PADA
(Personality Assessment of Domestic Animals)
PADA is used as the international test to assess which dogs are suitable for use within Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI).
PADA measures whether dogs have the right personality to become therapy dogs; however, this is only a pre-selection test, meaning that dogs passing PADA needs more training to learn skills needed in AAI. PADA is the first, necessary step for every dog before it can start working.
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To determine if a dog is suitable for work in AAI it needs to be assessed by a certified and qualified evaluator that has extensive knowledge in dog behavior. The mental test is called PADA and consist of 16 parts.
Now you can learn more about the PADA test, general dog behavior and how YOU can educate yourself to carry out such tests. If you are interested in this, you should definitely see the recording.
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Don´t miss out on this unique opportunity!
PART 1
In this workshop one of the scientist and developer behind the test, Dr. Christine Olsen, will give a lecture about
"The history and science behind PADA".
You will also meet Line Sandstedt who will talk more about "Suitability and signs".
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Mandy Van Laar, one of the PADA leaders, will explain
"How it works, and where to start your education".
You will also get to know one of the students, Tahira, who has taken the education and tested it in practice. She will share her experience.
PART 2
The last hour of the workshop we will watch two different PADA test where you can fill out your own test report before we discuss the test LIVE.
Dr. Christine Olsen will explain the different parts of the test and how the dogs react.
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You will see one dog who passed and one dog who didn't pass the test.
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Language: English
Workshop length : 3 hours
Two dogs,
two different reactions
Can you see the different?
Find the differences between the two dogs. Both dogs are tested in the same situation and conditions. In the video you will see two different parts of the PADA test. The rough hand and the playing.
Look closely at the dogs signals...
Where one dog stiffens, the other remains loose in the body. The miniature aussie deviates from the handler where the poodle allows the touch and bends his body towards the handler
In addition, the miniature aussie gives signals such as looking away, tonguing and panting.
In the play section, you will see that the poodle moves along with the game and is still loose in its body. The miniature aussie remains facing backwards during gameplay and keeps his distance during gameplay. In addition, the Aussie remains attentive to its environment
The Miniature Aussie is a great house dog but won't be able to feel as free as the Poodle which is definitely suited to further training in AAI.
Want to learn more about the PADA test and general dog-behavior?
Meet the speakers
Dr. Christine Olsen
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Dr. Christine Olsen has a master degree in ethology, higher education in special needs education and rehabilitation, and a PhD in public health focusing on animal-assisted interventions. Her research is frequently cited and is rated in the top 10% of all research outputs ever tracked by Almetric. Dr. Olsen is also a dog behaviorist and dog trainer, and screens dogs personality around the Europe. She travels with her lectures about AAI, dog mental test and animal welfare as a speaker on international conferences.
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In this workshop dr. Christine will give a lecture about "The history and science behind PADA".
Line Sandstedt
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Line is a lector in science and a postgraduate in special needs education and coaching. Sandstedt is also a dog behaviourist and dog trainer, and screen dogs personality for AAI. Sandstedt gives courses in dog training both nationally and internationally. She is responsible for all of the education given by Dyrebar Omsorg, both dog training and training of human-animal teams. Line has worked for the organization since 2006.
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In this workshop Line will talk more about
"Suitability and signs".
Mandy van Leer
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Mandy is from the DAI Academy in the Netherlands. She is, along with Christine Olsen, the first point of contact for everyone involved with PADA. Here focus is on creating partnerships between multiple countries and establishing good high-quality PADA teams. Mandy is educated veterinary assistant, animal management and cynological instructor. She is also a behavioral expert for dogs and offer choaching with dogs. With many years of experience in AAI she will now focusing on how you can educate yourself with PADA.
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In this workshop Mandy will explain
"How PADA works, and where to start your education".
Tahira Tarquini
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Tahira is half Brazilian and live in the countryside of The Netherlands with her 4 wolfdogs and several other animals. Her AAI journey started in 2017. She have attended several courses and in 2019 I participated in the first AAI camp in Poland where she met the professionals who founded the PADA tests. When she heard about this new testing system, she registered immediately in order to become a PADA technician and a PADA leader. Currently she is preparing for the examinations as PADA evaluator together with her colleagues.
​Tahira is invited by the PADA board to tell about her journey as a PADA professional.
Why did she choose for PADA, how did the achievement of her certifications go and how is it to work in a PADA team.