What is a Service Dog?
Mobility Assistance Dog – Rising from a chair, picking up a phone, and retrieving a fallen object are simple tasks that can be daunting to a person with a physical challenge.
A Service Dog is a dog that has been specially trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as a guide dog, signal dog, or other animal trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.
Service dogs can benefit people with disabilities associated with varied diagnoses, including (but not limited to) spinal cord/head trauma, visual or hearing deficits, arthritis, ataxia/poor balance, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal bifida, seizure disorders, and psychiatric disabilities.
PTSD Tasks include searching a home before entering, looking both ways before entering A room, watching behind your back and creating a barrier to stop people approaching if it makes their companion nervous.
Hearing Dogs
A Hearing Dog: A door knock, a ringing telephone, a smoke alarm, and an alarm clock are sounds a person with a hearing impairment may be missing.
Our assistance training program prepares dogs to respond to and serve people with special needs.
Experienced trainers work with individuals and their dogs; This unique program offers IN-HOME training for the dog and owner.
Dogs For Life is Fully Accredited by Assistance Dogs International
www.assistancedogsinternational.org
Full Accreditation
2010-2014
Assistance Dogs International, Inc. is a coalition of not for profit organizations that train and place Assistance Dogs. The purpose of ADI is to improve the areas of training, placement, and utilization of Assistance Dogs as well as staff and volunteer education. Members of ADI meet regularly to share ideas, attend seminars, and conduct business regarding such things as educating the public about Assistance Dogs, and the legal rights of people with disabilities partnered with Assistance Dogs, setting standards and establishing guidelines and ethics for the training of these dogs, and improving the utilization and bonding of each team. ADI also publishes a newsletter for members and subscribers. If you are a not for profit provider of Assistance Dogs, ADI membership will be a benefit to you, and you can be a part of ADI’s mission.
ADI’s Mission
The objective of Assistance Dogs International, Inc. is to:
- Establish and promote standards of excellence in all areas of Assistance Dog acquisition, training and partnership
- Facilitate communication and learning among member organizations,
- Educate the public to the benefits of Assistance Dogs and ADI membership
Click here to view and download the new “About Training” Laws pertaining to Assistance Dogs.
Terminology
ADI uses terminology established by the industry that produces Assistance Dogs. The individuals who are partnered with these dogs have adopted this terminology. Terminology used in access laws varies from country to country and state to state. ADI is working to establish consistent terminology internationally.
Access Laws
ADI is working to establish consistent access laws with consistent terminology for individuals partnered with Assistance Dogs. Toward this effort, ADI has created a Model Law, to be presented to State Legislatures.
Basic obedience, AKC Canine Good Citizen, service, and hearing dog training occurs at the off-leash dog park.
