Instructions
Place the service dog in a car with the doors open. Note whether or not the dog attempts to leave the car before the exit command is issued. Command the dog to leave the car and observe whether the dog stays within four feet of the car or if it tries to leave the area.
Walk the dog on a leash. The dog should not pull, but walk next to the handler. Note whether the dog stops when the handler stops. It should remain next to the handler at all times, ignoring other people and animals that pass by, and it should not relieve itself unless instructed to do so.
Test the dog for the ways it enters buildings through manually opened and automatic doors. It should not rush into a building ahead of its handler. The leash should remain loose.
Walk through a store with the dog. It should not greet people and should remain next to the handler. When the handler turns a corner, the dog should follow quickly. It should be accustomed to shopping carts and should stay away from shelves.
Take the dog to a grocery store and push a cart while it follows. The dog should stay next to the handler without getting in the way of the cart. It also should leave the food and other customers alone.
Command the dog to "Lie down and stay." Step over it and observe for any startled reaction. Depending on how the dog was trained, it should either remain in the down position or move closer to the handler.
Ask a child to pet the dog. It should stay down and not be bothered by the contact. The dog's focus should remain on its handler, not the child.
Gently apply pressure to the dog's tail. The dog should respond immediately by tucking its tail underneath its body. It should not startle, but remain in the down position.
Guide the dog into a public restroom. It should show no hesitation upon entering and should stay with its handler. It should not try to get underneath stalls.
Take the dog up and down stairs. It should handle the stairs as it was trained to do, depending on its size and the handler's disability. Some dogs are trained to take a few steps and then stop and wait for their handlers. Other dogs are trained to stay next to their handlers.
Remove the leash from the dog and walk 30 feet away. The dog should come immediately when given the "Come!" command. While coming, the dog should remain focused on the handler.
How to Assess a Dog for Service
Service dogs are used by many people who have disabilities such as blindness, deafness or even seizure disorders. These dogs are trained to guide people around obstacles, alert their owners to sounds, get help if disabled persons become injured or unable to get up and perform other services. In order to be a good service dog, it must be trained for that purpose, usually at a special facility, and then must pass a series of evaluations. Some of these facilities offer the benefit of training a disabled person's own dog. Once the dog has completed training, it must undergo assessment of its service abilities.