AAT Therapy Animal Selection 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which temperament trait is most critical when evaluating a dog for animal-assisted therapy work?
- High energy and playfulness
- Tolerance of unpredictable handling by strangers (Correct answer)
- Strong prey drive
- Independence from the handler
Correct answer: Tolerance of unpredictable handling by strangers
Therapy animals must tolerate unpredictable touch, sudden movements, and noise from diverse client populations without reacting negatively.
Question 2: A rabbit is being considered for AAT in a pediatric oncology ward. What is the PRIMARY concern specific to rabbits in this setting?
- Rabbits are too large for hospital environments
- Rabbits can transmit zoonotic diseases more readily than dogs
- Rabbits are fragile and may be injured by overzealous handling (Correct answer)
- Rabbits require daily grooming that disrupts therapy sessions
Correct answer: Rabbits are fragile and may be injured by overzealous handling
Rabbits have delicate skeletal structures and can be injured or become defensively aggressive if handled roughly, making supervision critical.
Question 3: Which of the following BEST describes a therapy animal's required response to sudden loud noises?
- The animal should bark or vocalize to alert the handler
- The animal should remain calm or recover quickly without displaying sustained fear (Correct answer)
- The animal should move toward the source of the noise
- The animal may flee briefly but must return within 30 seconds
Correct answer: The animal should remain calm or recover quickly without displaying sustained fear
Sound sensitivity that causes prolonged distress disqualifies an animal because clinical environments involve unpredictable noises.
Question 4: During a therapy animal evaluation, the assessor drops a metal food bowl loudly near the dog. What passing response looks like?
- Dog freezes and stares for 5 minutes
- Dog startles, then investigates calmly within seconds (Correct answer)
- Dog growls and moves behind handler
- Dog immediately sits and refuses to move
Correct answer: Dog startles, then investigates calmly within seconds
A brief startle followed by calm recovery and curiosity indicates sound resilience appropriate for therapy environments.
Question 5: Which certification body is most widely recognized for evaluating therapy dogs in the United States?
- American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen only
- Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society) (Correct answer)
- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
- National Dog Trainers Federation
Correct answer: Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society)
Pet Partners is the leading national nonprofit that certifies therapy animal teams across multiple species using standardized evaluations.
Question 6: A therapy cat freezes, dilates pupils, and tucks its tail during a session. The handler should:
- Allow the client to offer treats to calm the cat
- Continue the session since cats often display neutral body language
- End the session and remove the cat from the environment (Correct answer)
- Ask the client to speak more softly and try again
Correct answer: End the session and remove the cat from the environment
These signs indicate acute stress; continuing the session risks the animal's welfare and may compromise client safety.
Question 7: What is the recommended minimum age for most dogs before beginning formal therapy animal work?
- 6 months
- 1 year
- 2 years (Correct answer)
- 3 years
Correct answer: 2 years
Most certification programs require dogs to be at least 1–2 years old, with many recommending 2 years to ensure behavioral maturity.
AAT Therapy Animal Selection 2
Which temperament trait is most critical when evaluating a dog for animal-assisted therapy work?