Our certification scheme
The independent Assistance Dog Foundation manages the framework for the assistance dog team certification by providing a certification scheme. The scheme defines in great detail what is being evaluated and how.
As is mandated to reach full ISO-compliance, a third-party certification body conducts the certifications and decisions according to the details outlined.
An in-depth review of existing standards and assessments revealed that none were compatible as an ISO certification scheme. Our scheme is developed with ISO-alignment in mind. It further considers the input of representatives of all stakeholders. The certification scheme will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, following ISO mandate.
As of 2026, our certification scheme enters its final validation phase.
Policymakers are invited to contribute their thoughts and requirements. The final scheme is published as the first certification cycle launches.
How our certification differs
Focus on the handler
The majority of assessments focus on the dog’s ability to perform tasks as a more or less singular actor. The handler’s competence receives less focus, despite the handler ultimately guiding the partnership and being responsible for the success of the team. Our certification scheme places the leadership of the handler at the center of the concept.
Standards—yet with flexibility
We standardize how we assess, not how a team works. To achieve this, we combine ISO-requirements with the required flexibility for individual solutions, where appropriate. As a result, our process acknowledges the highly personalized character of the assistance dog concept.
Our technologies
Our proprietary audit‑grade technologies minimize bias and document every step of the certification objectively and transparently, including the performance of the examiners. These processes are designed for the highest privacy protection. Access to personal information is carefully restricted and monitored by an external data protection agent.
Our quality management
Quality is a process. We commit to ongoing quality management that is both rigorous and humane.
Our certification scheme follows documented processes, independent oversight, and ongoing feedback cycles aligned with ISO-principles.
We actively and continuously request, process, and
act on feedback from all parties involved.
We review objectives and results, measure relevant KPI in our processes and act on collected insights.
All these steps have one goal:
To protect the teams’ welfare and the public’s trust.
The following works informed our current certification scheme:
- The European CEN standard “Assistance Dogs” (EN 17984-1 to -6) and extensive discourse with experts in all its technical committees.
- Publications by professional associations Assistance Dog International (ADI) and International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), among others.
- The Austrian regulation, administered by the Messerli Institute,
- Guide Dog and Service Dog Regulation by British Columbia, Canada; the Service Dog Pass from AKC; the assistance dog assessment by the German BHV; and various assessments worldwide.
- The German Assistance Dog Ordinance, “AHundV”, detailing specifics for §12 e-l BGG, and years of advisory to the German government and Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
- The quality criteria of the German health insurance regarding guide dogs for the blind (“Qualitätskriterien”).
