If you're interested in contributing material for a blog post or a full blog post, please fill out our form. Please be aware that all blog posts must be educational in nature and no fundraising or promotional posts will be allowed. Members of the public may submit the initial interest form, but blog posts from ADI and ADI members are prioritized over publicly generated posts.
From Service to Security: How Career Changed Dogs Support Canada Border Services
Published Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | by Avery McConkey
At Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, we believe in the potential of every dog that walks through our building, regardless of where their journey takes them. While the majority of our dogs graduate as assistance dogs, some may not have the right personality or temperament for life as a Dog Guide. In certain cases, these “Career Change” dogs may be the perfect fit for a job working with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to protect Canadian borders.
Development & Socialization of 7 to 12-Week-Old Puppies with a Purpose
Published Monday, March 31, 2025 | by Kendle Frank and Grace Nystrom
Puppies are drastically developing in their first 12 weeks of their lives, and proper socialization can make a profound impact on a puppy’s future as an assistance dog. Last time, we covered what developmental milestones occur in a puppy’s first 6 weeks of life. In this post, we will break down what development looks like for 7- to 12-week-old puppies and the types of socialization activities leading organizations like NEADS World Class Service Dogs and Freedom Service Dogs of America facilitate to help their puppies with a purpose reach their full potential.
Development and Socialization of 1 to 6-Week-Old Puppies with a Purpose
Published Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | by Kendle Frank and Grace Nystrom
Confidence is a key trait for any assistance dog. For people with disabilities who rely on their canine partner wherever they go, having an assistance dog who is calm, self-assured, and resilient in all situations is essential. Training a reliable, confident assistance dog starts with the basics: early socialization during developmental stages of growth.
Reasons Why Labrador Retrievers Make Exceptional Assistance Dogs
Published Monday, January 27, 2025 | by Kendle Frank
Assistance dogs, regardless of their breed, shape, or size, are extraordinary partners who transform lives. The dogs that make the cut to become assistance animals represent the best of their kind, excelling in tasks that require intelligence, focus, and an eagerness to work. While these remarkable traits can be found across many breeds, Labrador Retrievers have earned a proven track record as a terrific family companion, as well as a popular choice for assistance dog work, thanks to their affectionate, friendly, and loving temperaments.
2024: the year when regional workshops really took off.
Published Tuesday, January 7, 2025 | by Martin Atkin, Communications Consultant, Assistance Dogs International
From Belgium in June through to Australia in December - via Texas, Maryland and California, USA - 2024 was an unprecedented year of regional workshops. More than 50 ADI member organizations from all three regions took part in workshops covering training, breeding, fundraising and marketing.
Celebrating solidarity
Published Friday, December 20, 2024 | by Martin Atkin, Assistance Dogs International
Today, we are urged by the United Nations to mark International Human Solidarity Day by promoting ‘the culture of solidarity and the spirit of sharing.’ Giving selflessly of our time, sharing our expertise and helping others are, of course, the hallmarks of charitable organizations around the world. These qualities are embedded in the DNA of ADI members whose staff, volunteers and donors train and provide life-changing dogs and who epitomize solidarity with the people they serve.
Honoring the Bond
Published Monday, December 2, 2024 | by Laurie Carlson
Konrad Lorenz, a zoologist, is known for saying, "The bond with a dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be." Understanding the power of this bond, Can Do Canines held its second Honoring the Bond event last June.
Reimagining Language: The IDEA Committee's Perspective on Correctional Terminology
Published Thursday, November 7, 2024 | by Duncan Edwards and Brittani Uribe Sleets
As members of the IDEA Committee—Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility—we recently undertook the task of reviewing terminology within Assistance Dogs International’s Standards, specifically concerning individuals in correctional facilities who work with our member organizations to socialize or train future assistance dogs. This process initiated an important conversation within our committee, compelling us to reflect on the complexities of the criminal justice system and the power of language in shaping perceptions.