Standards & Welfare

Welfare-first training and professional standards

We believe credible dog work starts with welfare, structure, and clear professional conduct. Our approach prioritises:

  • Dog wellbeing, confidence, and sustainable performance

  • Clear handler responsibility and appropriate behaviour in public-facing settings

  • Structured progression and transparent expectations

  • Safe practice and risk awareness for people, dogs, and environments

HRD standards alignment

Standards-led HRD training (what that means)

We build HRD training around clear expectations for performance, safety, professionalism, and animal welfare. Our HRD programme supports preparation toward HRDD International certification and is developed with reference to recognised testing principles and operational frameworks.

Frameworks we reference for HRD

  • HRDD International (minimum standards and certification approach for HRD dog teams)

  • IRO/FCI trial rules (international testing regulations and principles for rescue dog tests)

  • INSARAG guidance (USAR doctrine and operational readiness considerations where canine capability is relevant)

  • British Standards relevant to detection dog practice (professional delivery and welfare/operational considerations)

Therapy Dog standards alignment

ESAAT alignment

For Therapy Dog training, our approach is aligned with the quality, welfare, and professional expectations promoted by ESAAT – European Society for Animal Assisted Therapy, including their published accreditation requirements and checklists for education providers and training programmes.

What ESAAT alignment means in practice

Our Therapy pathway is designed to reflect best practice expectations in animal-assisted work, including:

  • Clear suitability expectations for dog and handler

  • Welfare thresholds and stress recognition (with clear “stop” criteria)

  • Professional conduct, boundaries, and role clarity

  • Basic risk assessment thinking appropriate to the setting and client group

  • Structured progression (Level 1–3) with increasing environmental complexity and responsibility

Competency and currency

  • Competency means a team can perform to the required standard.

  • Currency means those skills are maintained over time through continued practice and appropriate re-checks.

Where applicable, we will advise on suitable ongoing development to maintain readiness.

Data protection and professionalism

Enquiries and participant information are handled responsibly. We only use your details to respond to your request and provide relevant course information.

Important note

Alignment with external frameworks means we use them to inform course design and assessment principles. It does not imply endorsement by those organisations unless explicitly stated.