AAT Therapy Animal Selection 2

Question 1

Which temperament trait is most critical when evaluating a dog for animal-assisted therapy work?

Accepted Answer

Tolerance of unpredictable handling by strangers

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Rabbits are fragile and may be injured by overzealous handling

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

The animal should remain calm or recover quickly without displaying sustained fear

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Dog startles, then investigates calmly within seconds

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society)

Answer

Pet Partners is the leading national nonprofit that certifies therapy animal teams across multiple species using standardized evaluations.

(AAT) Certified Animal-Assisted Therapy Practice Test