The A-team – characteristics and benefits
It is not our task to police the assistance dog sector.
Instead, we focus on the positive:
to uplift those teams who meet solid guidelines and are
certified through our comprehensive Public Access Test.
All teams passing A-fdn’s Public Access Test with 6 or more points on a 15-point assessment scale receive:
- a certificate and extensive written examiner feedback
- an ID card
- ID tags with the team’s number
- a confidential entry in our registry
- ongoing support.
Becoming a qualified A-team
Teams passing with 11 points or more are invited to apply for A-team status. Such a grade indicates strong collaboration, consistently high performance and results, and a caring, mutually beneficial partnership between handler and dog.
A-teams share and align with our guidelines and support their advancement as A-Fdn ambassadors. They will receive an exclusive, slightly upgraded ID card and tag(s) from A-Fdn, along with increased support.
A-team status is optional, free of charge, and offered to qualified teams after the Public Access Test.
Benefits:
In addition to the benefits that all certified teams enjoy, we support A-teams with:
- Ongoing Support:
As we grow, so will the support we can provide to A-teams: From increased assistance with monthly expenses and veterinary care to a future where A-Fdn might be able to finance assistance dog teams. - Enhanced Advocacy:
We join forces with A-teams to strive toward universal recognition of the assistance dog concept. A-Fdn’s vision is that A-teams will be granted full public access and societal inclusion, everywhere. - 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.