The power of standards
Our certification processes and quality management follow the principles of international ISO standards. In partnership with an external institution, we provide comprehensive, comparable, fair, and well-documented certification with clear impartiality controls, independent decision-making, and continuous audit and feedback cycles.
Audit‑grade video minimizes bias and documents every step objectively and transparently, protecting privacy through restricted access and retention.
Quality as a humane process
Within this rigorous third-party framework, processes can be carefully adapted to consider the individual requirements and impairments of each assistance dog team.
National rules and practices requiring exceptions may be considered as well, once submitted for inclusion and embedded in the scheme via national addendum.
Why it matters
Qualified assistance dog teams need universal acceptance. They require a system that protects the handler’s autonomy, the dog’s welfare, and public confidence:
A clear answer is needed to the question:
“How can I recognize a qualified assistance dog team?”
ISO standards provide globally recognized answers.
Shared trust
At the same time, a certification scheme should be a living system, not just rigid regulation. Regular input from assistance dog experts — both handlers and service providers — as well as governments, funders, animal advocates, and civil society creates a certification that is more than a checklist — it’s a tool for trust.
Our certification scheme
While a third-party certification body conducts the certifications and decisions, the Assistance Dog Foundation manages the independent certification scheme. This approach became necessary, because a detailed review of existing standards and assessments showed that none of them were suitable to operate as an independent international ISO certification scheme as they were.
Most assessments largely focus on the dog. They ignore the fact that the handler’s competence is key to the success of this human-dog partnership. Our certification scheme explicitly honors the role of the handler as the leader responsible for the success of the team.
As of 2025, our certification scheme is in its final validation phase. Publication is expected for the spring of 2026. Stakeholders and policymakers are invited to contribute their thoughts and requirements. If you have not been contacted and would like to join in, please contact us.
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)
- The Austrian regulation, administered by the Messerli Institute,
- Guide Dog and Service Dog Regulation by British Columbia, Canada, the Service Dog Pass from AKC, and various assessments worldwide.
- The German Assistance Dog Ordinance, “AHundV”, detailing specifics regarding §12 e-l BGG, and years of advisory to the German government and the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
- The quality criteria of the German health insurance regarding guide dogs for the blind (“Qualitätskriterien”).
- The assistance dog assessment by the German BHV.
What is quality management?
Perfection is impossible. Quality management treats quality as a process: documented procedures, monitoring, and regular reviews drive improvement. We continuously collect feedback from all stakeholders and act on it.
We standardize how we assess, not how a team works. Individual solutions are welcome when they meet safety and welfare criteria. Our process acknowledges the highly individual character of the assistance dog concept. We therefore ensure that our standardized processes are not contradicting individuality.
We commit to rigorous and humane quality management.
Our scheme follows documented processes, independent oversight, and ongoing improvement aligned with ISO-principles. We consider all stakeholders: handlers, dogs, professionals, the public, and funders. We measure what matters, review objectives and results, and act on evidence.
All this, to protect the team’s welfare and the public’s trust.
