ADI | Standards for Training Guide Dogs

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These are intended to be minimum standards for all Guide Dog programs that want to be affiliated with ADI. All centers are encouraged to strive to work levels above the minimums.

The training program must demonstrate the knowledge of blindness and working with the visually impaired and/or blind clients.

1. Guide work training with program trainers must include a minimum of 50 sessions, each session being a minimum of ½ hour over a period no less than four months. At least 40 of these sessions must be devoted to field trips and public exposure.

2. The dog must be able to perform on leash, basic obedience skills with voice commands; sit, stay come, down, heel and recall.

3. The dog must show social behavior skills of no aggression, no nuisance barking, no biting, no snapping/growling, no jumping on or sniffing of people, no begging and no other inappropriate social behavior.

4. The Guide Dog will be trained to negotiate obstacles, overhangs, barriers, street crossings, city and country work and public transportation. Blindfold work must be included for each Guide Dog.

5. The training time with the student and dog must be at least 20 days for the first time guide dog user and at least 7 days for a successor Guide Dog user. All students will be given canine education on appropriate behavior, obedience, health care, retirement and user responsibilities as outlined in ADI's Minimum Standards for Assistance Dog Partners. The team must demonstrate proficiency in negotiating obstacles and handling city and country traffic situations.

6. The training program must require the recipient to complete a follow-up progress report as established by their program and offer follow-up care as needed.

7. The school will provide a laminated ID card with a photo of the graduate and dog and names of both. In public the Guide Dog will wear the program's appropriate guide harness.

8. The recipient must agree to abide all user responsibilities as outlined in ADI's Minimum Standards for Assistance Dog Partners.

9. At the onset of training, every dog will be will have passed a thorough medical evaluation to determine that the dogs does not have any physical problems that would cause difficulty for a working dog. Every dog will be spayed or neutered prior to placement.

10. It is the schools responsibility to inform the recipient of any special health and/or maintenance care requirements for each dog.

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Minimum Standards for Training Guide Dogs