Handi’Chiens

Handi’Chiens is a French non-profit association, founded in 1989 and recognized as a public-interest organization since 2012. Its mission: to train and give away, free of charge, assistance dogs to people with motor or sensory disabilities, or to children with developmental disorders.

More information on the association’s official website: handichiens.org

The role of host families

Before joining the center for their final training, every future assistance dog spends about 18 months with a volunteer host family. The family’s role:

• welcome the puppy from the age of 2 months;
• attend training classes with one of the association’s instructors;
• socialize the dog: outings, public transport, public places, everyday life;
• share all of its time with the dog, to give it the best chance of completing its training successfully.

After this period, the dog returns to the center for about 6 months of final training, before being given — if all goes well — to someone who needs it.

Since 2013, we’ve had the chance to accompany several dogs through this adventure. You’ll find them below.