What to Expect at a Pet Partners Evaluation

Does your pet show all the signs that they would make a great therapy animal? Then you’ve come to the right place! At Pet Partners, we equip our handlers with the education they need to ace their evaluation and become the best therapy animal team they can be. With the Pet Partners signature Handler Course and team evaluation, every Pet Partners volunteer and their pet should be more than ready to handle the ups and downs of visits. Here’s what you need to know to feel confident and prepared for a Pet Partners evaluation. 

Before Evaluation Day 

Leading up to the day of your evaluation, there are a few key things you need to do first: 

• Bring the Right Paperwork – You’ll need to provide your evaluator with a completed Handler’s Questionnaire, proof of your pet’s rabies vaccination (if applicable for their species) or a copy of your completed Animal Health Screening Form. New teams must bring their Course Certificate from the Pet Partners Handler Course; renewing teams can bring their latest team acceptance letter.  

• Check that Your Equipment is Approved – Your pet’s leash, collar, harness, halter, or carrier must be on the Pet Partners’ Acceptable Equipment List. This makes sure that they are safe, comfortable, and compliant with Pet Partners policy. Any equipment listed as unacceptable will not be allowed in the evaluation. 

• Don’t Forget to Groom – Your pet must be clean and well-groomed before every visit, so the same is true for the evaluation! Make a great first impression and ensure a comfortable experience for everyone involved. Brush their coat, feathers, or fur, trim their nails, hooves, or claws, and make sure their ears, eyes, and beak (if they have one) are clean. 

• Dress Comfortably and Professionally – Wear closed-toed shoes and comfortable clothing that allows you to interact with your animal easily. Avoid anything that could distract your pet or get in the way, like dangling jewelry. 

• Practice, Practice, Practice – Taking time to practice your skills before the test is the best way to ready yourself and your pet. Review your Handler Guide and the information from the Handler Course and read on in this post to find more tips to be prepared! 

What Happens During the Evaluation?

1. First Impressions

The evaluation begins the moment you arrive. Even you and your animal’s interactions in the waiting area may be taken into consideration. Stay calm and keep your animal engaged. Also, make sure they feel comfortable in the new environment and have had time for a bio break beforehand.  

If you find the waiting area too distracting, you can certainly wait somewhere else, like outside the building or in your vehicle. Just be sure to let the evaluator or their assistants know. 

The Pet Partners evaluation is supposed to simulate real-life therapy visits. The goal is to see how you and your pet work together in a variety of situations. Evaluators don’t just evaluate your animal—they’re also checking how you handle them. Being calm, clear, and supportive is just as important as your animal’s manners!

2. Meet the Evaluator

When it is your turn to evaluate, you will meet the evaluator as well as other individuals who may be assisting them. The evaluators will review your Handler’s Questionnaire and ask about your pet’s unique cues—how they show excitement, stress, or a need for a break.

3. Skills and Manners Check

Your animal doesn’t need to be an obedience star, but they do need basic manners. The evaluator will check that your animal can: 

• Greet a friendly stranger calmly, without fear or aggression 

• Be petted and handled without stress (including having ears, feet, or hooves checked) 

• Walk politely next to you (if applicable) through a crowd, without pulling or being scared 

• Stay calm around loud noises or unusual movements 

• Follow basic cues appropriate for their species 

As a handler, you will also be scored on how well you support your pet. Pet Partners teaches PETS™ (Presence, Eye Contact, Touch, Speech) to help handlers communicate with their animals. If your animal seems unsure, using a soft voice, gentle touch, or relaxed body language can make a big difference.

4. Testing for Aptitude

Beyond basic skills, therapy animals need to remain calm and confident in unique situations. During this part of the evaluation, your pet will experience: 

• Enthusiastic petting from different people at once 

• Surprising sounds and gestures, like staggering movements or loud voices 

• Gentle hugs, holding, or light restraint, like they might experience from a child or someone with limited mobility 

• Encounters with a dog to see how they react in shared spaces 

• A “leave it” exercise to ensure they can ignore things they shouldn’t touch, like a tempting toy on the ground 

Handlers are also tested on YAYABA™ (You Are Your Animal’s Best Advocate). Evaluators look at how engaged you are during interactions—your ability to guide the experience, communicate with clients or patients, and ensure a positive visit atmosphere is just as important as your animal’s behavior. This means guiding people on how your pet likes to be touched or spoken to, watching out for your animal’s comfort and stepping in if they seem nervous or stressed. 

5. Final Assessment and Potential Outcomes

At the end of the evaluation, the team will discuss how you and your pet performed. You’ll receive a rating that determines the type of environments best suited for your team to visit. 

If your team does not pass, you may receive a Not Ready rating. This just means that your team did not show the necessary skills well enough to pass at that particular evaluation. It’s not uncommon for teams not to pass on their first try! You’re welcome to evaluate again when you feel ready. 

If you receive a Not Ready rating: 

• Review your score sheet and the feedback provided by your evaluator to see what to work on. Depending on your feedback, you may want to evaluate just a few days or weeks later. Some teams choose to wait a month or two to practice skills.   

• Your evaluation score will be reset within an hour so you can register for another event.  

• Go to your Volunteer Center account and check the event calendar to sign up. 

• If you’re renewing as a current team, a Not Ready rating means you must pause visits until you successfully complete your renewal and receive your new acceptance letter. 

Tips for a Smooth Evaluation 

• Arrive early: Give your pet time to settle into the new environment before the evaluation starts. Your evaluator may offer you a moment or two for your pet to sniff around or explore the room on the leash, so they are less distracted when exercises begin.  If they don’t offer, you’re welcome to ask if your pet can do so. 

• Stay calm and encouraging: Your pet looks to you for reassurance! Keep your voice upbeat and confident. 

• Practice handling and commands: Reinforce basic obedience skills and get your pet comfortable with different types of handling before the evaluation. 

• Bring treats (if using): While treats aren’t required for the evaluation, if you plan to use them at any point during future visits, you’ll need to bring them for the Treat Exercise. Also, having them on hand for after the test can be a great reward for your pet’s hard work! 

What’s Next? 

If you read this and thought “Yes, my pet and I are ready to take the next step!”, then start your team registration today! Create an account in our Volunteer Center and click the Start a Team Registration button to start working towards your goal of becoming an official therapy animal team. 

Questions about the registration process or need help from our team? Contact us. 

If you want to learn more about preparing your pet to become a therapy animal, check out some of our other posts: 

• Fundamentals for a Successful Training Experience 

• The Power of Positive Training 

• Motivation for Training Your Therapy Animal