The Courthouse: Gone to the Dogs

Facility DogsEnhancing the Professional Environment One Dog at a Time

Definition of a Facility Dog(Assistance Dogs International)

A specially trained dog that is working with a volunteer or professional who is trained by a program. The work of a facility dog can include visitations or professional therapy in one or more locations. Public access is permitted only when the dog and handler, who is a trained volunteer or professional, is directly working with a client with a disability

Definition of a Facility Dog(Illinois SB 1389)

"facility dog" means a dog that is a graduate of an assistance dog organization that is a member of Assistance Dogs International.

Definition of a Facility Dog(Arkansas HB1855)

A "Certified facility dog" means a dog that has:(A) Graduated from a program of an assistance dog organization that isa member of Assistance Dogs International or a similar nonprofit organization that attempts to set the highest standard of training for dogs for the purpose of reducing stress in a child witness by enhancing the ability of the child witness to speak in a judicial proceeding byproviding emotional comfort in a high stress environment; (B) Received two (2) years of training; and

(C) Passed the same public access test as a service dog

Facility Dog Definition(Canine Companions for Independence)Facility dogs are expertly trained dogs who partner with a facilitator working in a health care, visitation or education setting.

Canine Companions facility dogs are trustworthy in professional environments and can perform over 40 commands designed to motivate and inspire clients with special needs.

In an educational setting, a facility dog helps engage students in schools and special education classes.

In a health care environment, activities such as grooming, feeding and playing fetch with a facility dog can aid patients in medical rehabilitation and psychiatric programs.

A well-mannered and highly trained facility dog encourages feelings of calm and security for clients in a visitation setting such as a courtroom.

Common Settings for Facility DogsRehabilitative Settings (Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy)Counseling and Mental HealthEducational Settings At risk student populationsLegal/Courthouse SettingsLaw Enforcement OfficesDistrict Attorneys OfficesChild Advocacy CentersChild Advocacy Organizations

Who do Facility Dogs Work With?We can infer from the definition of Facility Dogs, that these dogs typically work with vulnerable populations. These populations may be vulnerable due to compromised health (healthcare settings), youth (educational settings), or trauma & adverse life events (legal settings). Because these dogs work primarily with vulnerable populations, it is important that these dogs are the safest choice possible for them.

Facility Dogs are the Safest Choice!Facility Dogs are safe because they are purpose bred.

Facility Dogs are safe because they have been intentionally and strategically raised from birth.

Facility Dogs are safe because they have been professionally trained and assessed for suitability for the work by professionals in animal behavior and training.

A Facility Dog isPURPOSE BREDThe DNA of a facility dog is specifically designed to produce a dog that is low-reactive in emotionally charged environments. Facility dogs, therefore are bred for temperament. It is estimated that up to 80% of a dogs demeanor can be attributed to its DNA and breeding. There are vast DNA differences that occur between different breeds of dogs. For example, a dog that is highly excitable or is known for aggressive tendencies, would be a poor match for facility dog work.

Canine Companions for IndependenceOur breeding program staff checks each dogs temperament, trainability, health, physical attributes, littermate trends and the production history of the dam and sire. Only then are the best of the best chosen as CCI breeder dogs.

A Facility Dog is INTENTIONALLY RAISEDBreeder/Caretakers and Puppy Raisers are integral members of the team that prepare a facility dog for professional working life. Breeder/caretakers provide strategic early life experiences to imprint the young and developing nervous system to be deeply bonded to humans. Puppy raisers continue this intentional early life experience by socializing the puppy to a variety of animals, environments, and people. Puppy raisers are responsible for teaching the puppy 30 commands in basic obedience.

A Facility Dog is ..PROFESSIONALLY TRAINEDAt approximately the age of 18 months, puppy raisers bring their trained puppy to an organization that is a member of Assistance Dogs International where the young dog will undergo 6-9 months of daily training and observation/evaluation by a professional in animal behavior and dog training. A facility dog graduates after they are determined to be of sound health and can pass a public access test which reflects their ability to be safe in a public setting.

Implementing Dogs in theThe Professional EnvironmentRequires a professional solutiona professional dog for a professional environment

Requires behavioral control/exceptional demeanor(so as not to disrupt professional work goals)

Requires safety for allSafety for clients, safety and liability protection for handler and agency/program.

A Facility Dog is Nota service dog. There is a great deal of confusion in terms of professional working dogs. A service dog serves one person with a disability to mitigate the functional impairment(s) of that disability. Because the training of a facility dog parallels that of a certified* service dog people often call facility dogs by their service counterparts name. Also, because the effect of a facility dog is highly therapeutic, the untrained public often refers to them as therapy dogs.* (Next slide)

The all-important asterisk*!According to the Americans with Disabilities Act a service animal does not have to be trained by a professional dog trainer. The law states that the dog must be individually trained. It also states that a miniature horse can qualify as a service animal. Conversely, a facility dog is only a graduate of an organization that is a member of Assistance Dogs International. Therefore, the training and certification of a facility dog are nationally standardized.

A Facility Dog is nota career-changed dog. To use the term career-changed is to infer that the dog failed out of the assistance dog program. Facility dogs are full graduates of organizations that are members of Assistance Dogs International. They must pass the same public access test given to certified service dogs. Facility dogs must also report back for periodic re-assessment of the public access test to ensure that their training standards are being maintained and that they continue to be safe in the public setting.

A Facility Dog is not.. a career-changed dog. The term career-changed is jargon for a dog that was unable to graduate from professional training due to a variety of reasons. These reasons may be due to a minor behavioral or health issue. All facility dog handlers should be able to produce documentation to show that the dog is a graduate of an organization that is a member of Assistance Dogs International, and that the dog is in current compliance with all recertification requirements.

A Facility Dog is nota pet therapy dog.The Delta Society published American Humane: Therapy Animals Supporting Kids (TASK) Program which outlines the role of therapy dogs in the legal environment. This manual erroneously states that a facility dog is another term for a therapy dog (pg. 9). It is important to note that there are no national standards that exist for the training of therapy dogs. Therapy dogs are not certified, rather the dog/handler teams that pass evaluations are registered as a team.

Handler Selection and TrainingThe other half of the equation that provides for the success of the facility dog in a professional environment is the selection and training of the handler. In the definition of a facility dog provided by Assistance Dogs International, it states that the dog is handled by a trained volunteer or professional. Organizations that are members of Assistance Dogs International provide specific training to handlers that they have carefully vetted and selected to receive one of their highly trained canines.

Handler Selection and TrainingFacility dog handlers are vetted through their own employers/programs as well. Conversely, Therapy Dogs International has stated that there is no minimum age for a therapy dog handler. If a potential handler is under the age of 18, they must be accompanied by an adult for the evaluation of the dog/handler team. (There is no mention that a handler under 18 must be accompanied by an adult for therapy dog work.) It also stipulates that the handler must be of good moral character but they do not outline how that is determined.

Safety around children

Integral to the professional training of facility dogs is their ability to remain calm and controlled around young children. The public access test for facility dogs requires a child to approach a dog and pet it and for the dog to remain in a down position.

Safety around childrenTherapy Dogs International does not allow contact with children during the evaluation process. Therapy Dogs International also does not require that a dog presenting for evaluation/registration to have taken any obedience or training classes.

The Need for the Highest StandardIn confirmation of the ADI standards, the US Office of Veterans Affairs ruled that only dogs from ADI accredited service dog organizations would qualify for reimbursement for veterans with physical disabilities. The VA stated that it will only provide benefits coverage to veterans if the service dog and veteran have successfully completed a training program accredited by Assistance Dogs International or the International Guide Dog Federation. In support of this ruling the VA stated that when administering service dog benefits, it must ensure that tested and proven criteria regarding service dog training and behavior are in place to ensure the integrity of the service dog benefits administered, and the safety of veterans and others who might come in contact with the veteran or the dog. (Courthouse Dogs Foundation www.courthousedogs.org)

Facility Dogs are Professional Working DogsCertified Facility Dogs can work an 8 hour day/40 hour work week. The Delta Society recommends that even a seasoned therapy animal work no more than two hours per day. The reason for this difference is in the extensive training and preparation received by a certified facility dog from birth through beginning its career. Certified facility dogs have been intentionally bred and prepared from birth for a professional working life.

Registration vs. Certification

Therapy dog teams that pass an evaluation by a therapy dog program (different programs can have different standards), are certified or registered as a team. There are no follow up requirements after initial registration of the team.Facility dogs that pass the nationally standardized public access test administered by a certified evaluator (Assistance Dogs International) are certified and must return for follow-up assessments on a periodic basis to ensure their continued safety in the public setting.

Nomad, our facility dog from Canine Companions for Independence is the strong, silent type. Never ruffled, never upset by what happens in the forensic interview room or play therapy room. Always supportive, always comforting, always present in the moment for children who have experienced the trauma of abuse.

~ Donna Callis, play therapistChildrens Advocacy Center ofBristol and Washington County, VA

Ace, trained by ECAD (Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities)

What Ace does best is to give children someone to safely love with all their hearts. He is without question the best co-therapist Ive ever had. - Dr. David Crenshaw, Childrens Home of Poughkeepsie, NY

"What Ace does best is to give children someone to safelylove with all their hearts. He is without question the best co-therapist I've ever had."

For more information - Canine Companions for Independence www.cci.org

ECAD www.ecad1.org

Assistance Dogs of the West www.assistancedogsofthewest.org

Courthouse Dogs Foundation www.courthousedogs.org

Assistance Dogs International www.assistancedogsinternational.org