What is the equivalent in Romania?
The closest recognised examination is TSAC, the sociability and aptitude test. Internationally, BH plays a similar role, with an added technical component.
Aptitude and character tests
Companion Dog Tests
Examinations for the ordinary family dog: it walks beside you, stays calm near other dogs, does not jump on passers-by and can be left alone for a few minutes. That is all - and exactly what matters.
About the discipline
What Companion Dog Tests are
This umbrella covers the examinations for companion dogs, known under different names in different countries. All test the same thing: whether the animal is a civilised member of the community.
The exercises are simple and practical: walking on a loose lead, basic positions, recall, calmness around other dogs, tolerance of handling and correct behaviour in public places.
They work well as an intermediate goal for anyone who has finished a basic training course but has no competitive ambitions. In Romania, the closest recognised equivalent is TSAC.
How it works in practice
What is usually checked
- walking on lead, without constant tension
- basic positions: sit, down, stay
- recall from a distance
- calm behaviour around other dogs
- passing pedestrians and cyclists
- tolerance of handling by a stranger
- being left tied up alone for a few minutes
Which dogs it suits
- family dogs, after a basic training course
- teams without competitive ambitions
- owners wanting objective confirmation of their level
What you need
- an ordinary collar or harness and a fixed lead
- the dog's health record
- rewards, if the rules allow
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Companion Dog Tests
Do I need to have done a course?
Not formally, but in practice it is hard to pass without a foundation of basic obedience. Most people who present have completed a basic training course.
What is it useful for?
It is objective confirmation that you have a dog you can manage in public, and in some countries it eases access to public spaces or to rented housing.
Which dogs suit these tests?
Any healthy family dog with a basic level of training. They are deliberately undemanding technically, because the point is everyday manageability rather than precision. A calm crossbreed will pass more easily than a highly driven working dog that has never learned to settle.
From the same category
Related sports
Instinct Tests
Checking natural aptitudes for herding, hunting or water.
APWA-ICofA
A personality and welfare assessment carried out by an ethologist.
Temperament Test
Assessing a dog's stability and reactions.
Character Test
Testing character and behaviour.
We do not run Companion Dog Tests
This page is informational. We work in mantrailing, search and rescue and preparation for the TSAC and BH exams - but if you want an honest opinion on what would suit your dog, write to us anytime.