Your dog will probably pass the test if he:

Reaction to Distractions

Moves normally with the handler and does not shy away from the hospital equipment

Shows only casual interest in the noise made by the evaluator

Also keep in mind that:

Your dog may startle only slightly and must immediately recover to continue on in a normal fashion

The distraction will most likely be in the form of a person dropping something noisy while using hospital equipment

This test is designed to simulate the noise that might be made if somebody dropped a bed pan, crutch, walker, food tray or other common hospital-type object while you are doing pet therapy

Your dog will need additional training in this area before he can pass this test if he:

Shys away from the hospital equipment

Attempts to bolt from the site of the test when the noise is made

Growls, snaps, barks, or otherwise exhibits a fear or self-defense response

Refuses to recover and continue on normally with the handler after the distraction

Common errors made by the handler, causing the team to fail this exercise:

I don't recall a handler ever doing something to cause the team to fail this exercise. The only thing I could possibly think of is if the handler refuses to walk in a manner that allows the dog to come close enough to the equipment to be truly evaluated. Of course, I would stop the handler and reinstruct him on what I wanted him to do during the test, however, if he then continued to move the dog too far away from the equipment, I would have no choice but to assume that he is attempting to cover for his dog's sound-shyness.

So what exactly is this test like? If you are taking this test with me, you could expect something like the following:

I will show you where to set your dog up

You will see a person in facing you with some type of hospital equipment and something like a tray with bowls, or cans, etc.

I will instruct you to walk past the person. Just after they pass you, they will drop the items from the hospital equipment.

My commands to you are "forward" which sets the other person in motion as well as you, and "exercise finished" which signals the end of the test

Any other questions about this test? E-mail me for an answer.