CEN/TC 452 - Assistance Dog & Guide Dog Teams Standards and Instructors Competences

This document specifies the terms and definitions that apply to:
—   different types of assistance dogs;
—   the beneficiary and client services;
—   health and disabilities;
—   assistance dog service providers;
—   assistance dog training staff and related professionals;
—   the socialization and training processes;
—   conformity assessment, identification and registration;
—   accessibility.

This document specifies the competencies required of assistance dogs’ professionals. The purpose of this document is to improve and ensure the quality of professionals working in a role within an assistance dog organization. Each speciality of assistance dog requires a specific set of role competencies and there are some common core competencies.
Core competencies:
-   breeding;
-   puppy raising;
-   dog care;
-   assessors;
-   orientation and mobility;
-   trainers;
-   instructors.
Specific competencies:
-   guide dogs;
-   hearing dogs;
-   medical alert dogs;
-   mobility assistance dogs;
-   autism and development disorder dogs;
-   team training instructor.
It is accepted that assistance dog organisations vary greatly in structure and not every organization will have all the roles identified. Where one person performs more than one role, it is expected that they will have the competencies of all the roles they perform e.g. a dog trainer may also have the competencies of a dog care specialist. And there will be some organisations where some of these roles are not required, e.g. those with no breeding programme will not require the associated role competencies.

This document defines standards for the training of assistance dogs. Assistance dogs may be
trained by structured programmes/schools, owner-trained under supervision or ownertrainers.
Specifically, this document deals with the following topics:
- Preparation of assistance dogs
- Socialization and puppy raising of assistance dogs
- Training of assistance dogs
- Guide Dogs
- Hearing Dogs
- Mobility Assistance Dogs
- PTSD Assistance Dogs
- Medical Alert Response Assistance Dogs
- Autism and Developmental Disorder Assistance Dogs
- Dual Purpose Assistance Dogs

The purpose of this document is to protect the welfare of assistance dogs. For this, it sets out requirements based on the Five Domains Paradigm to ensure the dog’s welfare.
The requirements apply:
- throughout the whole life of the dog;
- for all types of assistance dogs;
- for all people/caregivers/handlers who are entrusted with a dog at any point during its lifetime.

This European standard specifies requirements and recommendations for the accessibility of public and private spaces and universal access for assistance dog teams in an active status.
The accessibility requirements and recommendations for assistance dog teams in this European standard are applicable across the full spectrum of the built environment both indoor and outdoor (e.g. social service, medical and educational facilities, public institutions, cultural venues, sporting venues, hotel accommodation, public transport, parks, nature reserves).
The purpose of this European standard is to improve the accessibility for assistance dog teams ensuring their rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, so that they have the same opportunities as all citizens and can participate independently in all areas of life.
This European standard provides:
• Specific requirements of assistance dog teams to support accessibility and to achieve universal access.
• Responsibilities of assistance dog teams to enhance the public acceptance of assistance dogs.
• Guidance for specific services and areas to be accessed.
• Guidance for the implementation of accessibility measures at public and private bodies responsible for the built environment including transport and travel systems.  
This European standard includes all private spaces, where public is generally admitted, or where public can be accommodated (e.g. office buildings, waiting rooms, common areas of apartment buildings).
This European standard may be applied to improve accessibility of assistance dog teams in the workplace.
This European standard may be applied to assistance dogs in training and puppies preparing for an assistance dog role.