@MooseAllain A suggestion: Ask the dog to allow you to watch her/his tail during the interview. The tail is an infallible indication of a dog's reaction to questions and statements.
Start the interview with, "you are such a good dog" and watch the tail. if it wags you have established a connection.
The next question will need a prop, a fake potty on the floor. Ask the dog, "did you do this!?". If the tail does not wag or goes down that is a good sign but an even better sign is if it wags, the dog knows the potty is fake.
That is a smart dog.