Helping dogs

Whatever its specialization (guiding / assistance or assisted activities), when the dog is educated to help and care, its spontaneity breaks the ice and its presence entails exchanges of incredible meaning and creates opportunities of contacts with the outside world.

 

As you will see from the pages devoted to each of these specialties, dogs have certain differences. But they also have things in common:

·         the needs of beneficiaries are central to defining dog education;
·         the reciprocity of the relationship between the person and the dog;
·         the welfare of the animal;
·         the issues of social recognition of the work done by dogs, whether by the public or the authorities.

 

All guide dogs, assistance dogs and assisted activities dogs are referred to as helping dogs.

In France, people with psychological  issues and who are not recognised disabled can have an animal who will be an emotional support in their everyday life. However, those animals are not granted any accessibility. French housing law authorizes all tenants to have domestic animals as long as the housing can properly receive them (obviously a poney in a one room appartment is not appropriate). It is quite different from US and Canada where landlords can refuse all animals. Considering that the current law for guide/assistance dogs is sufficient enough and that other needs are covered by the French housing law, Canidea is publicly against the introduction of the status of "emotional support dog" in France. Canidea defends the idea that dogs should receive a specific education to help people and in order to be granted access.