WMTD Registration Test Information and Dates
New WMTD members are required to complete Introduction to Pet Therapy classes, pass the WMTD Registration Test, and complete three shadowing visits to obtain membership in West Michigan Therapy Dogs, Inc. which involves a $1 million general liability policy for its members. The Registration Test is three parts: a written test based on WMTD membership guidelines and volunteer expectations discussed in the Introduction to Pet Therapy Classes, and two handler/dog Tests: a Skills Test, and a Therapy Temperament Test.
WMTD was founded under the belief that all therapy work is based on temperament, not breed or age. Thus some dogs may be "ready" for therapy work at an earlier age, or later age than another, or some dogs may not be "interested" in therapy work at all regardless of breed or mix of breed.
WMTD Registration Testing Dates are set up to address one of three needs: 1) Are we ready to take the Therapy Class? 2) Make-Up class testing. or 3) Every Two Year Renewal Testing.
1) Are we ready to take the Therapy Class? - If you and your dog are interested in therapy work, please review the WMTD Registration Test. To Register for the Introduction for Pet Therapy Class, handler/dog teams must pass the Skills Test portion at the "WMTD" level to register. This evaluation is called the "Prescreen". These skills are approximately at intermediate obedience skill levels. The remainder of the WMTD Registration Test will be taught in class.
2) Make-Up class testing - If you and your dog have taken the Introduction to Therapy Classes before and need to retake the test due to a scheduling conflict or updating an obedience skill, you may schedule to come to the next class graduation or schedule to come to a general test date.
3) Every Two Year Renewal Testing - Unless currently registered with Delta Society Pet Partners which evaluates its team every two years, all WMTD members must complete a renewal testing every two years. Renewal tests for most WMTD members will become effective in 2010. WMTD members can substitute their Delta Society International Pet Partner scores for WMTD testing results at that time as needed.
Please review the WMTD Membership Test which can also be found in the documents page of this website and if you are interested in setting up a pre-screen please go to the Event Calendar, click on a prescreen registration button for the next prescreening testing date available. Due to the recent popularity of classes, it may be several months before prescreen test dates become available. If you have questions regarding the process or testing requirements, please use the contact page on this website or email the Director of Training and Education, Terrilynne Lymburner.
The September-November 2010 and November-December 2010 classes are currently full. To be entered on the waiting list for information and registration on future prescreen dates for upcoming 2011 classes which are currently being scheduled, please go to the Events Calendar, then click on November 20th "Waiting List for Prescreens" event. Click on the register now date to complete the waiting list registration. The November 20th date at this time is not confirmed for the actual prescreen dates, but will allow teams to get updated information when dates are confirmed. ThePrescreen Test verifies your dog has the intermediate obedience skills to pass the Skills Test portion of the WMTD Registration Test minimally at the "WMTD" level.
Delta Society's Pet Partners Program
Pet Partner Pre-registered PPAT/PPST will be held from 11:30 - 5:30 pm on May 15, 2010 and November 20, 2010.
There are four steps to the Delta Society Pet Partner registration process.
Step 1: Train the 'Human-End' of the Leash by attending a Pet Partner Team Training Course (workshop or home study course).
Step 2: Have the Health of Your Animal Partner Screened by a Veterinarian.
Step 3: Have Your Human-Animal team's Skill & Aptitude Evaluated (PPST/PPAT test).
Step 4: Submit your Registration Application (obtained at the workshop or in home study course).
PPST and PPAT evaluations for Delta Society’s Pet Partners program will be offered during these times, on a reservation basis only. Both initial and re-certification evaluations will be accepted.
If you are seeking an initial evaluation and plan to complete the home study, Delta now requires that you purchase it directly from Delta Society to ensure you have a current edition with current policies and procedures. You must have obtained this packet prior to the evaluation time in order to get the appropriate paperwork to bring to your PPST/PPAT evaluation.
If you are already a Delta Pet Partner team member and adding an additional animal, you do not need to take the training course again, please use the Renewal Packet to add an additional animal.
Current Pet Partners may renew their registration up to 1 year after their expiration date. If your last registration is more than one year old, Delta now requires you to take the Workshop or complete ahome study of the Training Manual and submit a new Registration Packet.
Your animal must be at least 1 year old and lived with you for at least six month to qualify for the Pet Partner Program. There is no charge for the Delta therapy dog PPST/PPAT evaluations.
You must bring a copy of the animal’s current rabies / immunization paperwork, completed Handler's Questionnaire (Step 5) and Volunteer Policies and Procedure Agreement form (Step 3) from the registration / renewal packet to your evaluation or your evaluation will need to be rescheduled for another date. .
Note: the evaluations are only one of four steps to the Pet Partner Program: the workshop or home study and veterinarian screening are not offered by West MIchigan Therapy Dogs, Inc.
To schedule a Delta Society PPST /PPAT evaluation, please go to the Events Calendar to the date you wish to register for, click on the "register now" button and complete the information. You will receive an email confirmation of your registration. Approximately two weeks prior to the scheduled evaluation date, you will receive an additional email of the time for your evaluation.