ABSTRACT
This chapter delves into the complexities of canine-assisted intervention (CAI) assessments with the goal of providing concrete recommendations for assessing both handlers and their dogs seeking to become credentialed CAI teams. It begins by exploring the challenges in assessing CAI teams, the current practices in CAI assessments, how to prepare for an assessment, the characteristics of dynamic evaluators, and the importance of holistic assessment. Next, a description of each evaluation skill, along with scoring guidelines, is provided, as well as a rationale illustrating why each skill is important. This chapter ends with a review of assessment outcomes and a look at what teams might expect once they are credentialed.
