Cats

CKOC – Creatures and Kids Oklahoma Certification Requirements

Certification of an animal requires handler and animal to pass the Good Citizen Award (GCA) and additional therapeutic animal requirements. Creatures and Kids offers opportunities to train and prepare for evaluations for CKI’s (CKOC) for animals.

• Training and Testing
  1-10 Good Citizen Award (GCA)
• GCA TEST / PLUS ADDED CKOC REQUIREMENTS
  11-14 Creatures and Kids Oklahoma Certification (CKOC)

1. ACCEPTING A FRIENDLY STRANGER. This test demonstrates that the animal will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural, everyday situation. The evaluator and handler shake hands and exchange pleasantries. The animal must show no sign of resentment or shyness, and must not break position or try to go to the Evaluator.

2. SITTING POLITELY FOR PETTING OR HOLDING. This test demonstrates that the animal will allow a friendly stranger to touch it while it is out with its handler. The animal should sit at the handler’s side or be held on handler’s lap as the Evaluator approaches and begins to pet the animal on the head and body only. The animal may stand in place to accept petting. The animal must not show shyness or resentment.

3. APPEARANCE AND GROOMING. This practical test demonstrates that the animal will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit a stranger, such as a veterinarian, groomer, or friend of the owner, to do so. It also demonstrates the owner’s care, concern and sense of responsibility. The evaluator inspects the animal, then combs or brushes the animal, and lightly examines the ears and each front foot.

4. OUT FOR A WALK. This test demonstrates that the handler is in control of the animal. The animal can be on either side of the handler, whichever the handler prefers. There must be a left turn, a right turn and an about turn, with at least one stop in between and another at the end. The animal need not be perfectly aligned with the handler and need not sit when the handler stops.
Note: A cat can be held or can walk on leash w/ harness or collar.

5. WALKING THROUGH A CROWD. (Dogs and large animal on leads, all other animals held) This test demonstrates that the animal can move about politely in pedestrian traffic and is under control in public places. The animal and handler walk around and pass close to several people (at least three). The animal may show some interest in the strangers, without appearing over exuberant, shy or resentful. The handler may talk to the animal and encourage or praise the animal throughout the test. The animal should not be straining at the leash.
Note: A cat can be held or can walk on leash w/ harness or collar.

6. SIT AND DOWN ON COMMAND/STAYING IN PLACE. This test demonstrates that the dog has training, will respond to the handler’s commands to sit and down, and will remain in the place commanded by the handler (sit or down position, whichever the handler prefers). The handler may take a reasonable amount of time and use more than one command to make the dog sit and then down. When instructed by the Evaluator, the handler tells the dog to stay and walks forward the length of a 20-foot line. The dog must remain in place, but may change position.
Note: A cat will sit on a table with handler’s hand on cat.

7. COMING WHEN CALLED. This test demonstrates that the dog will come when called by the handler. The handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, and call the dog. The handler may use encouragement to get the dog to come. Handlers may choose to tell dogs to “stay” or “wait” or they may simply walk away, giving no instructions to the dog as the Evaluator provides mild distraction (e.g., petting).
Note: This is not required of a cat, but if it could be taught would be great.

8. REACTION TO ANOTHER ANIMAL. This test demonstrates that the animal can behave politely around other animals. Two handlers and their animals approach each other from a distance of about 10 yards, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 5 yards. The animals should show no more than casual interest in the each other.
Note: A cat can be held or can walk on leash w/ harness or collar.

9. REACTION TO DISTRACTIONS. This test demonstrates that the animal is confident at all times when faced with common distracting situations, such as the dropping of a large book or a jogger running in front of the animal. The animal may express a natural interest and curiosity and/or appear slightly startled, but should not panic or try to run away, show aggressiveness or bark.

10. SUPERVISED SEPARATION. This test demonstrates that the animal can be left with a trusted person, if necessary, and will maintain its training and good manners. Evaluators are encouraged to say something like, “Would you like me to watch your animal?” and then take hold of the animals lead. The owner will go out of sight for three minutes. The animal should remain calm and not show anything stronger than mild agitation or nervousness.

ADDED CKOC REQUIREMENTS

11-14 Creatures and Kids Oklahoma Certification (CKOC)

11. REACTION TO CHILDREN, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND LOUD NOISES. The animal should be tested around children interacting and with sporadic child like behavior (running, screaming and clumsy hugging) and medical equipment (wheelchair, crutches, cane, walker, or other devices that a person may be using). This is done to evaluate the animal’s reactions to these common happenings.

12. LEAVE IT. The handler with the animal on a loose leash walks past food on the ground (placed or dropped within a distance of three feet) and, upon command, the animal should ignore the food.
Note: A cat will have food brought around it.

13. ACCLIMATION TO INFIRMITIES. This test demonstrates the animal’s confidence when exposed to people walking with an uneven gait, shuffling, breathing heavily, coughing, wheezing or other distractions which may be encountered in a facility.
Note: While the cat is being held.

14. SAY HI AND WAG A TAIL. The Creatures and Kids certified evaluator will test the willingness of each animal to visit a person a and that the animal can be accessible for petting (small animals can be placed on a person’s lap or can be held, medium and larger animals can sit on a chair or stand close to the person to be easily reached). If at all possible, animals that can display waging a tail or their body in some way.
Note: Cat should be willingly to be passed off to the lap or arms of a stranger. Use of a towel or pillow case for summer something cooler to the touch – is recommended.