put on regularly used working gear and adjust it as needed.
Handler demonstrates ability to monitor the dog’s stress level; provide rest, potty breaks and/or opportunities to process the environment.
Handler demonstrates respect and consideration to other people and property.
Handler is prepared to clean up after their dog if needed.
Handler is able to cope calmly with an access problem if an employee or customer questions the individual’s right to bring a dog into that establishment.
Dog Abilities
Dog is able to demonstrate proper social behavior skills.
No urinating or defecating in public unless given a specific command or signal to toilet in an appropriate place.
Dog shows no aggressive behavior toward people or other animals - no biting, snapping, snarling, growling, lunging or barking
Dog is able to demonstrate personal space by not approaching other animals without permission.
Dog is able to demonstrate personal space by not approaching people without permission.
Dog is able to maintain manners while handler & stranger interact. Doesn't disengage, walk away or approach person without permission.
Dog is able to maintain position when nearby strangers call out or try to distract or interact with the dog.
Dog is able to demonstrate ability to process strange sights, sounds, odors etc. in a wide variety of public settings without over-reacting or demonstrating unwanted behaviors.
Dog is able to demonstrate proper obedience skills.
Dog and handler can safely cross a parking lot, halt for traffic, and ignore distractions
Handler and dog are able to demonstrate safely being able to load/unload from personal and/or public transportation.
Dog and Handler demonstrate basic obedience skills such as Sit, Down, Stay, Etc.
Dog and Handler demonstrate Loose Leash Walking or Heeling appropriate for public areas with/without a shopping cart, stroller or wheelchairs.
Dog will check in or focus on handler appropriate to the environment and when requested.
Dog will come to handler when requested. (Do not drop or unleash for testing in unsafe environments!)
Dog is able to demonstrate ability to settle in a public area, positioning body as requested by Handler: Tuck, Under, Close, Etc
Dog is able to hold a Sit-Stay or Down-Stay when a variety of distractions pass by. People, kids, carts, strollers, etc.
Dog is able to remain calm and handler maintain control while another dog passes within 6 ft. of the team.
Dog is able to demonstrate advanced skills and training.
Service Dog Team Skills
Handler and dog are able to demonstrate safely being able to go thru doors in/out of public places.
Dog demonstrates ability to walk on various surfaces. And handler recognizes when a dog is struggling with a new surface and takes appropriate training measures. (Carpets, slippery floors, rugs & mats)
Handler and dog can safely navigate obstacles such as stairs, elevators, etc.
Handler and dog demonstrate navigating through narrow aisles or tight spaces examples may include going backwards, move behind handler to follow and changing to the other side of the handler and then back.
Handler and dog demonstrate navigating around corners and pace changes while maintaining loose leash.
Dog does not interact with items on shelves or stacked on the floor. An ignore cue may be given.
Dog able to ignore or leave food on the floor and/or dropped in the dog’s vicinity.
Dog is able to hold positions (Heel, Wait, Etc.) when a variety of people approach handler or walk passed closely.
Dog is able to demonstrate task training in public areas.
Handler provides list of tasks before test begins. There only needs to be 1 task, but multiples can be listed.
Are you interested in taking the PA Evaluation?
The Crazy2Calm Canine Coaches are happy to provide Public Access Evaluations to Service Dog Teams and for Service Dog in Training Teams. While certification is not required, many Teams struggle with imposter syndrome or worry their dog is not good enough. An evaluation by peers can help relieve that stress and let a handler know if you're SD/SDiT meets minimum standards for working in public places.
If you would like to have your team evaluated fill out this simple C2C PA Application and send us an email at crazy2calmcaninecoaches@gmail.com. A Canine Coach will be assigned to help you go through the process.
We've tried our best to make the process simple and available to all teams no matter what challenges or limitations you have. The application is short and sweet, covering all the written materials we need.
We will accept video documentation in 3 formats.
1. You can schedule a Zoom session with Canine Coaches where you take your dog out into a public location while on zoom. This is best done when accompanied by a helper who can hold the video recording device.
2. You can pre-record videos of your dog in public places (can be pet friendly if you choose). Then schedule a zoom to review these videos with 2 or more Canine Coaches.
3. You can pre-record videos of your dog in public places and assemble them in YouTube, Google Docs or Dropbox. Then the Canine Coaches will meet to review your materials and contact you to share our feedback and/or request additional information.
We have sample videos of these 3 options available at your request. Simply email us or ask your assigned Canine Coach for the link.
All C2C PA Evaluations will be completed by 2 or more C2C Canine Coaches!
This PA Evaluation is intended to be given by fellow SD Handlers as a form of peer review. The teams going through the evaluation and demonstrating all the skills correctly will receive a "stamp of approval" certificate from Crazy2Calm.
All C2C Public Access Evaluations will be done totally free of charge!
You do not need to pay any fees such as application fees, hourly session fees for the evaluators, or any other hidden fees. The C2C Canine Coaches are dedicated to keeping this Peer Evaluation open and available to anyone who wants to go through the process.
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