Guide Dog & Service Dog Certification Testing

Dogs trained by their handlers and dogs from schools that are not accredited by the Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) are required to pass a public safety assessment administered by Obedience Unleashed Dog Training (OUDT) before they can receive certification. These teams are required to pass a public safety assessment. This assessment was previously administered by the Justice Institute of British Columbia, and as of April 1, 2024, is administered by Obedience Unleashed.

The guide and service dog  assessment administered by OUDT assesses whether a dog demonstrates the high standard of training required of guide and service dogs. It also evaluates if:

• The handler has control over the dog
• The dog is safe to be in public
• The dog is calm, stable and reliable in situations commonly encountered by dog and handler teams.

Assessments are performed while the dog is on-leash. An occasional tight leash is acceptable. However, a dog is not ready for an assessment if it displays behaviour requiring major restraint or a continuously tight leash to perform a task (unless the tight leash is required for mobility limitations). Only regular collars are acceptable. Correction collars such as pinch collars will not be accepted.

The assessor will follow the team but will communicate only when required as a part of an assessed task. The team must pass all 40 tasks in the Assessment to be certified.

Preparing

To prepare for the assessment, please review the B.C. Guide Dog and Service Dog Assessment (PDF).

Applying

See Dog & Handler Certification for information on applying.

Locations

Tests are currently available in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Cariboo and the Interior.

The tests are conducted by assessors selected by OUDT.

Cost

Certification is free of charge. Should a OUDT public safety assessment be necessary, the cost is $200.