“Lending a Helping Paw”The role of assistance dogs

Peter Gorbing

Dogs for the Disabled UK

Assistance Dogs International

Assistance Dogs

Highly trained dogs to assist a person with a disability on a daily basis

Assistance Dogs provide support to people with a wide range of disabilities and conditions

Assistance Dogs

Autism

Mobility Support

Assistance Dogs

Guide dogs

Hearing dogs

Assistance Dogs

Medical detection

PTSD support

Assistance Dogs

Medical detection

PTSD support

Role of assistance dogs

Support individuals, and often the wider family and community, by providing peace of mind and a positive focus.

In addition to task work:

● Confidence

● Self esteem

● Ice-breaker

● Break down barriers

What defines an assistance dog?

● Very high standard of socialisation

● High level of task training

● High health and welfare input

How is assistance dog quality measured?

International accreditation processes

• Assistance Dogs International (ADI)

• International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF)

Key elements of accreditation

• Health and welfare standards – kennels, training, admin, client

• High level of client support

• Capacity of programs to respond to changes and new environments

• Quality of dog training

• Quality of client training

• Supporting policies and procedures

Worldwide team of assessors – 2-3 day visits

Why is accreditation important?

● Quality defines an assistance dog – needs to be measured

● Public access rights in many countries

● Professionalism – staff and programs

● Benchmark for entrants

● Campaigning tool – increase access rights

● Separates quality programs from ‘frauds’

● Ensures clients get what they need

Potential links with rescue centres

● Use of rescue dogs – some limitations

● Help with re-homing

● Joint use of facilities

● Joint training

● Promotion of positive good dogs do in society

● Joint projects – education, schools, young people

Future developments

● Greater range of assistance dogs

● Greater application of AAI

● Greater choice for clients through AAI

● Development of other models to meet need

e.g. PAWS – developing an international profile

Creation of AAI standards through Animal Assisted Intervention International (AAII)

Useful addresses

● Assistance Dogs International

www.assistancedogsinternational.org

● Animal Assisted Intervention International

www.animalassistedintervention.org

Assistance Dogs International

Thank You