Service dog

Japan

In Japan, the Act on Assistance Dogs for Persons with Disabilities (2003, amended in 2007) allows people with disabilities to have a service dog accompany them to enter public space and private businesses serving the general public and workplaces. The law recognizes three types of assistance dogs: guide dogs, service dogs, and hearing dogs. Service dog teams have to be certified after an assessment. Dogs are evaluated on sociability and obedience, and suitable dogs are trained to become service dogs. Beneficiaries are evaluated on their aptitude and medical needs. Then dogs and their partners are matched and go through additional team training before a final certification. Depending on the type of assistance dogs, dog training organizations have to be registered at a local prefectural government or the National Public Safety Commission, and organizations certifying assistance dogs are designated by the Minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare or the National Public Safety Commission. Assistance dogs and their partner must carry their certification papers and the dogs should carry a mandatory sign to access public spaces.