Southwest Service Dogs PAT Terms and Conditions

 

1. A minimum of 120 hours of logged training is required in order to be eligible for testing.  Please see PAT testing information page for more details on how to log training & to download log forms to submit. 
2. Dogs must be at least 18 months of age to test, current on vaccinations including rabies, and must be in good health and of sound temperament.
3. Dogs must be clean and well groomed, and in the case of coated breeds, hair must trimmed or pulled away from the face with an elastic enough that the dog's vision is not restricted.
4. Southwest Service dogs does not discriminate by breed or size, however Southwest Service Dogs reserves the right to refuse testing to any dog behaving in an unsafe manner or any dog whose condition is such to limit the dog's capability to function as a Service Dog in the capacity needed by the handler.
5. Southwest Service Dogs reserves the right to refuse testing to any handler who behaves in an unsafe or disruptive manner.
6. No treats, toys, or other special training aids may be used during testing.
7. No special training collars may be used during testing- only regular flat buckle collars, martingale collars, or non restrictive harnesses are acceptable.  Prohibited items are prong collars, head collars (halti/gentle leader), "shock" & other electronic collars, and "no pull" harnesses.  No retractable leashes.  Leashes may be of the length and material the handler finds most comfortable, however if the leash used for regular work is shorter than 6 feet, handler must provide a 6 ft leash for the stay and recall.
8. No harsh corrections may be used during testing- no verbal, physical, or leash corrections.  Handlers may not physically place their dogs into positions.  Handlers may use verbal praise & words of encouragement, hand signals & body language to help their dog to be successful.
9. Dogs & handlers must pass all 12 items on the test date.  A dog who fails one item may be allowed to repeat that item at the end of the test, at the discretion of the evaluator.
10. The fee for initial testing is 125.00, PASS or FAIL.  Teams who PASS will receive a Certificate & ID badge good for 1yr from the date of test.  A dog who fails because more training is needed may be allowed to retest once free of charge at a later date.  The fee to retest expired dogs is 50.00.
11. Any dog showing signs of aggression (barking, growling, lunging, snapping, baring teeth, or biting) during the test will be dismissed and will be ineligible for retesting. 
12. Any dog showing signs of excessive fear &/or anxiety (shaking, drooling, whining, hiding behind handler, attempting to bolt) will be dismissed and will be ineligible for retesting.
13. Any dog who eliminates during a test item will be failed and must retest at the handler's expense a later date.  It is the handler's responsibility to make sure their dog's needs are met.  A handler may be excused to potty their dog in an appropriate area in between test items .
14. Any dog who is ill (vomiting, diarrhea, lameness, etc) during the test will be excused and may retest at a later date at no additional cost.
15. Continuous or repeated pulling or straining at the leash and being out of control of the handler will result in a fail and a recommendation for additional training before attempting to retest.