So what are the 12 Test Items? A mix of skills necessary for a dog to put in a credible performance as a Service Dog as well as an evaluation of the dog's temperament & the working relationship between handler & dog.

PAT quick checklist

Read the complete list of terms & conditions here:

PAT Terms & Conditions

In order to be eligible to test, dogs must be at least 18months of age, housebroken, and MUST not be aggressive towards people or other dogs. WHY 18 months of age? Because 18 months of age is considered the minimum age of physical & mental maturity that it is reasonable to expect a dog to be able to put in a credible performance as a Service Dog. Dogs go through many developmental stages including teenage angst & fear periods in which they might have moments of brilliance, but not perform consistently at their best. That doesn't mean that EVERY dog will be ready to work at 18months, some may not be ready until 2-3yrs, depending on the individual dog & the complexity of the work that the handler needs from them. But 18 months is a good baseline. Its also the age by which growth plates are closed for the majority of dogs, so a reasonable age for dogs to have to put in more strenuous physical work (like mobility work).

Dogs & handlers must have completed at least 120 hours of logged training. You may receive credit for formal classes and individual training sessions (either conducted on your own or with a trainer) by completing the training log forms below. WHY 120 hours of training? Because 120 training hours would be the minimum amount of training needed for a dog to put in a credible performance as a service dog. There are several different ways you can log training hours, including receiving credit for group classes, private lessons, attendance at dog shows or obedience trials, or individual sessions you do yourself. For example, a 6 week group class or 6 weeks of private training would be worth 20 training hours, taking onto consideration the weekly training sessions and the practice sessions in between. In order to receive credit for a group class you would need to include a photocopy of a completion certificate or a signature from your trainer to verify that you attended all class sessions and completed all class homework. Individual training sessions can be logged with the date & time, location, and what you worked on. For example, 8/25/25, 10am, Cabela's, worked on heeling, sit stay, & recall with distractions for 30 minutes. Or, 8/25/25, Lowe's, worked on picking up dropped items for handler in a public space & ignoring strangers for 1hr.

Training Log - classes

Training Log- Individual

Additionally, dogs must have a completed health form filled out by their veterinarian documenting up to date vaccinations and a wellness exam within 30 days of the date of the test. Dogs must be physically & mentally sound enough to do the work!

Health Form

Upcoming Test Dates:

Sunday October 5th at 3:00pm. Location TBA

This test will be offered quarterly.

Initial testing: $125. Includes certificate & laminated badge good for 1yr from the date of the test.

Re-certification: $50 (teams who have already passed & need to renew credentials)

If you believe you are eligible for testing and would like a slot in the next test, please fill out & submit the registration form below.