I'm looking for an assistance dog. How can I get a dog from Assistance Dogs International?
Can you give me the names of your member organizations?
How do I find an organization that trains emotional support dogs?
I think it would be cool to be able to take my dog out in public. How do I do this?
How do I get my dog trained and certified as an assistance dog through ADI?

I'm looking for an assistance dog. How can I get a dog from Assistance Dogs International?

Assistance Dogs International does not provide or train assistance dogs. It is a coalition of individual organizations that train assistance dogs. Go to the members search to locate an organization that may be able to train an assistance dog for you.

Can you give me the names of your member organizations?

A list of ADI accredited organizations is available by clicking on the members search. ADI would suggest looking for a ADI accredited organizations that service your area, and contact them directly to learn what types of dogs they train and place with individuals. Each organization has their own requirements for placing assistance dogs. They vary with the types of dogs they train, whether they will consider training a personal dog, the structure of their training program, and funding resources.

How do I find an organization that trains emotional support dogs?

ADI does not recognize emotional support dogs. Most ADI accredited organizations do not train, place or certify emotional support dogs.

I think it would be cool to be able to take my dog out in public. How do I do this?

Assistance dogs do not have public access rights – only the individuals with disabilities partnered with an assistance dogs have public access rights. In most countries and states, people with disabilities who are partnered with an assistance dog have the legal right to take their assistance dogs into public places normally prohibited by pet dogs. In some countries, the law gives public access rights to assistance dogs when they are accompanied by an assistance dog trainer.

How do I get my dog trained and certified as an assistance dog through ADI?

Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is a coalition of not-for-profit organizations that raise, train and place assistance dogs. ADI does not directly provide, train, certify or register individual assistance dogs or assistance dog teams, as that is the function of our member organizations. ADI certification is only available to assistance dog partnered teams that were trained by our accredited organizations. ADI does not have a database of trainers. All the trainers are employed by their assistance dog program. 

Currently there is no international certification available for assistance dogs. Someone who has personally or privately trained their dog may receive additional training and certification from an ADI accredited organization if they become a client of an accredited organization. Some ADI accredited organizations will accept a privately trained team for evaluation and possible further training/certification. ADI standards require that there is a minimum six-month training period for these teams. ADI or any of our member programs do not just administer tests to verify or certify any type of assistance dog.

There are a few ADI accredited organizations that train, support, and work with personal owned dogs. ADI would suggest using the members search to look for a ADI accredited organization that services your area, and contact them directly to learn what types of dogs they train and place. Each organization has their own requirements for training and placing assistance dogs. They vary with the types of dogs they train, whether they will consider training a personal dog, the structure of their training program, and funding resources.

Another resource to find a professional dog trainer is the US Association of Pet Dog Trainers or UK Association of Pet Dog Trainers. You might also look into the International Association of Canine Professionals. They have a service dog certification process for individual trainers.