The practical examination forms part of the assessment for performance criteria as set out for the ATI standards by ABTC, which can be found HERE.

Teach a class of up to four dogs.

• There will be up to four dogs at each assessment,
• You are allocated 15 minutes to set up and meet your assigned handlers. 
• You need to teach a ‘marker’, ‘down’, ‘leave’ (food or toy) and ‘loose lead walking’ from scratch using a variety of techniques.
• The dogs/handlers are volunteers and likely to be at varying levels of ability and ages and this must be taken into account when you progress the exercises.
• If the assessors see anything which contravenes the APDT Code of Practice (here) or believe to be potentially dangerous they will interrupt the class.
• Assessors will be as discreet as possible during the assessment.
• You are responsible for the safety and welfare of dogs and handlers.
• You have between 45 minutes and one hour to deliver the class. You can request an assessor to give you a time call if needed.
• Try to stay calm and relaxed throughout your class, and most of all enjoy it!
• Once your class has finished, you will have about fifteen minutes to pack up your equipment. Please feel free to have a drink and make yourself comfortable before the Assessors call you in for the final part of the assessment.

Following the assessment

Your Assessors will discuss all parts of your assessment and award a score against our criteria described above with feedback.

Within two weeks of your practical you will be notified via email from the office manager of your final result.

If you have any queries about any of the above, please feel free to EMAIL the office ahead of time or speak to one of your assessors on the day – we are here to help!

Grounds for appeal

Appeals can be made on the following grounds only:

• The assessment process has not been properly followed.
• The assessment outcome is disputed.

The applicant should not be disadvantaged by submitting an appeal in good faith. Appeals which are judged to be vexatious, malicious, or frivolous will not be considered.

Appeal process

• All information submitted in relation to appeals will be dealt with confidentially and will only be disclosed to those persons involved in making a decision on appeal, or as necessary to progress the appeal.
• Intention to appeal should be submitted to the assessing organisation/body in writing within three weeks of receiving notification of the assessment outcome.
• The applicant has six weeks from the date of intention to appeal to produce the evidence underpinning their appeal. This should include:

– Clear written evidence to show where the assessment process was not followed;

And/or

– Clear written evidence to show the basis for disputing that assessment criteria have been met.

• The applicant is asked to ensure all submitted information is clearly labelled, easy to access and navigate.
• The appeal documents will be considered by the original assessors and two further assessors who have declared no conflict of interest. This may mean the APDT will liaise with the ABTC to find appropriate appeals assessors.
• Applicants will be informed of the identity of the further assessors and will be given the opportunity to indicate if they are concerned about any potential conflict of interest. Such concerns will be respected, and new assessor(s) allocated, should the applicant wish.
• It may be felt necessary for the parties involved in the appeals process to meet. This would be best achieved by video conferencing. The meeting would be recorded with the undertaking that no recordings may be shared by any party with any party outside of the immediate appeals process. The applicant may have a chosen individual to represent, advocate for, or support them at the meeting.
• The applicant will be sent written notification of the outcome of the appeal within six weeks of all relevant documentation having been provided to the assessing organisation/body’s office or meeting having taken place.