The path to becoming an assistance dog is still a gamble. So far, there is no recognized career path, no comprehensive training with solid practical experience that can teach the many necessary skills. The profession is too demanding to learn by correspondence course, in a few seminars or simply to improvise it. At its core, the profession is not about making a dog an assistance dog, but about bringing a good human-animal team together and providing lifelong support. Since there is no recognized diploma yet, you will have to choose your assistance dog trainer based on a gut feeling and hearsay, despite great differences in quality. At the same time, the status quo does not do justice to good trainers. Although they are committed 24/7 to this demanding profession and provide multi-faceted expertise to their assistance dog teams, on paper they are merely "dog trainers." Without a professional diploma and a supportive professional association, they must face the many challenges and risks alone and without the recognition they deserve. Our solution: In order to meet the needs of humans and dogs, trainers need not only many years of experience and expertise, but also a wide range of professional, practical and social skills. With funding from the EU, Pfotenpiloten was able to evaluate the opportunities for a European professional association, which will soon become a reality under the name L.E.A.D.. The project is supported by many of the best schools and organizations in the sector. Brochure about L.E.A.D.. If all goes according to plan, the L.E.A.D. professional association will offer as early as 2025: a comprehensive training portal (free of charge), a collaboratively developed European training pathway, expert, objective certification, ongoing exchange and training, barrier-free access for people with disabilities to the profession. The diploma will be open to both non-profit and commercial trainers. The further implementation will require large investments - please help us to meet the challenges!

Guide dogs for the blind are paid for by health insurance in Germany, complete with a flat monthly fee. If there is a need for another type of assistance dog, you are completely on your own. Funding requests to the social system and court cases are almost always rejected. Foundations often hold back due to the improvised situation in the assistance dog sector - and having to collect donations for yourself can feel to some like begging and might feel degrading. So the only option is often to reach into the wallet yourself, if that's possible, with costs ranging from 18,000 to 60,000 euros. And while self-education can be a good idea in some circumstances, you should never choose this path for financial reasons. Our solution: The social system needs clear foundations to be able to support assistance dogs. How else should a case worker or judge be able to assess the need and suitability of the owners as well as the training of the assistance dogs? Only an independent answer to the question "How can I recognize an assistance dog team?", a clear distinction to companion dogs, as well as comprehensive scientific studies will enable solutions. Through our preliminary work, we are creating foundations to comprehensively promote assistance dog teams in the future. Until then, there is still a lot to do - please join in! Subscribe to our newsletter, follow the development on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Assistance dogs are important "aids" for their humans. The guide dog for the blind is even listed in the catalog of aids of the health insurance companies and is prescribed as such by the doctor in Germany. The list of health and social benefits from having an assistance dog is long. Owners in a good partnership often describe their assistance dog as a "lifesaver". Nevertheless - for this good partnership you need to continuously strengthen your relationship. A problematic partnership puts a strain on all involved, and a failed team can become a real problem for owner, dog and the public. An assistance dog is not a Lassie with an on and off button - not just a means to an end. He or she is extensively trained for their work. To do this, they need several hours of free time to offset their work per day and a human who acts as a reliable social partner. No matter what assistance you hope to receive from an assistance dog, the most important criteria remain: You love dogs, want to live your life in close partnership with a dog and are ready to take the dog into your heart as a family member. His needs will determine your daily schedule. He will also have a bad day sometimes and need you more than you need him - you should accept this from the bottom of your heart before you decide to use this "tool". Our approach: The focus of our work is not to provide assistance dogs, but to provide reliable support for assistance dog teams. This is not a quibble, but a fundamentally different perspective. The dog, well trained and eager to work, is never a tool, but always remains a dog, with its own needs and personality. This is not just about protecting the animal. In the long term, the concept will only unfold its potential for you, too, if you value your dog as a partner, make a conscious decision to live with a dog, and give and take are in balance.

The right to take assistance dogs where dogs are not otherwise allowed offsets the disadvantages for people with disabilities, who are able to participate in daily life with the learned tasks their dogs perform. Only well-trained assistance dogs who are willing to work and always behave safely and unobtrusively should be used in this role. Unfortunately, there are irresponsible people who selfishly pass off their companion dog as an assistance dog, even though they have neither the need nor an appropriately trained dog. This is not a trivial offense, it harms genuine assistance dog teams. So far, there is no generally accepted label that helps distinguish real from fake teams. A multitude of improvised signs or signs accessible only to subgroups of assistance dog teams create confusion. Assistance dog owners repeatedly encounter frustrating misunderstandings and unnecessary problems. A clear, protected sign, and most importantly, one that is independently assigned, is an important foundation for funding, access rights, and acceptance. Our approach: We are developing a comprehensive, independent evaluation process for assistance dog teams that have not yet been independently vetted in Germany. After completion of the pilot phase, these evaluations will be offered by the Assistance Dog Foundation, whose remit includes quality assurance and funding. Each evaluation follows clearly defined standards and procedures, yet addresses the individual needs of the team. Continuous documentation will from a dual perspective which allows for an objective evaluation - they are independent of each other and allow for clearly comprehensible decision-making. Quality management and data protection are centrally integrated into the processes. The aim is for the evaluation to be available to teams free of charge even after the pilot phase. The recognition office of the Assistance Dog Foundation will also recognize teams that have already been tested or have been supervised by their trainers throughout their lives. In addition to the license and ID card, recognized teams receive a variety of support in everyday life.

Many people still do not know that there are other types of assistance dogs besides guide dogs - many of them for limitations that are invisible. This lack of knowledge repeatedly causes problems with access rights and acceptance. Our solution: We have been intensively involved in public relations and education for years, including our interactive exhibition "Living with Assistance Dogs", the access campaign "Assistance Dogs Welcome", the action days on the topic "Assistance Dog Friendly Community”, as well as the information we provide free of charge and our efforts in engaging with the press extensively. Our goal is that assistance dog teams and their needs become self-evident to the public.

Even a perfectly trained assistance dog needs its human as a social partner and guiding figure who offers ongoing training. In order to reliably stand by your side, he needs you as his calming influence. He must be able to rely on you at all times - just as you should be able to rely on your trainer. You will be responsible for your assistance dog for many years. What happens in a health crisis of human or dog? Or in an emergency? When life circumstances change or the dog is to be retired? Our approach: A reliable personal network and trainers who provide advice and longterm support are basic requirements for successful assistance dog teams. Long-term support prevents problems from turning into crises. Also, the exchange with other experienced assistance dog owners, as facilitated by the Assistance Dog Foundation, will help you to grow closer as a team with your assistance dog on a daily basis.

Pfotenpiloten maintains a comprehensive bibliography of scientific literature on the topic of assistance dogs. Two problems plague the research: either studies were commissioned by an assistance dog school, they look at only a few teams, or they have rather anecdotal evidence. Sometimes, quality issues were not considered, i.e., the "assistance dog teams" in the study did not meet high standards of need, suitability, and training. Improvised assistance dog teams, however, may well call into question the utility of the concept and thus undeservedly discredit qualified teams. Our solution: The Assistance Dog Foundation's quality standards and community of qualified teams will enable comprehensive, meaningful studies. These findings and data will improve funding for assistance dog teams over the long term.