K9Assistance provides Assistance Dogs that have graduated from internationally accredited Assistance dog schools. Currently, K9Assistance is working with overseas partner schools before we explore establishing an assistance dog training school in Singapore. Accredited schools may be located anywhere across the globe.
Training an Assistance Dog takes between 18 – 24 months starting as soon as they are weaned.
In the Pre-Training stage, puppies are selectively bred for their temperament and trainability.
At Stage 1, puppies undergo Public Behaviour Training, where ADI-accredited schools train these dogs to be extremely well-behaved in public. This training includes exposure to different environments, home foster stays, and strict criteria-based selection.
Stage 2 of training is the Disability-Specific Dog Training, where the dogs are trained accordingly to the needs of a specific disability.
Lastly, the final stage is to train the human. Handlers learn how to benefit from the skills of the Assistance Dog, and how to upkeep their dog’s training to ensure excellent public behaviour. The handlers will also undergo an etiquette test administered by K9Assistance, designed specifically for Singapore’s unique cultural context.
Assistance Dogs can be a variety of breeds, depending on the type of disability they are trained to support. Labradors and Golden Retrievers are common breeds that become Assistance Dogs due to their trainability and friendly appearance. Typically, breeds with larger body build are selected as Seeing-Eye and Mobility Assistance Dogs.
Labradors or Golden Retrievers are also usually trained to become Seeing-Eye Dogs, due also in part to their temperament. Hearing Dogs tend to be smaller, like Tenterfield Terriers and Labradoodles, as their job requires them to be very nimble. Autism Assistance Dogs can be different breeds depending on the needs of their handler.
These are interchangeable terms. K9Assistance uses the term ‘Assistance Dog’ to align itself with the terminology of Assistance Dogs International, Inc. (ADI), a worldwide coalition of not-for-profit programs that train and place Assistance Dogs.
ADI members meet regularly to share ideas and conduct business regarding educating the public about assistance dogs, advocating for the legal rights of people with disabilities partnered with assistance dogs, and the setting of standards and establishing guidelines and ethics for the training of these dogs.
As a not-for-profit organization registered in the United States under Section 501(c)(3), ADI is the global authority in the Assistance Dog industry. Find out more at https://assistancedogsinternational.org/.
Assistance Dogs are trained to perform three or more tasks for their handlers with physical, sensory, or developmental disabilities. Emotional Support dogs serve as a companion to their owner. Therapy dogs are typically enrolled in a program where pets become volunteers to visit facilities such as hospices to provide comfort and friendship to patients there.
Assistance Dogs require a formal training and selection process before they may be trained and certified as Assistance Dogs. When legislative changes come into effect in phases, Assistance Dog teams would also undergo a yearly Public Access Test conducted by K9Assistance to ensure that their work and public behaviour standards are maintained.
Currently, not all types of Assistance Dogs are allowed.
Assistance Dogs who support the blind and vision impaired, as well as the d/Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing are allowed on Mass Rapid Transports (MRTs). This is stipulated under the Mass Rapid Transport Act Chapter 263A, Section 42, Regulation 8(1), (3).
Seeing-Eye dogs are also allowed on buses according to the Road Traffic Act Chapter 276, Sections 111, 140 and 144, Regulation 30A(3)
Assistance Dogs for the physically disabled, d/Deaf or Hard-of-hearing, blind or vision-impaired, registered and verified by K9Assistance are allowed in HDB flats. https://www.hdb.gov.sg/residential/living-in-an-hdb-flat/keeping-pets
Currently, Seeing-Eye Dogs are allowed in restaurants and eateries under the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations, Chapter 95, Section 113, Regulation 29(3), (4), (13).
Under the Eating Establishment Scheme issued by Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura provided to applicants for Halal Certifications, additional requirements for entry of guide dogs are stipulated in paragraph 4.5 of the Special Certification Requirements section.
According to K9Assistance’s second public perception survey1, almost all (>99%) of individuals who were well-informed about Assistance Dogs support people with disabilities using them. A large majority (>80%) of them are also willing to share public places with Assistance Dog teams.
In 2023, there are a total of nine accredited Assistance dogs in Singapore, all of which are Seeing-Eye dogs. Currently, there are no other types of Assistance Dogs working in Singapore, and K9Assistance is working hard to change this. We plan to place our first Assistance Dog after legislation broadening takes effect in phases from 2025 onwards.
K9Assistance does not do so as we cannot guarantee any success. You may also not want your beloved family pet to change careers and leave your home.
To ensure the quality of work and behaviour of the Assistance Dogs that K9Assistance provides, we only acquire dogs from Assistance Dogs International accredited schools.
Typically, dogs undergo a precise selection and planned training program that begin before birth. Most Assistance Dog schools have a breeding program to ensure that a larger proportion of the puppies make it to the end of training to become an Assistance Dog. Even so, less than half eventually pass after two years of intense training. Assistance Dogs in training may drop off the program due to their temperament, aptitude, ability, or health reasons.
After being weaned, the puppies are fostered with volunteer families for the first year of their life where they learn basic obedience, are exposed to different stimuli, and are monitored for their reactions to stimuli, trainability and health.
After which, they undergo a year-long rigorous training process to learn the tasks required of them to mitigate their future handler’s disability.
Finally, the Assistance Dogs are trained with their human partners for another 1 to 3 months to ensure the success of the human-dog partnership.
Usually, Assistance Dogs’ careers last between 8-12 years, depending on the breed. For instance, smaller dogs typically live longer and so have a longer work life. Retirement is dependent on health, as well as continual ability and willingness to work.
All Assistance Dog teams undergo an annual Public Access Test conducted by K9Assistance to ensure the Assistance Dog can continue its career with its handler.
No, an Assistance Dog is trained to work and support one disabled handler with their specific disability.
According to the Public Perception Survey2 conducted by K9Assistance, Singaporeans often harbour an unfounded cultural concern that some groups may be uncomfortable sharing spaces with Assistance Dogs. Our data showed that most Malay and Indian participants (97%) supported the daily use of Assistance Dogs by People with Disabilities, and majority (74%) were also willing to share all public places with Assistance Dogs.
Further, the Office of the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUFTI) has issued an Irsyad (Advisory) that approves the use of Seeing-Eye Dogs. Within which, they have also specified that a Muslim does not need to cleanse themselves using the sertu method should they come across a Seeing-Eye Dog in public spaces, and further encourages all Muslims to be kind to those needing a Seeing-Eye Dog to get around.
Restaurants that permit Seeing-Eye Dogs may also be certified as Halal if they abide by the regulations stipulated in the Eating Establishment Scheme issued by Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS).
If you are an individual with a diagnosed mobility, hearing, or sight disability or are Autistic, you may be eligible for an Assistance Dog
K9Assistance would first require a proof of disability such as the Developmental Disability Registry (DDR) Identity Card administered by SG Enable on behalf of Ministry of Social and Family Development or membership with a social service agency serving your specific disability such as Singapore Association of the Deaf (SaDeaf).
An Assistance Dog trainer would then conduct an assessment with you to ascertain if an Assistance Dog would help mitigate your disability.
Disabled handlers are trained alongside their Assistance Dog for weeks-long to ensure the success of the human-dog partnership. The training support does not end there, and regular check-ins and follow-up are provided throughout the Assistance Dog’s career.
During the training, a disabled handler learns how to effectively utilise their Assistance Dog. This may include teaching the handler how to care and bond with the assigned Assistance Dog; ensure that the Assistance Dog continue to perform disability-specific tasks, e.g., alerting a deaf handler to a ringing doorbell; interpret the behavior of their Assistance Dogs; and maintain excellent public behavior.
You may express your interest in an Assistance Dog at www.k9assistance.sg/contact.
As part of its founding ethos as a registered charity, K9Assistance will provide accredited Assistance Dogs to people with disabilities in Singapore without cost to them for the adoption. Disabled handlers will have to bear the upkeep of their Assistance dog, including food, grooming and veterinary visits.
K9Assistance does not charge handlers that we placed dogs with.
