Minimum Standards for Dog Handlers of Visiting Social Dogs
and/or Individual Residential Social Dogs

Qualified dog handlers of social dogs will agree to the following responsibilities:
  1. Treat the dog with appreciation and respect.
  2. Treat all persons involved in programmes, clients and facility staff members, with respect.
  3. Maintain the dog's proper behaviour in public and at home.
  4. Follow prompt clean up of the dog's waste or arrange for it, if neccessary.
  5. Carry proper identification when required.
  6. Keep the dog well-groomed and well-cared for.
  7. Practise preventative health care for the dog.
  8. Obtain regular health checks and vaccinations for the dog.
  9. Abide by all leash and licence laws.
  10. Make sure that the dog is controllable and comfortable during the execution of AAA/AAT/AAE programmes and anytime it is within a facility and that the team is involved only in AAA/AAT/AAE programmes suitable for the team and their characteristics.
  11. Follow the training organisation's requirements for on-going training, progress reports, re-evaluation, registration and medical evaluations.
  12. Work in AAA/AAT/AAE programmes only with dog(s) with whom the handler has successfully passed the team evaluation and is registered through his/her organisation.
  13. Never try to gain public access with a social dog by passing the dog off as an assistance dog trained to augment an individual's autonomy.
  14. In the case of individual residential social dogs, the individual's support system must be educated regarding the member organisation's procedures in the event of emergency illness or death of their dog d/or the handler. In the case of visiting social dogs, nearest family/friends must be educated regarding the member organisation's procedures in the event of emergency illness or death of their dog d/or the handler.
back