IGDF and ADI Joint Position Statement on Dog Welfare

Launch of Position Statement: New boost for the ethical training, health and welfare of assistance and guide dogs

The world’s two leading organizations for assistance and guide dogs have strengthened their joint commitment to the health, welfare and ethical treatment of dogs trained by their member programs. 

Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) issued a joint position statement re-affirming their commitment to the ethical training and care of dogs. They aim to 

“support the ethical training and handling of all our dogs and puppies by our staff, volunteers, clients, and any external consultants”, while acknowledging that training methods and the understanding of dogs’ health and welfare needs have evolved significantly over recent years. 

“ADI and IGDF are rightly proud of our work to promote the ethical care and welfare of dogs, but that doesn’t mean we are resting on our laurels – there is always more to learn and put into practice,” said ADI Board Chair Danny Vancoppernolle. “Our joint commitment represents the latest evolution of decades of work to ensure the physical, psychological, and emotional needs of assistance and guide dogs are met.” 

“As the two leading global organizations for setting standards and accrediting assistance and guide dog training programs, our experience shows that assistance dogs work at their best when supported with good welfare,” he added. “There is growing scientific evidence that positive reinforcement training has a significant impact on the success and well-being of both assistance dogs and their human partners.” 

The joint position, which was developed in collaboration with experienced practitioners, external experts and by reviewing current scientific literature, recognizes that dogs are sentient beings, capable of feeling emotions such as pleasure, happiness, fear, and anxiety.  

“We aim to manage our dogs’ physical and functional needs and experiences so that our dogs, at all life stages, have good physical, psychological and emotional health,” said Bill Thornton, Chair of the IGDF Board of Directors. “Our member programs have a responsibility to meet the physical, psychological and emotional needs of their dogs – and that includes using positive reinforcement training methods.” 

“This statement marks a further strengthening of ties between ADI and IGDF, which recently signed a Memorandum of Cooperation,” he added. “Both organizations have been working for decades to put the health and wellbeing of their dogs front and center, and this position statement represents the latest evolution of that work,” said Thornton. “However, it’s important to note that the statement is a living document which will continue to evolve over time in line with new evidence and practice.” 

The joint commitment emphasizes the need for positive renforcement and reward-based training methods, backed up by growing scientific evidence that the ethical training and handling of assistance dogs has a significant positive impact on the success and well-being of both the dogs and their human partners.  

“We advocate for humane, evidence-based training methods such as the LIMA (least intrusive, minimally aversive), because the needs of our dogs and our commitment to dog welfare will always be our top priority,” said Vancoppernolle.