Assistance Dogs Protocol
The Association of Australian Assistance Dogs (N.Q.) Inc. is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers who provide specially trained dogs to assist people with disabilities to achieve a measure of independence and to greatly improve the person's quality of life.
Before being accepted into the ASDOGS program, a dog must be declared physically and temperamentally sound by a committee of trainers and by a Vet, nominated by the Association.
To be accredited, an ASDOG is required to have had a minimum of 160 hours training, 30 - 40 percent in public, and to pass a stringent Public Access Test, which includes the dog being well-behaved at all times, and showing no signs of aggression whatsoever.
For a dog to be accredited, the accreditation must be conducted by an authorised person who is a member of Assistance Dogs International, which is the governing body.
When in public, the dog is always on lead and stays quietly and unobtrusively by the side of the handler. In the event of the lead being inadvertently dropped by a person with a disability, the dog stays quietly by the person's side.
When in public, the dog is always well groomed and easily identified by his distinctive orange jacket which displays the logo of the Association, and with the dog wearing his identity tag.
While working, an ASDOG does not interact in any way with other dogs or with people other than the handler, while still going quietly with another person in the event of the handler becoming incapacitated.
In a situation where the handler is required to be seated, the dog sits or lies under the table or close by the handler's chair.
In the event of a handler being requested to remove a dog from any establishment, the handler is to immediately comply, in a co-operative manner.
An application to become an ASDOG trainer must be approved by Management Committee and the training team as a worthy representative of our Association.
Trainers are, at all times, to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the high standard of professionalism required of ambassadors of the Association.