United for assistance dog teams
Independent quality assurance and support
Assistance dog teams deserve support!
Assistance Dog Foundation is committed to independent quality assurance and sustainable support structures for qualified assistance dog teams.
Join us to ensure that —
- quality replaces improvisation in the sector,
- teams are recognized and better supported,
- research and advocacy level their path, and
- new autonomy with an assistance dog is attainable.
About assistance dogs
Assistance dogs mitigate disabilities by providing carefully learned assistance in lifelong partnership with their humans. They such increase the autonomy — and often the safety — of their human partner.
Assistance dog teams together overcome obstacles in close human-dog-partnership. Their mutual care, discipline and impressive results are fascinating.
Learn more about assistance dog teams.
Why Assistance Dog Foundation exists
We empower successful partnerships between individuals with disabilities and their assistance dogs. This benefits all stakeholders equally:
- assistance dog handlers,
- assistance dogs,
- assistance dog professionals,
- the public, and
- funding providers.
Currently, the prospects of qualified assistance dog teams are jeopardized by weak standards, improvisation, and outright abuse of the concept.
We provide qualified teams with an objective way to distinguish themselves from teams lacking a justified need and sufficient qualifications.
We have no intention to “police” the sector. Lasting impact will arise from focusing on supporting those who share our values.
The Foundation’s transparent and thorough certification sets a solid foundation for meaningful support and future developments.
Jointly, we will boost the assistance dog concept through quality assurance, impactful support and research.
What we do and why
Lack of clear and appropriate regulations
Regulatory bodies worldwide have failed to provide clear and supportive regulations. No country has been able to formulate frameworks that match the many considerations required by the interspecies, complex, and highly individualized assistance dog concept. Legislation is often written too vaguely to have the required impact and improve the life of assistance dog teams. The lack of meaningful definitions and standards further opens doors to misuse.
It is important to clearly distinguish assistance dog teams from other forms of animal assisted intervention. All of them work on the premise that the presence of and interaction with an animal may benefit humans. However, the requirements for a qualified assistance dog team – and even more so, an A-team – are much higher. If these requirements are not being fulfilled, the consequence may be a significant negative impact on the human’s or dog’s welfare, including possible endangerment and injury.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), for example, granted assistance dogs strong access rights. At the same time, however, it prohibited managers to request any proof or qualification that the dog is, indeed, a qualified assistance dog. While the initial intention might have been to prevent invasion of the handlers’ privacy, it has opened the concept up for misuse on a large scale, adding new problems to the topic of access rights.
In some EU countries, entirely new assistance dog categories, such as assistance dogs for “psycho-social impairments”, have been signed into law – without a clear definition of requirements for dog and handler, or international recognition of this type of assistance dog. Such laws suggest that any person with any social or psychological issues, with an unlimited range of interpretations, qualifies for assistance dog status for their dog, distorting the concept.
This lack of definitions blurs boundaries between assistance dogs and emotional support animals – feeding misconceptions and confusion. Acceptance of qualified assistance dog teams is negatively impacted by this lack of definition and oversight. Support from the public, as well as other stakeholders, is crucial for qualified handlers who depend on their dogs for mitigating their disabilities, for autonomy and safety. Misinformation, vague standards and definitions, and misuse of the assistance dog concept, however, undermine public safety and goodwill. Distortions of the concept have quickly grown into a substantial threat to the future of qualified assistance dog teams. A flood of unsubstantiated IDs is available online, leaving the public, stakeholders and funders overwhelmed and struggling to distinguish qualified teams from fraudulent ones.
Attempted solutions, such as laws, repeatedly fail to give justice to this unique and highly individualized concept. They typically focus on the assistance dog — is it a tool or an aide, that will be tested and then work like a robot, forever after? Is it a servant, happy with having food and shelter, and following conditioned patterns? Or maybe assistance dog are more like a Lassie, finding solutions and saving the day out of the goodness of their hearts?
Laws and ordinances are often skewed by lobby or written by government clerks with only superficial insights into the concept. They focus on the dog and avoid the source of true greatness — the handler. Country after country, assistance dog teams find themselves burdened with more and more requirements. Each new law raises costs, without effectively solving the fundamental issues around funding and access rights.
Independent nonprofit
Being an independent nonprofit organization, Assistance Dog Foundation is free from interest group lobby or political constraints.
This independence is guaranteed by our founding documents, as well as those of our directly associated organizations. We do not train assistance dog teams, and never will. We may collaborate with qualified partners, but only if our independence is not at risk.
Our supervisory board monitors all major decisions. Our work is further supported by our honorary advisory board.
A-fdn’s independence is key to fostering dialogue among all stakeholders and reconciling their diverse interests. It is a truly unique and valuable attribute within the assistance dog sector. Freely considering all stakeholders — handlers, assistance dogs, professionals, public, and funders — as an impartial organization, we strive to forge the path most likely to positively impact the assistance dog concept as a whole.
Our vision is to support the assistance dog sector worldwide, but this requires a step-by-step process and a global alliance of supporters.
Quality management
Embracing that perfection is unattainable, our commitment to excellence drives us to continuously refine our standards and practices. We view quality as a dynamic, evolving process, grounded in ongoing review, thoughtful reflection, and purposeful improvement. This dedication to continuous progress ensures that we uphold thoughtful and responsive quality management in every aspect of our work.
Acknowledgements
Our heartfelt gratitude extends to everyone who shared their thoughts and engagement. Over the last decade, our mission has been shaped and refined by countless conversations, interacting with the full spectrum of stakeholders in the assistance dog sector.
Thank you to all who participated:
Countless assistance dog handlers from all walks of life, assistance dog professionals, animal welfare advocates, researchers, government officials, hygiene experts, funders, and members of the public. Your feedback helped us evolve and find a middle ground within extremes.
A big thank you also to the Boards of A-fdn for their wisdom, constructive criticism, and encouragement.
Our deepest appreciation goes to the participants of our 2024 workshop, setting important foundations for our future path.
Special thanks also go to our focus group members. Your passion and critical feedback continuously advance our views and processes and sustain ongoing growth. Your insights have been crucial.
Government
Regular exchanges and joint projects with the German Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales, BMAS) have impacted our path. We are also grateful for our exchanges with the German government’s disabilities commissioner, Jürgen Dusel, various members of the parliament, and the main parties’ commissioners for topics relating to people with disabilities.
Members of the public and funding bodies
A 3-year nationwide access campaign in Germany enabled us to speak with thousands of members of the public, as well as funding bodies, and to deeply understand their concerns and needs. Some issues arise out of lack of familiarity with this quite new concept. Others are rooted in the quality management.
Norming sessions Existing guidelines and formats influencing our Public Access Test
The inspiring discourse and discussions with experts in the norming process for the European CEN-standard “Assistance dogs” has enriched our perspective since 2017. The standard is in the DNA of our Public Access Test, and an important first step to defining quality and requirements.
Various public access tests from organizations like Assistance Dog International (ADI), BHV, the Britisch Columbia Guide Dog and Service Dog Assessment, the Service Dog Pass by AKC and various other assistance dog assessments have been considered as well.
Our certification process documents, scheduled to be published in the second half of 2025 as we start conducting Public Access Tests, exceed and, if required, may align with:
- “Qualitätskriterien” regarding guide dogs from the GKV-Spitzenverband.
- The German Assistenzhundeverordnung, specifying details for §12 e-l BGG.
- The requirements by Messerli Institute/Vienna.
National requirements or specific criteria can be considered, if the handler or their funding body request them and they do not contradict our values.
Every successful assistance dog team is rooted in a shared partnership between human and dog that is sentient, caring, and effective. It is based on:
- mutual care, respect and benefits,
- committed collaboration,
- a solid education, and
- an extended network.
Shifted paradigms
Traditionally, policies and standards almost exclusively focused on the needs of the handlers, portraying them as passive recipients, their assistance dogs as “medical aids”, and reducing the concept to the mitigation of disabilities. A-fdn rejects this narrative, unfortunately still alive today, as well as the ableist attitudes at their root — a discriminatory world view that is quick to judge those who are different as inferior or less competent.
Focusing on the assistance dog outside the partnership context disrespects the role of the handler – the bedrock of every successful assistance dog team. It is the handler who contributes a wide range of competencies to make the assistance dog team flourish and who is ultimately responsible for its long-term, working success.
Today, paradigms are shifting: away from highlighting differences, towards increasing awareness of the inherent equality of the other. The perception of individuals with disabilities, as well as relationships between humans and other species, have changed drastically in the last few decades. Every assistance dog team can only be successful, if the handler is not a passive object, but the competent and caring subject within the partnership.
Leadership of the Handler
For this reason, we do not solely evaluate the performance and behavior of the assistance dogs, as is still common practice in most other exams and legal ordinances. This exclusive focus on the dog ignores the role of the human partner and is deeply disrespectful of the handler’s role in any successful team.
Our Public Access Test acknowledges that the human partner, the handler, facilitates the success of the human-dog partnership through competent guidance and leadership. Like other working dogs (for example those active for police and military, search and rescue, or scent detection), great performance of the assistance dog is only possible through teamwork, and rooted in the handlers’ competence, management, and care.
Ultimately, the competence of the handler impacts all aspects of the team’s performance and welfare. It is expressed through:
- The leadership of the handler, providing guidance to the dog, in private and in public,
- the highly educated behavior and performance of the assistance dog,
- the dog’s welfare, safe and guarded in all five domains,
- choosing the best assistance dog professional and approach,
- all decisions made before, during and after the working partnership,
- the team’s interaction with the public.
In this spirit, all aspects of our Public Access Test shall be understood as the responsibility of the handlers and an expression of their competence. This mindset remains valid, even if it may not be worded as such in every single case for brevity’s sake.
Building and maintaining a successful partnership requires numerous competencies of the handler and prerequisites in the environment.
Our Public Access Test verifies that the handler:
- has a verified disability and a clear need for the tasks of the assistance dog,
- is committed to the partnership and the Five Domains Model of Animal Welfare,
- is a reliable source of calm and leadership for the dog,
- guides the dog with continuous education and practice,
- works effectively with the assistance dog, anticipating and meeting its needs,
- maintains a predictable daily structure, routine, and balanced work-life,
- knows how to read and interpret the dog’s behavior,
- provides the dog with plenty of leisure time and relaxation,
- protects the dog from excessive stress,
- is knowledgeable regarding dog training, nutrition, canine health and welfare,
- proactively utilizes support and guidance from suitable assistance dog professionals and training concepts,
- has access to resources for the dog’s lifelong health care and welfare,
- is committed to advancing therapy and medical treatment, if applicable,
- safely and discreetly manages their dog in public,
- advocates and provides education around public access,
- lives in a supportive household/community (both humans and other pets),
- lives in an environment that does not pose welfare risks for the dog,
- has a reliable support network for times of crises, who can provide support on short notice,
- minimizes dangers or welfare risks to dog and/or self.
If a third person is assuming responsible roles in the assistance dog team, this third person assumes or shares the handler role.
For simplicity, this option is included in the terminologies “team”, “partnership” and “handler.”
Arrangements where the dog is expected to assist multiple individuals with disabilities are not admitted to our Public Access Test.
Access rights are granted to assistance dogs even where companion dogs are not permitted. When accompanying their handler, assistance dogs are considered medical aids to mitigate disabilities of their handlers. Consequently, even certified assistance dogs only enjoy these access rights when accompanied by their human partners, for whom they have been trained, and who require them for autonomy and/or safety. This is also the reason dogs in training or retirement have the status of companion dogs, not assistance dogs.
Living with a dog can offer various benefits. These can result from the dog’s prosocial behavior, providing emotional support and helping people enjoy a better quality of life. Lifestyle changes caused by the dog, such as regular walks, can also benefit general wellbeing. However, the assistance provided by assistance dogs is very different from what dogs provide, simply because it is in their nature, or as a result of the bond with their owners.
Required number of tasks
A guide dog usually learns about 50 tasks, and most assistance dogs master five tasks or more. However, since the tasks accepted in our Public Access Test must fulfil the 12 strict criteria listed below, there may be partnerships in which only one task is recognized. However, this one assistance may be of essential importance to the assistance dog owner and fully justify the status of an assistance dog. After critical and thorough examination, the A-fdn may therefore even accept a single task as a sufficient reason for recognition as an assistance dog and admit them to the Public Access Test.
The following is an attempt to provide a comprehensive definition. Taken together, these 12 aspects form the first decision-making framework of its kind to determine the validity of an assistance dog task. A humane assistance dog task …
1 – … significantly mitigates the disability of the assistance dog handler, increasing autonomy and participation in public life.
Recognized assistance tasks support a more autonomous life and contribute to the fulfillment of basic needs in daily life. They mitigate the impairments of the human partner, thus improving autonomy. Often the tasks improve safety and prevent additional health risks. Which tasks fulfil this criterion depends on the individual circumstances and needs.
Retrieving an object, for example, can be an important task for the autonomy and safety of a person with limited mobility. However, if a person could fetch the object themselves with reasonable effort, this activity is not an assistance dog task. When in doubt, we may request a medical opinion to put the assistance dog tasks into context.
Even if the tasks of a dog are needed to mitigate disabilities, it qualifies for the Public Access Test only if they are required for autonomous access to public places. It is not the task alone that defines an assistance dog, but additionally the need for the task in public places.
For example, clearing out the washing machine can be a great help for a person with limited mobility. However, if the person can otherwise move autonomously and safely and does not have a justified need for tasks in the public space, such a team would not be admitted to the Public Access Test. The same applies, for example, if a dog is trained to provide tasks around the house for a bedridden person. This distinction does not mean that these tasks are less valuable, but rather, that the Public Access Test is not the right fit in these situations.
2 – … is a joint team effort of the assistance dog and the human partner.
An assistance dog task is never done by the dog in isolation. It is always done in interaction with the handler and rooted in their partnership. The old view of the assistance dog as a trained aide that provides tasks to a rather passive recipient is long outdated, and has never worked this way. The assistance dog needs the leadership and care of the handler to succeed as an assistance dog team. In consequence, the handler is a core factor in every successful task. Even in situations where the assistance dog executes the task autonomously, it is ultimately the handler who manages the team, designs daily strategies, practices the tasks continuously, and ensures a humane and successful partnership.
The better the handler’s leadership is, the less obvious it may seem. This is why, to the untrained eye, the role of the handler often only becomes apparent when a problem in the communication causes a delay or the failure of a task.
3 – … has higher utility than alternatives available by other means.
Technology or changes in routine can sometimes replace traditional tasks provided by an assistance dog. An assistance task is therefore only recognized if there is no comparable solution for the situation.
Technological advances could potentially make traditional tasks superfluous in the future, and this should be considered in the definition of an assistance dog task. Implants that send a blood sugar alarm to smartphones. Lights that can be switched on and off by voice. Emergency wearables that activate a rescue service. Smart home devices that open doors and windows — where meaningful, these may all be good replacement for assistance dog tasks.
New alternatives, for example AI and robotics, can be expected to replace assistance dog tasks in many areas in the near future. However, being a highly individualized solution, it will remain highly beneficial and irreplaceable in others. Continually reflecting on the framework and evaluating the individual situation is key to securing the future of the assistance dog concept.
4 – … is a conditioned behavior and can be tested based on these conditioned cues.
Conditioned behavior is defined as a conditioned response to a specific stimulus. This can be, for example, a clear verbal signal, body language, a change in the environment or in the condition of the human partner. In contrast to spontaneous behavior, which the dog improvises, conditioned tasks ensure clear processes and reliable results. Proper conditioning creates predictability for the dog and reduces stress, even in an inherently stressful situation. Thorough training results in an assistance dog that confidently knows what to do and when their task is completed.
To condition the task, it is usually broken down into small steps that build on each other. These are practiced with positive reinforcement until the dog has reliably mastered the sequence and automation has developed. Conditioning can also be based on behavior that the dog offers voluntarily. If this is rewarded very promptly, the behavior can be formed into a task.
With well established teams, automatism can often occur, i.e., tasks and desired behaviors appear to take place without instructions or signals. Automatism is an advanced mode, yet based on conditioned behavior, even if that is no longer fully perceptible.
If an assistance dog can only perform a task in a real emergency so that it cannot be demonstrated, it is typically not a task that has been properly conditioned. Especially in very stressful situations such as a health crisis or seizure, tasks should be conditioned in such a way that the dog learns to react routinely to specific changes (smell, body language, breathing, etc.). The difference between spontaneous behavior, which is highly stressful for the dog, and a conditioned task is that the task can be triggered by the conditioned cues regardless of a real crisis.
An exception to this are situations that have been professionally conditioned by a third party during crises, but which cannot be triggered by simulated signals. In these cases, the A-fdn accepts a signed declaration from the owner and trainer that the assistance dog has been comprehensively conditioned and can provide assistance with a high degree of reliability.
5 – … is carried out reliably, even under distractions/difficult circumstances.
Every assistance dog team encounters unexpected situations. The training of the assistance dog must be so thorough that the dog can also perform tasks in unusual situations with a high level of reliability. This means, for example, that an assistance dog can also bring the telephone when it is not in its usual place. The assistance dog is not distracted by other people or inconveniences. It can solve common problems – opening a slammed door or bringing the emergency bag even if something covers it, for example.
6 – … respects the Five Domains Model of Animal Welfare at all times.
Tasks must be consistent with the Five Domains Model of Animal Welfare during training and implementation. Naturally, violence and the use of pressure are inacceptable. For example, the dog must not be conditioned or expected to work without proper meals. The owner must ensure at all times that the dog’s needs are met during training and work, that stress is reduced, and that the dog’s personality is respected. Work must be modified or cancelled if it conflicts with the five-domain model of animal welfare (walking on hot asphalt, long periods without fresh drinking water, unreasonably long working hours).
7 – … requires that the dog is suitable for the task and interested in it.
Many factors, including physique and typical breed characteristics, psyche, temperament, personal background, emotions and other factors determine the dog’s suitability. If a dog is not suitable for a task, they should not be asked to perform it. The same applies to tasks that (1) the dog would have to be forced to perform because they are not really interested in them, or (2) they could perform but would have to deny their feelings excessively (see literature on the subject of “emotional labor”).
8 – … is appropriate for the dog in terms of the scope and intensity of the task required.
The job of an assistance dog is strenuous. It requires a high level of discipline and concentration. When health crises intensify or the dog is exposed to situations that are unfamiliar, this is likely to result in increased stress levels, even if the task has been extensively conditioned.
Dogs generally need about 18 hours of rest per day. A maximum of 2 to 3 working hours should therefore not be exceeded, based on the sum of all work phases interrupted by rest periods.
If excessively stressful days only occur sporadically and rarely, it must be ensured that the dog enjoys a sufficient, less demanding recovery phase. If the frequency, duration, and intensity of the work is so high that the assistance dog is permanently overtaxed, this concept is no longer the right solution.
“Dual purpose” assistance dogs, i.e., dogs that are trained for more than one disability, are particularly at risk of being overtaxed. It is important to carefully evaluate in advance – and to check again and again – whether the scope and amount of work is appropriate for the dog. In addition, explicit strategies should be conditioned, so the dog is confidently making sound decisions, when tasks overlap, e.g., if the dog notices an impending health crisis while guiding their owner through the city.
9 – … is conditioned in such a way that potential harm to the assistance dog handler, the dog, or the public is avoided.
A task is not accepted if it exposes the dog, handler, or others to direct or potential danger. This also applies if they increase the risk of danger because they exceed the reasonable capabilities of an assistance dog. A task that is based on the assistance dog making independent decisions and taking responsibility for the team that go beyond conditioned behavior is inappropriate. A guide dog will be conditioned to stop and signal a street curb, but delegating responsibility, when it is safe to cross the street to the assistance dog, would be an excessively risky task and not acceptable.
Safety-related tasks must be performed with a very high degree of reliability and in a way that minimizes the risk of injury to the assistance dog handler and dog. Dog and handler should not be able to accidentally leave the conditioned safety area. At the same time, the owner should not be able to run into or trip over the dog, which would endanger both owner and dog.
The dog may not be exposed to dangerous, uncontrolled reactions that could injure it or cause pain, for example during a seizure accompanied by loss of consciousness or an autistic child reacting in an uninhibited manner.
Conditioning the dog to provide tasks during self-harming or suicidal behavior or uncontrollable and possibly violent mental states of the assistance dog handler presents a danger to the dog and is unacceptable. If such situations are to be expected, an assistance dog is not an appropriate solution.
Aggressive behavior of any kind, protective tasks, as well as any dangerous interaction with the public – such as the dog jumping up on others – disqualifies an assistance dog and should never be trained as a task.
10 – … does not jeopardize animal welfare in the long term.
In addition to the immediate consequences for animal welfare (6-9), tasks can also harbor long-term risks if carefully considered.
Example 1 – Psychological stress from compensating lack of guidance
Many assistance dogs learn to perform certain tasks independently. An assistance dog also learns to reliably regulate their emotions and impulses. Nevertheless, for long-term animal welfare, assistance dogs need reliable and responsible handlers who provide guidance and a calming influence. An assistance dog must rely on their handler as a secure partner and be able to rely on clear processes and a certain routine. If the assistance dog has to cope permanently or over longer periods without the handler being able to fill that role, their psychological well-being is at risk. This can happen if the owner is too frequently preoccupied with themselves or always inconsistent in their behavior and communication.
Example 2 – Moving or carrying disproportionately heavy weight
Pulling, pushing and stabilization tasks in which the assistance dog is required to carry or move the body weight of the assistance dog owner, for example, are not acceptable forms of assistance. They should not be conditioned out of concern for animal welfare. Accordingly, assistance dogs should not be asked to pull or push their handler in a wheelchair.
Being guided by the dog always requires the full, active participation of the handler. Asking an assistance dog to pull the owner by themselves, i.e., to physically move all or most of their weight, is an unacceptable form of assistance and should not be required of the dog. Alternative aids – never the assistance dog – should be used for standing up/sitting down, for locomotion and for support with unsteady balance or gait, for example.
The assistance dog can provide effective support for orientation or balance as long as the weight on the assistance dog is typically minimal, comparable to someone loosely hooking onto another person’s arm.
11 – … minimizes impact to the public.
There is always a possibility that a member of the public feels inconvenienced by a task, or even the mere presence of the assistance dog. This by itself is not a reason to question the legitimacy of a task, and should never be construed to refuse assistance dogs into places such as grocery stores or restaurants. A certain degree of inconveniencing each other is inherent in living together as a society and perfectly acceptable. Just as we all depend on the tolerance of others at times, the assistance dog team should be able to rely on tolerance even during the occasional error or misstep. Yet, it is essential for an acceptable task to minimize negative impact on others, wherever possible.
It is therefore unacceptable out of consideration for others, to deliberately block an entire aisle in a shop, for example, or to allow the assistance dog to come into contact with unpackaged food. Even if such tasks may be of benefit to the handler, they are not appropriate as they cause disproportionate inconvenience to others.
12 – … harmonizes with existing therapy concepts.
Tasks should not contradict therapeutic progress. Asking a PTSD assistance dog to search rooms before entering them is no longer recommended. It would regularly reinforce the feeling of imminent danger and therefore contradict the goals of trauma therapy, which is to restore a feeling of safety in everyday life.
There is also debate whether tasks that require the assistance dog to calm the handler in situations of agitation are appropriate. Concerns go beyond animal welfare, arguing that such tasks might also reinforce an undesired state, especially with children, as they may be perceived as an intrinsic reward. Some experts suggest that tasks may be more effective if the assistance dog offers them after the actual crisis. In the phase following a “meltdown”, often characterized by frustration and exhaustion, a calming task may more effectively enable and reward relaxation and communication.
Assistance dogs work in an increasing number of areas, see overview of assistance dog types. They live in a symbiotic, typically 24/7 partnership with their human. Performing valid and significant assistance dog tasks, however, is only a small part of the skills required. Most of the education focuses on preparing the dog to accompany the handler in all situations life may present. Enhancing autonomy, assistance dog teams have access to all public spaces where people in street clothes may enter.
Having public access, where companion dogs and emotional support animals do not, mandates that the assistance dog has a high degree of professionalism, impulse control, stress tolerance and endurance. Assistance dogs need to perform substantial emotional labor on top of physical demands. They need to act calmly and confidently, in myriad environments and circumstances, while remaining able to carry out tasks reliably, even amidst distractions.
Assistance dogs are selected for their suitability for this career. Aside from physical criteria and aptitude, the dogs’ personality and temperament has to match, resulting in a dog that enjoys the work and has the “will to please.”
Typically, just one of three apprentices continues to become a successful assistance dog, even with thorough socialization and extensive education. The assistance dog’s performance ultimately also hinges on an educated, competent handler – success is always achieved as a team.
Our Public Access Test certifies that the assistance dog:
- mitigates the disabilities of the human partner through tasks, as defined above,
- works with high professionalism in regards to impulse control, emotional labor and stress tolerance,
- displays calm and confident social and environmental behavior,
- does not act fearful, anxious, nervous, aggressive, catatonic, or overly energetic,
- is discreet in public places,
- is suited for and interested in their work,
- has welfare needs met according to the Five Domains of Animal Welfare,
- enjoys a healthy the work-life-balance.
These complex requirements are the reason for the long education of approx. two years. Teams more frequently fail the Public Access Test for these behavioral requirements than the actual tasks themselves.
Dogs in training or retired assistance dogs are considered regular companion dogs/pets. Such dogs do not receive special support from A-fdn or access rights. A-fdn recognizes, however, that in transitional phases, a handler may live with two assistance dogs. Managing such a transitional phase is the responsibility of the human partner.
Multiple active duty assistance dogs are very rare and only admitted if there is a strong case for making an exception. In such cases, the Public Access Test has to be passed with both dogs, either together or separately, depending on the living arrangement.
It should be noted that legislation typically grants access rights to one assistance dog only, so the handler may have to make arrangements accordingly.
No two assistance dog teams are ever alike. A fair and objective assessment is therefore no easy task, and requires experience and care.
Currently in the pilot phase, our Public Access Test is scheduled to be available in select countries in 2025, with plans to grow it into a global offering. Join the waiting list
We guarantee an independent mindset, impartial assessments, detailed quality management processes, and an exam that considers the needs and welfare of all stakeholders. Being voluntary, Assistance Dog Foundation strives to support certified teams with an increasing number of benefits. Assistance Dog Foundation grants its certificate after successful assessment. Teams passing with “good” or “excellent” grades may select to become A-Teams.
A-fdn’s patent-pending, video-based Public Access Test assesses each assistance dog team with maximum fairness and objectivity. Each step is meticulously documented for transparency and quality management, to comply and exceed universally recognized certification standards. At the same time, respects the individual needs of each team, minimizing stress wherever possible.
Benefits of our certification process
- Video-based, fair and transparent.
- Standard-based, comparable, yet individualized.
- Maximum adaptation to the needs of the handler.
- Continuous video documentation from multiple perspectives.
- Detailed, focused evaluation by three examiners.
- Examiners are only provided essential details to avoid bias.
- Examiners evaluate without coordinating with the others.
- Video-evaluation allows for objective review without distractions subjective distortions or
- Typically takes place in familiar surroundings
- Video proctor is not the person evaluating the team
- Low-stress option for human and dog.
- Relaxed and well-organized
- detailed quality management carefully tracks the performance of all involved to ensure consistent and optimal quality
- Assessors are two experienced assistance dog professionals and a handler living with similar disabilities
- Video footage of areas needing improvement may be shared with handler and their assistance dog professional for targeted remediation.
- Video allows interested parties to view the exam without travel and increased distractions/stress.
- Allows more flexibility, such as breaks during the exam, changes in schedules or breaking up the exam over multiple days.
- Three examiners who are experienced assistance dog professionals and validated
- At least one examiner is a qualified handler living with similar assistance dog (“Nothing about us without us” – UN-CRPD).
- Other examiners unknown to examiners and may not talk about active assignments.
- assessments solely based on genuine, unbiased observation and expertise
- quality management processes and highlight potential performance issues early on.
- accessible and flexible format, removes the need for examiners to travel or adhere to a strict schedule.
Upon request, representatives of the funding agency or pertinent self-help organization may be included in the assessment process. This removes a need for travelling to the location of the video-documented exam.
The Public Access Test is administered and certified by an independent and impartial organization. To further avoid bias, examiners receive only very minimal information about the assistance dog team’s background. They do not know what school, if any, has educated the team, their diagnosis, name, or location. They also do not know who the other examiners are and how they rated the assistance dog team.
Individualized
The Public Access Test is based on this document and the team’s individual Training Agreement, see Appendix IV, developed and signed by both handler and assistance dog professional. A-fdn aims to accommodate the needs of the assistance dog team as much as possible during the exam. It typically takes place close to home and considers suggestions by the handler, as long as compliance with the framework and comparability is maintained.
Quality Management and Data Protection
A quality management system according to DIN ISO 9001:2015 ensures that processes follow clearly described processes and that feedback is utilized to improve the system. An external data protection officer safeguards your personal information. All persons or organizations that (could) come into contact with a handler’s data are bound by strict data protection clauses in their contracts. All steps and documents in the Public Access Test are defined in detailed project management steps and subject to process and quality management review.
A-fdn actively solicits feedback and suggestions for ongoing refinement of these processes.
An Exam … and a Learning Process
Thanks to this extensive video documentation, even a failed exam can be a stepping stone to progress by providing clear feedback and a useful learning experience for the handler. At times, A-fdn cannot let a team pass due to a substantial problem. The extensive video documentation created allows A-fdn to describe and illustrate the problem, exactly as it occurred. If recommended by the examiners, a follow-up exam can be scheduled after the team has had time to improve the issue.
5 – Video-documented Public Access Test/certification
The team examination can take place once all the necessary documents have been approved and the theory test has been passed. The date is determined jointly by the handler, exam supervisor and video proctor.
A – Objective
The purpose of the Public Access Test is to certify that handler and assistance dog move safely and unobtrusively as a team in the public at all times, and that the requirements defined in the education agreement have been met.
Passing the Public Access Test is less about perfection, but rather that handler and assistance dog work well together as a team, have built a good partnership, communicate effectively and can solve problems together as they arise. A-fdn’s criteria explicitly leave room for the fact that assistance dogs and humans are not machines, but individuals. It is therefore not necessarily a mistake if an assistance dog reacts to a new situation with interest, slight hesitation or playfulness. As long as the dog focuses again, quickly and with minimal prompting, on the handler and its tasks.
B – Procedure
Technical procedure
The Public Access Test is recorded from multiple perspectives with 360-degree cameras. The video proctor manages the cameras and communicates with the exam supervisor via a secure conference call. The events on site are continuously live-streamed to the exam supervisor.
All processes are subject to quality management according DIN ISO 9001:2015 and ensure that the process is comparable for each team.
Adaptations based on individual needs
A-fdn aims to consider the individual needs and limitations of the handler in the best possible way. At the same time, it must be ensured that certified assistance dog teams demonstrate a comparable level of training and quality. The handler may communicate their needs through various documents during the registration and planning process. Where possible, individual circumstances are considered in the Public Access Test.
In rare occasions, when certain situations may not be possible for the handler without endangerment or undue stress, they may either be demonstrated by another person or an exemption may be requested by the handler. Such an exemption is only issued if a convincing argument is made and a corresponding statement is signed that a particular situation is unsafe for the handler and will never be entered into. This exemption is issued after careful consideration only. It is added to the certification document, as well as the team entry in the A-fdn registry. Any fraudulent use of the option for exemption will result in permanent revocation of the certification and bar the handler from future Public Access Tests.
Provisions
Handlers need to bring to the Public Access Test everything they would carry in everyday life. Leash, collar or chest harness, both with stops if tightening mechanism may be used, as well as a guiding harness for a dog with guiding function. A good fit may be checked. Head halter/“Halti” are only permitted in special circumstances, provided the handler uses it appropriately and humanely.
Whistles, laser pointers, clickers, toys, and treats are allowed as long as they are indicated at the beginning of the test and are used situationally, not continuously. Handlers should not have to use these methods to trigger or maintain a behavior (e.g., luring). If it is suspected that a handler compensates problems with luring, by using rewards excessively, the exam supervisor may limit their use during the exam. The team should not have to rely on rewards for reliable performance of tasks. If in doubt, the exam supervisor will take measures to assess if the task is only performed as a result of luring or whether it is learned and executed reliably. In accordance with the first Welfare Domain, the dog may not be expected to work for most or all of their nutrition in a hungry state. The handler must be able to provide the assistance dog with fresh water at all times – offering it to the dog at regular intervals.
Route and agenda
The Public Access Test generally follows a route that is mailed to the handler in the morning of the exam. The test takes place in a wide variety of settings (city, stores, park, etc.), in familiar and unfamiliar, low-distraction and high-distraction environments. The route ideally reflects normal everyday life. During the Public Access Test, the exam supervisor, observing via live stream, asks to see the specific tasks listed in the training agreement. It ensures the requirements for social, environmental and team behavior, as well as impulse control of the dog, are met. The route may be modified during the exam. Certain situations may be repeated as needed, upon the supervisor’s request.
Extraordinary circumstances (weather conditions, odors, etc.) that may not be apparent via video or sound are documented and communicated to the examiners.
Two phases
To minimize stress and ensure that handler and dog have sufficient rest, the Public Access Test is planned in two phases, typically one part in the morning and one part in the afternoon, on the same day. If all requirements are demonstrated in the first part, the second part is cancelled. In cases where the handler needs shorter exam units, the Public Access Test can be scheduled accordingly and possibly be spread out over several days. Spreading out the Public Access Test over several days may require an additional fee, plus additional travel reimbursement for the video proctor.
Unusual stress, such as exam stress, can trigger health crises. The handler is expressly granted the right to pause the examination at any time if their well-being so requires.
In the event of a crisis, the handler must be able to recover extensively. The decision to continue or postpone the Public Access Test is then made by the handler and exam supervisor jointly.
Continuous video coverage
During the Public Access Test, cameras and microphones remain on continuously. Any gap in documentation – for example because the team disappears for all cameras without proper communication – renders the exam invalid. A clearly documented pause in recording (e.g., during a long car journey or when dividing the test into segments) is permitted. After completion of the Public Access Test, all related documents and media are compressed, locked and archived on secure servers for 10 years.
What is being tested
Comprehensive criteria for behavioral requirements and individual tasks are listed in A-fdn’s training agreement (TA), signed by handler and assistance dog professional, ideally at the beginning of the dog’s education. The TA documents which tasks the dog has learned and which signals it has been conditioned with.
Safety-relevant criteria and tasks are underlined and required. A problem with an underlined assistance is rated more highly than a non-underlined one.
Omission
If certain tasks cannot be demonstrated by the handler due to the disability, another person familiar to the dog may demonstrate these tasks. Under a very limited set of conditions, a specific requirement may be omitted, if the handler declares a permanent inability to enter into this situation. Making a false statement will lead to revocation of the certification.
Third parties
If a caregiver and the assisted person share the handler role, both complete the exam together. In all other cases, a trusted person may observe the Public Access Test at the request of the handler, but must remain at a clear distance and stay behind the video proctor. Since video documentation can be requested in the event of disagreement, there is generally no need to accompany the test. The observer may not exert any influence on the assistance dog, the team or the examination. Comments, gestures or direct intervention in the proceedings are not permitted. Ultimately, the exam supervisor decides whether the observer influences the test inappropriately.
Interpreter
If necessary, the handler can involve an interpreter. Before the start of the Public Access Test, the interpreter guarantees to translate objectively and impartially. All communication with the handler is also recorded by video/audio.
Self-Assessment and feedback
Following the exam, the handler may express their own assessment. This self-assessment is shared with the examiners as an additional perspective.
As a final step, the handler may provide feedback regarding the organizational and administrative processes to enable continuous improvement. This feedback is part of A-fdn’s quality management and not communicated to the examiners.
6 – Assessment
A – Immediate Termination
The following situations lead to immediate termination of the Public Access Test and classification “failed”, regardless of how good individual performances may have been in other aspects. The exam supervisor decides on the possibility and conditions for readmission for a new Public Access Test in the event of termination.
1 – Assistance dog or team can cause a dangerous situation for themselves or others.
2 – Assistance dog shows aggressive or very fearful behavior.
3 – Assistance dog growls, howls or barks persistently or aggressively.
4 – Assistance dog pulls excessively, makes contact, sniffs, or jumps at people.
5 – The assistance dog is uncontrollable and does not follow the handler’s instructions. The dog relieves itself in an inappropriate place.
6 – Assistance dog needs persistent/excessive motivation and correction.
7 – Assistance dog shows severe stress and struggles or fails to fulfil its tasks.
8 – behavior of assistance dog indicates use of pain/suffering in training.
9 – Handler repeatedly gives incorrect or contradictory signals or with poor timing.
10 – Handler acts aggressively towards the assistance dog, other dogs or people.
11 – Handler uses violence against the assistance dog or others (incl. verbal violence).
12- Handler does not follow instructions by video proctor even after three notifications or acts with intent to deceive/cheat.
B – Assessment process
Each individual situation and task is assessed by the examiners independently of each other and confidentially documented in the assessment table, supplemented with comments as appropriate. The calculated value results in the grade, unless one or more examiners request an exception due to special circumstances and the others follow the reasoning.
The final grade is communicated on a scale of 0 to 15 (the highest possible score).
The examination is passed if the Public Access Test has been assessed as at least sufficient (6 or more points). Accordingly, an exam that was assessed with 0-5 points, i.e., unsatisfactory, means that the examination has not been passed.
If the assessment “unsatisfactory” is not unanimous, the critical situations are discussed based on detailed review of the video documentation. Should this discussion not result in a clear decision, the video is presented to additional examiners without communicating that there were differences of opinion or at what point. If a decision is supported by 75% of the examiners after this second assessment, it is considered confirmed. Otherwise, a supervisory body makes the final decision.
Assessment scale
11-15 = good (team is invited to become an A-team)
– Tasks are carried out as described, the desired behavior is shown.
– The dog is consistently well-behaved.
– The expression of the assistance dog is neutral or joyful, environmentally safe and socially balanced. The assistance dog is calm, focused and confident when working.
– The handler works in close partnership with the dog and, if necessary, provides appropriate support. The dog orients itself towards the handler.
6-10 = sufficient/satisfactory
– The execution of tasks or certain behaviors show shortcomings, but are still acceptable overall. – At times, it takes up to three attempts to complete the task or show the desired behavior.
– The assistance dog stops the undesired behavior with intervention.
– The assistance dog’s expressive behavior is slightly avoidant, slightly fearful, slightly imposing, or it is in a slightly higher state of reactivity.
– Handler can usually motivate the dog. The handler has sufficient strategies to improve the assistance dog’s behavior. If the handler gives incorrect, mixed or contradictory signals, these are corrected promptly.
– Handler usually reacts appropriately to the situation, usually praises the dog appropriately, is fair and pays attention to the dog’s needs.
0-5 = poor
– Execution of task or proper dog behavior is not acceptable or more than three attempts are required.
– The assistance dog cannot be controlled or only with constant attention/intervention.
– The assistance dog is highly agitated, offensively aggressive; environmentally or socially insecure.
– Assistance dog endangers itself, the handler or third parties (e.g., strong avoidance or escape behavior, jumping up at others, persistent barking or howling, threatening behavior and body language, etc.).
– Handler does not pay attention to the dog’s needs and state of mind.- Handler gives predominantly wrong or contradictory signals and is unaware of failed communication.
– Handler reacts inappropriately towards the dog (e.g., aggressive, very stressed, does not praise, does not interrupt inappropriate behavior).
– Handler gives signals and behavioral consequences insufficiently or too delayed.
E – Definition “Qualified A-team”
The following principles explain what A-fdn looks for in a handler and assistance dog, how A-fdn evaluates the assistance dog team, and the reasons for these standards. It further outlines the criteria for obtaining the additional recognition and special support as an A-team. A-fdn’s Public Access Test and compliance with this standard is entirely voluntary – just as the status of being a recognized A-team is an additional option for qualified teams.
It is not A-fdn’s role or intention to manage or regulate the assistance dog sector as a whole. A-fdn has no authority to stem the flood of “fake teams” or to doubt assistance dog teams who are not yet certified. Rather, A-fdn gives qualified assistance dog teams the option to gain recognition, while working tirelessly to provide steadily increasing support for these qualified teams A-teams.
By focusing on the positive and constructing a clearly defined standard, A-fdn aims to support the assistance dog concept. A-fdn stands for life-long quality assurance and improves acceptance, access rights and funding. The quality standards presented in this document foster true, caring partnerships and improve the lives of both handlers and assistance dogs through clear definitions, ethical frameworks, and documented, objective exams.
A-fdn’s Public Access Test uses a 15-point assessment scale. Passing requires 6 points or higher, resulting in a certificate attesting the assistance dog status and an entry in the Assistance Dog Foundation registry. This entry in the registry is confidential and accessible only if the link is shared.
Becoming a qualified A-team
Think of it as the Mercedes-star of the sector. Teams passing with 11 points or more are invited to apply for A-team status. These grades indicate a strong collaboration, consistent behavior and working results, and a caring, mutually beneficial partnership between handler and dog. A-teams share and align with the high standards of A-fdn and support their advancement as A-fdn ambassadors. They will receive an exclusive ID card and tag(s) from A-fdn, along with targeted and increasing support.
A-team status is optional, free of charge, and offered to qualified teams after the Public Access Test.
A-team status is available to assistance dog teams who
1 – agree with this standard and the Code of Honor,
2 – passed A-fdn’s Public Access Test with 11 points or more (good or excellent),
3 – signed an agreement that they align with A-fdn’s values and vision.
Benefits:
- Ongoing Support:
As we grow, so will the support we can provide to A-teams: From assistance with monthly expenses and veterinary care to a future where A-Fdn might be able to finance assistance dog teams. - Enhanced Advocacy:
A-teams are at the center of A-fdn’s focus in working toward legal and social recognition of assistance dog teams. A-fdn’s vision is that A-teams will consistently be granted full public access and societal inclusion. - Personal Growth:
A-teams join a forward-thinking movement that celebrates assistance dog teams and cherishes the handler’s role as the key to every good partnership.
ID and tags of A-teams
New A-teams receive their ID card and one tag for the harness or vest in the mail. Additional registered tags can be requested for a fee. ID and tags are issued to the A-team to identify their active status, and remain property of A-fdn.
A picture of the invalidated ID card and tags has to be transmitted to A-fdn as soon as the A-team status ends, for example because the assistance dog permanently stops working for the handler or the status was revoked (see aftercare).
Under no circumstances is it permitted to allow others to use the ID card or tags or to use them in another context.
Although it would be more satisfying to simply fund teams and thereby enable individuals with disabilities to be more mobile *today*, this would only help a tiny group. However, the real core of the problem lies in the lack of structures and the improvised nature of the sector.
In order to enable systematic support in the future, we are first focusing on the basics.
We are building understanding, developing independent structures and devising reliable ways of ensuring quality. These foundations can then be used to build effective care that does justice to all those involved.
There are still many barriers on the way to a reliable solution today that make it difficult to live successfully with
assistance dogs. Many arise from a lack of basic principles – an improvised career path, a lack of information, a lack of quality assurance.
An effective solution must consider all those involved: not only the people with assistance needs, but also the dogs, the trainers, the public and the sponsors.
Once clear structures have replaced the improvised standards, systematic support can be built on them – the path becomes easier and safer for everyone. There is still a long way to go. We can only do this together! We need your help to build effective structures and solid foundations as an independent organization.
From a 3-year access campaign in Germany, reaching 40 million people, to ongoing public outreach, we know that public outreach and legal defense are key to assistance dog teams acceptance and rightful inclusion.
People with disabilities have the right to unrestricted access and full participation in social, economic, cultural, civic and political life on an equal basis with others. Acting as medical aids, assistance dogs should have access to all public spaces that people in street clothes are generally allowed to enter.
This right is also articulated in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which has been ratified by 177 countries, including the EU. In addition, national laws around the world confirm the access rights of assistance dog teams and ensure that they can move freely and without discrimination. Accordion content.
Meaningful research in the area of anthrozoology, including ethics and behavioral studies, and veterinary science, continues to advance the concept and convince decision makers.