Candy4me- Here are the ADI Minimum reqirements for service dog training:
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR TRAINING SERVICE DOGS
These are intended to be minimum standards for all service dog centers that want to be affiliated with ADI. All centers are encouraged to strive to work at levels above the minimums.
1. A minimum of one hundred twenty (120) hours of training over a period of no less than six (6) months, must take place under the supervision of a program's trainer. During that time at least thirty (30) hours of regularly scheduled training must be devoted to field trips and public exposure.
2. Basic obedience skills the dogs must master with voice and/or hand signals are: sit, stay come, down, heel and off leash recall.
3. The dog must show social behavior skills of no aggression, no inappropriate barking, no biting, no snapping/growling, no inappropriate jumping on strangers, no begging and no sniffing of people.
4. The service dog must be trained to perform at least three physical tasks.
5. The training time with the student prior to placement must be a minimum of no less than 60 hours. This is both public and private. All graduates must be given a solid education in appropriate behavior of the team. The dog should stay as invisible as possible and not interfere with people.
6. The training facility must require the recipient to complete a follow-up progress report once a month for the first six months following the placement. Personal contact will be done by qualified staff or program volunteer within twelve to eighteen (12-18) months of graduation and annually thereafter.
7. Identification of the Service Dog will be accomplished with a laminated ID card with a photo of the dog and partner and names of both recipient and dog. In public the dog must wear a harness, backpack or slicker with a logo that is clear and easy to read and identifiable as a service dog.
8. The staff of the training center must demonstrate knowledge of the disabilities of the clients it works with. Organization shall make available educational material on different disabilities.
9. The recipient must agree to abide by the Minimum Standards for Assistance Dog Partners.
10. At the onset of training, every dog will be spayed or neutered and will have a thorough medical evaluation to determine that the dog does not have any physical problems that would cause difficulty for a working dog. |