During the courage test, is a verbal out required?

During the courage test, is a verbal out required?

• A. No
• B. Yes
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not specified

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is whether the courage test relies on a verbal release to end the exercise. The courage test is designed to observe how the dog handles fear or pressure on its own, without needing a release cue from the handler. Requiring a verbal out would shift the assessment from the dog’s bravery under stress to how readily it follows a release command, which isn’t the goal of testing courage. So, a verbal out is not required, allowing the dog's genuine response to the stimulus to be evaluated.

The main idea here is whether the courage test relies on a verbal release to end the exercise. The courage test is designed to observe how the dog handles fear or pressure on its own, without needing a release cue from the handler. Requiring a verbal out would shift the assessment from the dog’s bravery under stress to how readily it follows a release command, which isn’t the goal of testing courage. So, a verbal out is not required, allowing the dog's genuine response to the stimulus to be evaluated.