Working Dogs
We assess working dogs across a wide range of roles.
The health and temperament sections of the protocol are the same for every dog. The capability section is adapted to the role, and it is assessed by a specialist who has worked with that kind of dog.
For each role, we contract a named specialist per job. We do not claim to keep every kind of handler on staff. We claim that the person testing your dog knows the work your dog is expected to do.
These are the roles we assess.
Protection and security
- Personal and family protection
- Property and estate protection
- Private security company dogs
- Police and military patrol
- Executive protection
Assessed by a specialist in protection work: bite quality, targeting, outing on command, guarding behaviour, and control under pressure.
Read more about protection dog assessment →
Detection and scent work
- Explosives detection, including bomb sniffing dogs and EDD disciplines
- Narcotics
- Weapons and firearms
- Currency and contraband
- Arson
- Pest detection
Assessed by a specialist in detection work: search pattern and stamina, indication behaviour, and accuracy, under controlled and uncontrolled conditions.
Read more about detection dog assessment →
Disaster and emergency response
- Human remains detection, including cadaver dogs on land and in water
- Disaster search and rescue
- Avalanche search
- Water rescue and recovery
- Urban search and rescue support
Assessed by a specialist in disaster response work: search pattern over rubble, debris and water, stamina, indication behaviour, and willingness to work at height, in confined spaces, and on unstable surfaces.
Read more about disaster and response dog assessment →
Service and assistance
- Guide dogs for the blind
- Hearing dogs
- Mobility assistance
- Medical alert, including seizure, diabetes, and cardiac
- Psychiatric and PTSD service dogs
- Autism assistance dogs
Assessed by a specialist in assistance work: obedience under distraction, environmental stability, public access behaviour, and the specific tasks the dog is trained to perform.
Read more about service dog assessment →
Livestock and agricultural
- Herding dogs
- Livestock guardian dogs
- Predator control
- Crop and wildlife protection
Assessed by a specialist in livestock work: instinct and balance, responsiveness to the handler, and behaviour around livestock under real conditions.
Read more about livestock dog assessment →
Field and sporting
- Pointing, flushing, and retrieving
- Wild boar hunting
- Blood tracking
- Driven hunt dogs
Assessed by a specialist in field work: steadiness to game, scent work, recall, and control at distance.
Read more about field dog assessment →
Maritime and industrial
- Yacht and vessel security
- Port and cargo inspection
- Oil platform and industrial site security
- Warehouse and logistics security
Assessed by a specialist in maritime and industrial work: environmental stability on board, in noise, and on unfamiliar surfaces, plus the relevant detection or protection tasks.
Read more about maritime and industrial dog assessment →
Conservation and wildlife
- Protected species detection
- Invasive species detection
- Wildlife scat and DNA sample detection
- Environmental survey support
Assessed by a specialist in conservation detection: scent discrimination against closely related species, search pattern in field conditions, and stamina over long searches.
Read more about conservation dog assessment →
Therapy and visitation
- Hospitals and clinics
- Care homes and hospices
- Schools and libraries
- Courts and victim support
- Community settings
Assessed by a specialist in therapy work: calmness in unfamiliar environments, tolerance of handling, and behaviour around children, elderly people, and medical equipment.
Read more about therapy dog assessment →
How we assess a role
For every role, three things happen.
Health is examined by a licensed veterinarian. The examination is the same for every dog.
Temperament is assessed by a certified trainer or behaviourist. The assessment is the same for every dog.
Capability is assessed against the role. The specialist for that role runs the tests that matter for that kind of work, against the criteria set out in our published protocol.
The report states the role the dog was assessed for. A dog assessed for one role is not thereby assessed for another.
If your dog's role is not listed
Write to us. The protocol is designed to be adapted to a working role, and if the role is real, there is a way to assess for it.
info@canistestis.com
Where these dogs come from
We do not train dogs. We assess them.
Where a buyer needs a dog in a specialist discipline, we can point them toward organisations and trainers whose dogs are worth assessing. We take no commission from any introduction.
Request an assessment
If you have a dog you are considering, or a working role you need to fill, tell us about it. We will confirm whether we can assess the dog and send you the scope, the fee, and the timeline in writing.
Not sure what dog you need? We can search for one. Find a Dog →