A comprehensive assessment designed to understand your dog’s behavior, obedience, and social skills, to create recommendations and personalized training plans.
The PD360 Assessment is an in-depth evaluation that allows Partners Dog School trainers to analyze your dog’s behavior, obedience, and sociability across a range of situations. This assessment is the foundation for creating a customized training plan, helping owners address specific behavioral concerns and achieve long-term improvements. With a focus on key behaviors, temperament, and social interactions, the PD360 provides a holistic view of your dog’s training needs.
This article covers what to expect from the PD360 Assessment, including a breakdown of the assessment phases, the behaviors we focus on, and how the results will guide our program recommendations.
What Does the PD360 Assessment Cover?
The PD360 Assessment evaluates various aspects of your dog’s behavior, obedience, and socialization to give a full picture of their strengths and areas for improvement. The assessment is divided into two main parts: a 30-minute drop-off consultation and a 30-minute pick-up chat.
Key Areas of Focus:
- Behavioral Responses: How your dog reacts to different stimuli, including social interactions, food-related behaviors, and thresholds.
- Obedience Skills: Your dog’s ability to follow basic commands and demonstrate good manners.
- Manners and Socialization: How well your dog behaves in new environments and around other dogs and people.
- Specific Challenges: Addressing any specific concerns raised by the owner, such as aggression, reactivity, or anxiety.
Drop-Off Consultation: The First Step
The drop-off phase of the assessment takes around 30 minutes and is broken down into a series of key interactions between the trainer and the owner to ensure a thorough understanding of the dog's history, goals, and any specific behavior concerns.
1. Welcome and Introduction (5 minutes):
The trainer welcomes the owner and dog, introducing themselves and their experience. This is the opportunity to confirm any key details about the dog, including their daily routine, any previous training, health concerns, or notable behavior issues.
2. Client Expectations and Goals (10 minutes):
Establishing goals and expectations is crucial for success. The trainer will ask about specific behaviors the parent would like to address and the most important areas they would like to see improvement in.
3. Introduction to Core Training Methods (10 minutes):
The trainer will explain some of the key training methods used at Partners Dog School, focusing on:
- Stages of Learning: The phases of Teaching, Reinforcing, Proofing, and Maintenance that each dog goes through when learning each behavior.
- Timing: The importance of reinforcement and correction timing in shaping desirable behaviors.
- Vocal Cues: How different tones (positive, neutral, corrective) help the dog differentiate between praise, feedback, and commands.
4. Assessment Overview (5 minutes):
The trainer gives a brief rundown of what the dog will be assessed on during the day, including behavior, obedience, manners, and socialization.
The Assessment: Observing Key Behaviors
The PD360 Assessment itself focuses on evaluating your dog’s responses and behaviors in different scenarios. The assessment occurs throughout the day while your dog interacts with trainers and, where appropriate, other dogs.
1. Initial Interactions:
- The trainer begins by observing how the dog behaves when ignored and then calmly engages with the dog to test comfort levels.
- The goal is to identify any immediate stress signals, triggers, or nervous behaviors.
2. General Temperament:
- The dog’s demeanor in a crate or kennel is observed.
- Trainers watch how the dog reacts to people and dogs passing by, as well as any default behaviors.
3. Obedience Tasks:
- Basic commands such as sit, down, stay, come, name, and more are tested to assess the dog’s current phase of learning.
- Trainers evaluate how responsive the dog is to both positive reinforcement (praise, treats) and correction (verbal and leash).
4. Manners Evaluation:
- Loose-leash walking and equipment manners are tested.
- Trainers also observe the dog’s reactions when interacting with male and female handlers as well as other dogs.
- Different tones of voice are used to gauge the dog’s reaction and ability to differentiate between praise, correction, and neutral cues.
5. Socialization:
- The dog’s response to new sounds, textures, and environments is assessed, along with their sociability in playgroups (if temperament allows).
- Trainers watch for any discomfort, reactivity, or anxiety during interactions with other dogs.
6. Specific Behavioral Challenges:
- If the owner mentioned particular issues (e.g., resource guarding, reactivity), trainers test for these behaviors during different activities and document severe responses or stress signals.
PD360 Variables: Behaviors We’re Looking For
Throughout the assessment, specific behaviors are closely monitored to provide deeper insights into your dog’s temperament and training needs:
Key PD360 Variables:
- Taking Food: Does the dog accept treats calmly or show signs of hesitation or reactivity? Food-related behaviors can reveal issues such as resource guarding or anxiety.
- Going into a Crate/Kennel: How willingly does the dog enter the kennel, and how do they behave once inside? This reflects their comfort level with confinement and impulse control.
- Thresholds: How does the dog behave at doorways or gates? A dog rushing through a threshold without permission may need work on patience and impulse control.
- Inappropriate Behavior: Trainers watch for behaviors like jumping, nipping, barking, or leash pulling, noting any aggressive or anxious reactions.
Pick-Up Chat: Results and Program Recommendations
The final stage of the PD360 Assessment involves reviewing the results with the owner. This conversation lasts about 30 minutes and provides detailed feedback on the dog’s performance, as well as tailored training recommendations.
1. Welcome Back and Initial Impressions (5 minutes):
The trainer welcomes the owner back and shares their initial observations, emphasizing any positive aspects of the dog’s behavior during the assessment.
2. Detailed Assessment Results (10 minutes):
The trainer provides a breakdown of the PD360 score, discussing each area of focus—behavior, obedience, manners, and socialization—and offering specific feedback for each.
3. Program Recommendations (5 minutes):
Based on the PD360 results, the trainer recommends the most appropriate training program, which could include options like Dayschool, Camp, Group Classes, or private lessons. If the client enrolls on the same day, the cost of the assessment is credited toward the program.
4. Handling Questions and Objections:
The trainer addresses any concerns the owner may have regarding the cost or program, explaining the long-term benefits of training and how it will prevent future issues like behavioral problems or injuries.
Next Steps and Enrollment
If the owner is ready to move forward, the trainer assists them with enrolling in the recommended training program. The goal is to ensure the owner has a clear understanding of the next steps, including program logistics and how to get started.
Common Questions and Answers:
Q: What if my dog doesn’t perform well during the assessment?
A: The PD360 is designed to identify areas that need improvement. Even if your dog struggles, it helps us determine where to focus our efforts in training.
Q: Is the assessment fee refundable?
A: The assessment fee is non-refundable, but it can be applied as credit toward your chosen training program if you enroll the same day.
Q: What if my dog shows aggression or anxiety during the assessment?
A: Our trainers are experienced in handling all types of behaviors, and any issues observed will help us tailor a program that addresses these specific needs.
Additional Resources:
For further assistance or questions, feel free to contact Partners Dog School at 480-595-6700.