An independent reference
The standards that govern a dog’s life.
Almost everything that happens to a dog, how it is bred, fed, treated by a vet, flown, trained and housed, is shaped by some kind of standard. Most of them never cross the mind of the person holding the lead. This is where they are gathered and explained in plain English.
This atlas sets no standard of its own and ranks nothing. It maps the landscape, an independent and accurate record of the standards that already govern a dog’s life, each traced to its source, and honest about the places where none yet exists.
Explore by area
The Atlas is organised by the part of a dog’s life each standard governs. Start with an area.
How We Read a Standard
Every standard here is read the same way, so you can compare like with like.
The named body that owns the standard and is publicly accountable for it.
Law, independent accreditation, a published standard or a voluntary code.
The part of a dog’s life the standard governs, from welfare to travel.
Whether anyone independent audits that the standard is actually followed.
Every claim is traced to its primary source. The test that separates a real standard from a badge is set out in How Standards Work, and the full method sits under Methodology.