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A stranger will pet your dog in a clumsy manner and may also use a high pitched voice and/or clapping. NOTE: Once again, this can be introduced to your dog early on in life.

3. Restraining hug: The evaluator hugs your animal in a long, tight embrace. NOTE: This is an extremely uncomfortable action for your dog, so you must make it positive from the beginning. Start introducing the "hug" in the puppy years (or as early on as possible), and really reinforce it. Humans love to hug, dogs do not.

4. Staggering/gesturing individual: This assesses your animal's confidence around unusual mannerisms of people. Could include props such as a cane, walker, yelling, etc. NOTE: As with the previous steps, you can easily work this into your dog's socialization training. If your dog is already fearful of one of these things, begin desensitizing it to the issue. For example, if a dog is fearful of canes, purchase one. At first, leave it somewhere in your home (not in direct sight-maybe just standing up in a corner). Positively reinforce your dog any time it approaches the item. Once it approaches without fear, start moving the item around to different locations. Keep reinforcing for not showing fear. Continue this process until you can walk around with the cane.

5. Angry yelling: This is to see if the dog will not become aggressive or overly stressed. Your animal can be startled but must recover quickly.

6. Bumped from behind: For smaller animals, this would just be a large noise behind them but for larger animals, they will actually be bumped from behind and examined for reaction. NOTE: Have a friend help you train this. If you introduce it to your dog early, it won't be as strange at the exam.

7. Crowded petting: Your animal will be petted at once by at least 3 people. One may be using a wheelchair, IV stand, etc. NOTE: It may be best to actually take your dog through Therapy-Dog specific obedience classes. Many dog training groups offer these for minimal cost. That way, you may actually be able to get some hands-on experience with the specific health-care equipment.

8. Held by a stranger: Your animal will be left alone with a stranger for a brief period of time. The animal must be relaxed and interested in this stranger while you are away. NOTE: Practice this with a friend (who your dog has not met). If your dog has some anxiety, only leave for a brief moment (less than 30 seconds), and return. Slowly work up to minutes at a time.

9. Overall sociability: The evaluator scores

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