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MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ASSISTANCE DOGS IN PUBLIC

These are intended to be minimum standards for all assistance dog programs that are members or provisional members with ADI. All programs are encouraged to work at levels above the minimums.

The dog will be handled by a person with a disability or a third party directly working with a person with a disability.

1. Public appropriateness

*Dog is clean, well-groomed and does not have an
offensive odor.

*Dog does not urinate or defecate in inappropriate locations.

2. Behavior

*Dog does not solicit attention, visit or annoy any member
of the general public.

*Dog does not disrupt the normal course of business.

*Dog does not vocalize unnecessarily, i.e. barking, growling
or whining.

*Dog shows no aggression towards people or other animals.

*Dog does not solicit or steal food or other items from the
general public.

3. Training

*Dog is specifically trained to perform 3 or more tasks to
mitigate aspects of the client’s disability.

*Dog obeys the commands of the client, except in cases of
intelligent disobedience.

*Dog works calmly and quietly on harness, leash or other tether.

*Dog is able to perform its tasks in public.

*Dog must be able to lie quietly beside the handler without
blocking aisles, doorways, etc.

*Dog is trained to urinate and defecate on command.

          *Dog stays within 24" of its handler at all times unless
            the nature of a trained task requires it to be working at a
            greater distance.

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