About assistance dog teams
What they do, what they need, their rights
Who are assistance dogs?
Qualified assistance dogs are carefully selected and receive intensive education, typically for over 20 months. Public access should always be established through an independent exam.
The assistance dog lives in permanent partnership with a person with disabilities. While their assistance increases autonomy, quality of life, and often safety through meaningful, trained tasks, the human handler provides leadership and care. Each successful partnership between human and dog is based on a balance of Give and Take.
Many people are familiar with guide dogs for the blind, but there are many other types of assistance dogs who are no less important. The concept is rapidly expanding.
Here are some of the common types of assistance dogs:
Visual impairment
guide around obstacles
Alert to both dangers and destinations
Hearing impairment
Display sounds
Warn of dangers
Retrieve lost items
Limited mobility
Retrieve objects
Operate doors/switches
Assist with undressing
Support balance
Epilepsy, narcolepsy, etc.
Alert to crises, get help
Retrieve medication
Protect and soothe
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Interrupt crises
Awaken from nightmares
Relieve sensory overload
Autism/FASD
Relieve sensory overload
Support routines
Diabetes, allergies
Detect allergens
Alert to crises at an early stage
How can I recognize assistance dogs?
Assistance dogs generally wear this equipment while working:
Correct behavior around assistance dog teams
Even if you have many questions and perhaps a dog treat in your pocket – please pay attention to these rules of conduct and safety instructions:
- Do not distract an assistance dog by stroking them without their human’s permission.
- Do not stare at the team – this can be unpleasant for both dog and human!
- Do not speak to the dog and do not lure them.
- Do not feed the dog.
Make it easy for an assistance dog teampartnership of a human with disabilities permanently living with a dog qualified to mitigate the impairments to continue their day undisturbed and safely:
- Make sure you give them as much space as possible.
- Keep your distance with your dog when an assistance dog is working and/or on a lead.
- Please also keep your dog on a lead.
- It’s fine to talk to the person, but avoid personal questions like “Why do you have an assistance dog”?
Access rights of assistance dog teams
An assistance dog is more than “just” a companion dog. They enable their human partner to participate in everyday life. That is why assistance dog teams have access rights wherever people in street clothes are allowed.
The right to “animal assistance” is enshrined in international law (UN Commission on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities/UN CRPD).
Only healthy, well-balanced, and reliable dogs can cope with the demanding training, so no problems can be expected from assistance dogs. As assistance dogs, they have the right of access to public places worldwide.
Hygiene? No problem!
Assistance dog teams are welcome wherever people in street clothes are welcome. This means that assistance dogs are also allowed in grocery stores, restaurants, cultural institutions, and in the medical sector. A ban on dogs does not affect them because they are not “dogs” but also fall under the umbrella of medical aids.
