FAQ

What is the Difference Between Support Dogs and Assistance Dogs?

While both support dogs and assistance dogs provide valuable services, they have distinct roles, training, and legal recognition. Understanding these differences is crucial for determining their access rights and functionality.

Support Dogs (Companion or Emotional Support Animals)

• Purpose: Support dogs provide comfort and companionship. They may assist with emotional well-being for individuals dealing with stress, anxiety, or mental health challenges.
• Training: Support dogs do not undergo specialized training to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities. Their presence alone provides emotional comfort.
• Legal Rights: Support dogs are not legally recognized under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA). They are considered pets and do not have public access rights.
• Common Usage: Found in home settings or as therapy animals in hospitals, schools, or nursing homes, often under the supervision of an owner or handler.

Assistance Dogs

• Purpose: Assistance dogs are individually trained to perform specific tasks that directly mitigate a handler's disability. Examples include guiding individuals with visual impairments, alerting to medical conditions, and assisting with mobility.
• Training: These dogs undergo rigorous training to meet public access standards and master task-specific behaviors tailored to their handler's needs.
• Legal Rights: Assistance dogs are protected under the DDA 1992, granting them public access rights to accompany their handler in public places, including shops, public transportation, and workplaces.
• Common Usage: Assistance dogs work closely with their handlers in everyday life, enabling them to participate more fully in activities and environments that might otherwise be challenging due to their disability.

In summary, while support dogs provide emotional comfort, assistance dogs are considered medical aids due to their specialized training and task-based support for individuals with disabilities.

Comprehensive List of Tasks Assistance Dogs Perform

Assistance dogs are trained to perform a variety of tasks tailored to their handler’s specific needs. These tasks help mitigate the effects of the handler's disability and improve independence. Below is an extensive and comprehensive list of tasks categorized for better understanding.

Retrieval-Based Tasks

• Pick up dropped items like keys, coins, phones, wallets, or pens.
• Fetch items such as a drink from the refrigerator, medication, or a remote control.
• Retrieve objects out of reach on shelves, counters, or tables.
• Assist with unloading groceries, carrying bags, or tidying by collecting scattered items.
• Deliver items from the handler to another person, such as a note, phone, or wallet.
• Carry supplies or small bags for the handler over short distances.

Mobility Support Tasks

• Provide bracing for handlers to sit or stand up safely.
• Assist with balance and stability while walking, climbing stairs, or navigating uneven terrain.
• Help pull a manual wheelchair or push automatic door buttons.
• Guide handlers around obstacles and hazards in crowded or unfamiliar spaces.
• Open and close doors, drawers, and cupboards using tug straps or paw nudges.
• Assist handlers with dressing or undressing, such as removing socks or jackets.

Alert and Response Tasks

• Alert to medical emergencies such as seizures, diabetic episodes, or panic attacks.
• Wake the handler during an alarm or emergency situation, such as a fire or smoke alarm.
• Provide tactile alerts for handlers with hearing impairments, such as notifying about doorbells or ringing phones.
• Recognize and respond to physical symptoms like low blood sugar or increased heart rate.
• Summon help by activating an emergency alert button or fetching a caregiver.
• Detect and alert to allergens, such as peanuts or specific substances, for individuals with severe allergies.

Therapeutic Support Tasks

• Provide deep pressure therapy to reduce anxiety or help during a sensory overload.
• Calm the handler by applying weight to their lap, chest, or back.
• Interrupt repetitive behaviors or panic symptoms through gentle nudges or distractions.
• Act as a physical buffer in crowded environments to reduce stress for the handler.
• Assist handlers with grounding techniques during flashbacks or emotional distress.

Emergency Assistance Tasks

• Guide handlers to the nearest exit in emergencies like fires or evacuations.
• Carry emergency medication or supplies to the handler or a caregiver.
• Retrieve a phone or alert emergency services by pressing a programmed button.
• Help a fallen handler by bringing them a phone or other communication device.
• Guide emergency responders to the handler's location.

Navigation and Guidance Tasks

• Guide handlers with visual impairments through streets, buildings, and intersections.
• Identify and lead to specific objects or places, such as elevators, chairs, or doorways.
• Assist handlers in crossing streets safely by identifying curbs or traffic patterns.
• Help handlers navigate crowded public spaces with minimal disruption.

IAADP Assistance Dog Standards

IAADP Minimum Training Standards for Public Access

1. Amount of Training: An assistance dog must receive at least 120 hours of training over six months or more, with 30 hours in public settings.
2. Obedience Training: The dog must master basic commands like "Sit," "Stay," and "Heel," even in distracting environments.
3. Manners and Social Behavior: Assistance dogs must demonstrate calmness, ignore distractions, and exhibit appropriate elimination habits in public.
4. Disability-Related Tasks: The dog must be trained to perform at least one specific task that mitigates the handler's disability.
5. Prohibited Training: Aggressive behaviors are strictly prohibited. Non-aggressive barking is permitted for specific alerts, such as medical needs.
6. Trainer Responsibilities: Trainers, including owner-trainers, must:
   • Understand relevant canine laws, including leash laws and public access regulations.
   • Ensure dogs are healthy, well-groomed, and up-to-date on vaccinations.
   • Use humane training methods and provide adequate rest breaks during training sessions.
   • Carry clean-up materials and maintain a respectful approach to public spaces.

Public Access Test (PACT)

The Public Access Test evaluates the dog’s readiness to work in public environments and ensures they meet IAADP standards for behavior, obedience, and reliability. This test includes:

• Ensuring the handler can control the dog in various scenarios, such as crowded spaces or unexpected distractions.
• Confirming the dog can remain calm and focused around food, other people, and animals.
• Demonstrating the team’s ability to safely navigate public spaces, including elevators, escalators, and public transportation.
• Testing the dog's ability to hold commands like "Stay" or "Leave It" in environments with high distractions.

Passing the Public Access Test demonstrates that the team is prepared to operate safely and confidently in public environments while adhering to IAADP standards.

Additional Resources

For more details on the IAADP Minimum Training Standards or to learn about the Public Access Test, visit the official IAADP website.