Mission and values
The principles that guide GAV's decisions when training service dogs, working with people and supporting teams.
Our mission
To increase the independence, safety and quality of life of people with disabilities and functional limitations through professional service dog training and long-term support of human–dog teams.
The school's task is not simply to issue a document. Paper without a real result does not solve the owner's problem and creates risks for others — so GAV treats a certificate as confirmation of a result already achieved, not as a stand-alone service.
The result of a program should be a functioning team: the dog performs specific trained actions related to the owner's limitations, and the handler can safely and independently control the dog in different conditions — at home, outdoors, on transport and in public places.
The school's work does not end on the day of certification. GAV continues to support the team: carries out scheduled reassessment, helps when tasks change and remains a point of contact for the whole working life of the dog.
Who GAV exists for
For the person
More independence and safety, not a replacement for medical treatment.
For the dog
A suitable, safe and healthy working life without excessive load.
For society
Predictable behavior of service dogs and the ability to verify documents and a team's status.
Core values
Nine principles applied to every school decision — from accepting an application to scheduled reassessment.
Safety
The program does not allow situations dangerous to the owner, the dog or others. Any action that creates risk is stopped regardless of the training stage.
Dog welfare
The dog's condition is assessed on a par with task performance. Work does not continue if it causes the dog pain, illness or marked stress.
Respect for the person
The school's decisions take into account the owner's dignity and autonomy. Limitations are discussed without pressure and without requiring unnecessary diagnostic details.
Individual approach
Format, tasks and pace are chosen for the specific family and the specific dog. The program is not built on one template for everyone.
Professional responsibility
Decisions are made by specialists on the basis of the assessment protocol, not personal impression. A specific employee is responsible for each area of work.
Documentation
Every training stage, every decision and every inquiry is recorded. This makes it possible to review a decision and explain what it was based on.
Confidentiality
The owner's personal and medical data is stored separately and available to a limited circle of employees. Without consent this information is not passed to third parties or used in advertising.
Transparency
The school does not publish data it cannot confirm and says so explicitly. Organizations can officially request confirmation of a certificate.
Long-term support
Work with the team does not end on the day of certification. Scheduled reassessment and support are provided when tasks or the owner's condition change.
What these values mean in practice
The values above are not a declaration: below are the concrete consequences they lead to in the school's work.
The school may refuse admission
Admission is not guaranteed: the decision is based on an assessment of the owner's and the dog's readiness.
Not every dog is suited to service work
Temperament, health and ability to learn determine a dog's suitability, not the owner's wish.
A diagnosis does not guarantee certification
Having a functional limitation is grounds for considering an application, but not for automatic certification.
A certificate is not issued separately from a program
It is impossible to obtain a certificate without completing training and assessment.
The final decision is based on assessment
The certification decision is made on the results of the assessment protocol, not at an individual employee's discretion.
Dog welfare takes priority
The welfare specialist may suspend the program if the dog's condition gives cause for concern.
A complaint may lead to reassessment
A substantiated inquiry is reviewed and may become grounds for reviewing the team's status.
A certificate may be suspended or revoked
If the terms of the program or welfare standards are breached, the certificate's status is reviewed.
Medical information is not published
Information about the owner's health is stored separately from general data and is not disclosed to third parties.
The school does not guarantee that any organization or state will recognize the certificate
The decision to recognize service dog status is made by the specific organization or body, not by GAV.
Ethical commitments
The commitments the school makes to owners, dogs and the organizations that deal with GAV.
- Not make false promisesThe school does not claim results it cannot guarantee.
- Not guarantee legal access in any countryRecognition of service dog status depends on the law of the specific country.
- Not hide the program's limitationsConditions, requirements and grounds for refusal are described openly.
- Not certify a dog solely on the basis of paymentCertification is possible only after training and assessment are completed.
- Not put commercial results above safetyNo decision is made at the expense of the safety of the owner, the dog or others.
- Not use medical information in advertising without consentPersonal and medical data is not published or used in marketing without explicit consent.
- Not continue a program if the work causes the dog marked harm or stressThe program is suspended if there are signs of pain, illness or marked stress.
- Review complaints and document decisionsEvery inquiry is recorded, reviewed and answered.
The role of the person and the role of the dog
Certification is the result of the work of both sides of the team, and each side has its own responsibilities.
Handler
- Takes part in training.
- Maintains the dog's skills after the program ends.
- Follows the school's requirements.
- Ensures the dog's health and welfare.
- Reports incidents and changes in condition.
- Undergoes reassessment.
Dog
- Performs trained tasks.
- Stays controllable.
- Behaves safely in public settings.
- Must not work when in pain, ill or markedly stressed.
- May be withdrawn from the program or retired.
What GAV does not promise
- A GAV certificate does not create an automatic right of access to public places, transport or other facilities.
- Access rules and recognition of service dog status depend on the law of the specific country.
- Organizations — for example an airline, an educational institution, an employer or a government body — may request additional documents.
- The school does not guarantee the decision of an airline, a government body or another institution in a specific case.
- A service dog does not replace medical treatment.
- The result of training depends on the owner, the dog and compliance with the program's terms.
International reference points
Want to learn more about the school?
About the school, training programs and dog welfare — on the pages below.