Assistance Dogs
Assistance dogs are trained to assist persons with physical disabilities. Their help is needed in many daily activities otherwise requiring human assistant or technical aids. The dog can open a heavy door, switch on and off lights and pull a wheelchair in snow or uphill. It can pick up, fetch and move things from one place to another.
High-quality assistance dog activities
Altogether training of an assistance dog takes about two years. During the period, future partners are interviewed as for their special needs and wishes. A two-week transfer and graduating session is organised for the dogs and their partners. They learn basics of team work, i.e. the partner learns the right way to control the dog, and the dog learns to obey its new partner. When the assistance dog has started its job, the trainer and a local voluntary tutor follow the co-operation of the partner and the dog and give support to them. The trained assistance dog is provided free of charge, but the partner must pay the costs of the upkeep. The assistance dogs are owned by the Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities.
The Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities tests and obtains assistance dogs and grants assistance dog status to dogs that have passed character, health and skills tests. The Association also follows dog's level of competency.
Assistance dog activity of the Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities and Axxell Brusaby, which trains dogs, has been audited in 2009 by ADE (Assistance Dogs Europe), the umbrella organisation of the international organisation of assistance dogs ADI (Assistance Dogs International ).
Applying a service dog
You can apply for an assistance dog if you are an animal-loving person with a mobility disability to which you are well adapted. Your arm strength must be sufficient.
The application time is continous.
Further information:
Paula Müller
Tel. +358 44 765 0678
paula.muller@invalidiliitto.fi