RAD Welfare POLICY

Positive reinforcement

RAD is a force free charity and trains using positive reinforcement. We promote marker and clicker training using food or toys as reinforcers. We do not permit the use of aversive tools, including slip leads, choke chains, prong collars and e-collars. We educate clients on using a harness and collar to walk their dog. RAD requires training to be completely positive not only relating to the tools used, but also the way the handler interacts with the dog. We do not believe in shouting at dogs, hitting dogs or giving lead corrections to dogs. 

Aversives

RAD has a comprehensive policy setting out what are classed by us as aversive training tools, methods and behaviours. We do not support the use of any aversive  or 'balanced' training methods or tools as part of training.

Daily walks

RAD requires dogs to be provided with at least one ‘off-duty’ walk per day.  Sniffing and socialisation with dogs and people is important to dogs’ welfare. All dogs should be walked in accordance with the daily exercise requirements of their breed and age. On average this would be expected to be around 45 minutes. Puppies will have shorter exercise requirements to safeguard against damage to their joints. RAD’s training team will be happy to provide advice to any clients who are unsure about their dog’s exercise needs. 

Enrichment

Dogs’ mental wellbeing is as important as their physical health. Engaging in enrichment activities also helps to strengthen the bond between the dog and their handler. Examples of enrichment activities are: puzzles, problem solving activities, trick training, interactive play, socialising with other dogs. 

Diet

RAD does not recommend a specific type or brand of food, and we appreciate that clients’ budgets will vary, however we advise that a good quality diet is important for a dog’s general health and also to their ability to focus on work and training.

RAD advises the following around dietary needs:

 

• The ‘right’ diet varies depending on your dog’s needs.
• Dogs are omnivores, so have the ability to digest both meat and vegetables. Therefore they need a balanced diet of proteins, fats, fibre, minerals and vitamins.
• High-quality dog food is always better than a cheap, low-quality alternative.
• It is typically better to choose a food which is ‘complete’ as it can be very difficult to achieve the correct balance of nutrition with homemade foods.
• 
  Always look at the ingredients list. These are listed proportionally, and as a general rule, meat should be the first ingredient as it’s the best protein for your dog’s body. Avoid foods that use broad terms such as ‘animal derivative’, ‘meal’ or ‘cereals’ in their first few ingredients as these generally indicate a lower quality food.

Dog training can often involve the use of food rewards, RAD also recommends that these should be chosen carefully to avoid those which contain additives such as colourants or sugars which can lead to hyperactivity, aggression and obesity in dogs.

 

Dogs for Good have produced a comprehensive guide to understanding dog food labelling, which can be found here: 

https://www.dogsforgood.org/good-advice/interpreting-dog-food-packaging/

RAD does not have a specific policy about raw feeding, but advises clients that raw fed dogs are not permitted access to certain settings, such as some hospitals, educational establishments and venues such as zoos and wildlife parks. Clients are advised to check the regulations in place at any such settings they plan to access and choose their dog’s diet accordingly.

Home environment

As their partner and companion, RAD expects that a client's assistance dog will have access to the majority of the space inside the home and to be with the handler for the majority of the time to perform their tasks. We understand that for safety a dog may need to be excluded from some areas at some times. The home should be safe and free from hazards for your dog. 

All dogs require a safe space where they can sleep and relax, this could be their bed or a crate, and should be positioned in a quiet area of the home where they will not be disturbed while resting. On average dogs require 14-18 hours’ sleep per day, and should be provided with a bed which matches their sleeping preferences, such as whether they prefer to curl up or stretch out. 

Garden access and toileting

Assistance dogs in training are working hard to learn and practice new skills, and assistance dogs are also placed under mental strain when working to support their handler. RAD therefore considers that our dogs require direct access to a garden at their home. This allows dogs to decompress and relax by undertaking natural stress-relieving behaviours such as sniffing, rolling, or simply laying down in the fresh air. 

RAD does not accept any dogs which have been trained to toilet in an indoor area, such as a bath, shower cubicle or litter box. 

Time away from young children

If an assistance dog is living in the same household as children, RAD requires provision to be made so that the dog has relaxation and rest time away from the children for a proportion of every day. All dogs, especially working assistance dogs, need time to rest, relax and get adequate sleep. It can be hard to do this while children are present. 

Time as a pet dog

RAD believes it is important that working dogs have time away from assistance work to switch off and behave as an ordinary pet dog. This gives them time to rest and reset and to make sure their biological need of sufficient sleep is met. RAD teaches clients to give a ‘working cue’ to their dog so that they know when they are working and when they are not.  RAD promotes the use of brain and enrichment games and allowing dogs to undertake the natural behaviours of the breed, eg, retrieving, scent games etc.

Heat and cold weather

RAD has a detailed policy to provide advice and guidance on working arrangements for assistance dogs in unusually hot and cold temperatures. This is made available to clients and should be read in conjunction with the Welfare Policy. 

We require handlers to always prioritise the welfare and needs of their dog in these circumstances.

Clothing

RAD considers that no dog should be clothed all the time, as this can have a detrimental effect on the welfare of the dog. Clothing a dog frequently can cause the dog to have skin complaints and develop spots and blackheads, as well as impeding natural grooming behaviour. RAD’s Clothing and Emblems Policy should be read by handlers in conjunction with the Welfare Policy. 

Fur dyeing

RAD does not permit any use of RAD branded items or RAD ID if a dog’s fur has been dyed. RAD does not support the dyeing of dogs’ fur for the following reasons:

• 
  It is bad for the skin. Dogs’ skin is a lot thinner than ours and has a different pH which makes it more susceptible to toxins.
• Dog dyes are not regulated and could potentially contain toxic chemicals which can cause irritation, hot spots, or the skin can absorb the dye which can then enter the bloodstream.
• If dogs ingest the dye it can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea and respiratory issues. 
• The dye can affect the respiratory system as dogs have such a sensitive olfactory system the dye can cause respiratory issues. This can be very distressing for the dog.

We are aware that some people say that they dye their dog's tail so that the public can see it and it avoids it being trodden on. This has not been shown to be a guaranteed method of preventing dogs’ tails being stood on and we consider that the potential harm caused by the hair dye outweighs this argument. It is not an approach recommended by any ADUK organisation. 

Noise exposure and environmental stress

Working as an assistance dog may lead to RAD dogs being taken into environments where they will be exposed to high levels of noise. Examples would be cinemas, theatres, sports events, parades and carnivals etc. RAD has an Noise Exposure Policy which should be read by handlers in conjunction with this Welfare Policy. As dogs have more sensitive hearing than humans, even the best trained dogs can become distressed in noisy or crowded environments. RAD therefore also encourages our clients to consider whether certain environments or activities might be too stressful for their dog, and consider leaving their dog at home with a trusted carer on some occasions. 

Foreign travel

Many RAD clients wish to travel with their dog. RAD can provide additional guidance to assist with this. Issues which should be considered include: documentation and health requirements for entry to the destination country and re-entry to the UK; availability of suitable food in the destination country (dog food can often not be exported); how to get veterinary care abroad if needed; climate in the planned destination; attitude to dogs and assistance dog rights; hazards such as resident stray dogs, snakes, etc; management of travel delays. 

Tail docking and ear cropping

RAD does not endorse tail docking or ear cropping and reserves the right not to accept any dog which has undergone these procedures. Where tail docking has been undertaken legally by a vet for medical reasons the relevant documentation must be provided. RAD has a Tail Docking and Ear Cropping Policy which should be read in conjunction with this Welfare Policy. 

Body language

RAD trains all clients, staff and volunteers to understand dog body language. This ensures that clients are able to advocate for their dog’s needs and wellbeing in public access situations and can remove their dog if they appear stressed or worried. 

Annual vet check 

RAD requires all dogs to be certified fit to work by a vet on an annual basis. This is especially important as dogs age. RAD may ask for a dog to be retired early if health concerns arise. In the event of any major changes in a dog’s behaviour, or any observed issues such as stiffness or reluctance to work, RAD may ask the client to provide evidence of an additional vet check or information from another specialist such as a canine physiotherapist. 

Health

RAD requires all dogs to be provided with preventative treatments for fleas, ticks, lungworm, roundworm and tapeworm, and vaccinated in line with veterinary recommendations, (including Kennel Cough if attending RAD’s face to face training classes). Dogs should be regularly groomed (either at home or by a professional groomer) including teeth cleaning. Dogs must be registered with an accessible vet and handlers must have a plan in place to transport their dog to the vet in an emergency. Any health concerns should be investigated by a vet promptly. 

Body Condition Scoring (BCS) and Weight Management

Obesity in dogs is a growing concern and it is estimated that roughly 50% of all dogs in the UK are overweight. If a dog is overweight, they are prone to many more diseases and health complaints. New research suggests that lipid cells secrete into the body making dogs more likely to develop heart disease and cancer. Also, many breeds are prone to hip dysplasia, e.g. Labradors, and being overweight increases the risk of developing hip dysplasia by 70%. RAD recognises Body Condition Scoring as an accurate tool to assess weight and whether a dog is overweight or not. RAD trains all clients on how to perform Body Condition Scoring on their dogs and undertakes BCS on all dogs at face to face training. We reserve the right to remove a dog from our training programme if the handler fails to manage their dog’s weight. 

Retirement

RAD has set retirement ages for assistance dogs depending on breed/size. This is similar to the policies of all other ADI/ADUK organisations but takes into account that RAD dogs are of a wider variety of breeds and sizes than the dogs some other organisations work with. 

Early retirement may be recommended in the event of health concerns. Extensions of a dog’s working life will not be permitted. RAD will support clients to begin thinking about a successor dog in good time, but does not guarantee to accept any new dog acquired by the client. New dogs will need to be assessed by the training team. At the point of a dog’s retirement, clients must cease using all RAD branded vests and other equipment.