What It Means to Be an Assistance Dog International Member
At the Forever in My Heart Foundation, our mission is to provide highly trained service dogs to individuals with disabilities while prioritizing the health, welfare, and long-term success of every dog in our program. As an organization pursuing membership with Assistance Dogs International (ADI), we are committed to following internationally recognized standards for ethical service dog training, client support, and animal welfare.
ADI is the leading authority for assistance dog organizations worldwide. Their standards are designed to ensure that service dogs are trained using humane, evidence-based practices and that clients receive safe, reliable, and well-supported partnerships.
What This Means for Our Training Style
Our training philosophy is rooted in positive reinforcement, relationship building, and individualized learning. We focus on creating confident, stable, and motivated dogs that enjoy their work and can successfully support their future handlers.
As part of following ADI standards, our program emphasizes:
- Reward-based training methods that encourage desired behaviors through praise, toys, food rewards, and engagement
- Humane handling techniques that prioritize the emotional and physical wellbeing of the dog
- Consistency and structure throughout puppy raising, foster care, and advanced training
- Careful temperament evaluation to ensure dogs are appropriately matched for service work
- Public access training focused on neutrality, confidence, and safety in real-world environments
- Ongoing education and support for clients, volunteers, puppy raisers, and foster families
- Ethical breeding, veterinary care, and training practices that place the dog’s welfare first
We believe that successful service dogs are built through trust, clear communication, and positive experiences. Our goal is not simply obedience, but developing dogs that can think independently, remain calm under stress, and form strong working partnerships with the people they serve.
Commitment to Quality and Accountability
Pursuing ADI membership reflects our commitment to maintaining high standards within the assistance dog industry. Organizations affiliated with ADI are held accountable through detailed standards regarding dog care, training practices, client services, and organizational ethics.
While every service dog organization may have slightly different training approaches, ADI provides a framework that helps ensure programs operate responsibly and prioritize both client safety and animal welfare.
At Forever in My Heart Foundation, we are proud to continue growing as an organization while maintaining compassionate, ethical, and professional training practices that support both our dogs and the individuals they assist.
For more information about Assistance Dogs International and their standards, please visit:
Assistance Dogs International
