IGDF Standards

IGDF · International Guide Dog Federation

The global accreditation for guide-dog organizations, assessed by experienced instructors on a five-year cycle.

01 What It Is

The International Guide Dog Federation is the industry body that develops, monitors and assesses the standards applied by guide-dog organizations worldwide. Its accreditation is the recognized benchmark in the field: it tells funders and the public that an organization trains guide dogs to a consistent international standard rather than its own.

02 What It Covers

The standards cover the full breadth of a guide-dog organization: administration and risk management, staff education, the assessment and training of dogs, client services, dog health and welfare, and breeding programs. They are detailed, and aimed at equity of high-quality service to guide-dog users wherever they are.

03 How It Is Checked

An organization seeking membership is assessed on-site by an IGDF assessor, who reports to the federation’s Accreditation Committee; the committee recommends and the board decides. The committee draws on around thirty experienced guide-dog mobility instructors who volunteer as assessors. Members are re-assessed every five years to keep their accreditation current.

04 Why It Matters

A guide dog is a blind or partially sighted person’s mobility and independence, the product of years of breeding and training the handler cannot verify alone. IGDF accreditation is the assurance that the organization behind the dog meets a shared international standard, peer-reviewed by people who train guide dogs themselves.

Common Questions

Is it mandatory?

No. Membership is voluntary, but its accreditation is the recognized benchmark for guide-dog organizations, telling funders and the public an organization trains to a consistent international standard.

Who runs it?

The International Guide Dog Federation, the industry body that develops, monitors and assesses the standards applied by guide-dog organizations worldwide.

What does it cover?

The full breadth of a guide-dog organization: administration and risk management, staff education, the assessment and training of dogs, client services, dog health and welfare, and breeding programs.

How is it assessed?

An organization is assessed on-site by an IGDF assessor, who reports to the Accreditation Committee; the committee recommends and the board decides. The committee draws on around thirty experienced guide-dog mobility instructors who volunteer as assessors.

How is it kept current?

Members are re-assessed every five years.

Why does it matter?

A guide dog is a blind or partially sighted person’s mobility, the product of years of breeding and training a handler cannot verify alone. Accreditation is the assurance the organization meets a shared standard, peer-reviewed by people who train guide dogs themselves.

Primary sources

IGDF Standardsigdf.org.uk
About IGDFigdf.org.uk