The History of Assistance Dogs in the Netherlands | From Guide Dog to Medical Assistance Dog

The History of

From the first guide dogs to modern assistance dog teams.

When people think of assistance dogs, many still automatically think of a guide dog for the blind. But the history of assistance dogs in the Netherlands is much larger, broader, and more complex than that.

What began with dogs helping blind war veterans gradually developed into a world where dogs provide support for physical disabilities, PTSD, epilepsy, medical signaling, and daily activities.

However, that development in the Netherlands is relatively recent — and still very much in flux.

The first guide dogs in the Netherlands

The Dutch history of assistance dogs begins with guide dogs for the blind.

The modern guide dog as we know it today originated largely from German training programs for veterans who had become blind during the First World War. The results attracted international attention. After the Second World War, this development expanded further.

Interest in this form of support also increased in the Netherlands.

KNGF Geleidehonden was founded in 1935, at the time under the name “Nederlandsche Vereeniging tot Opleiding van Geleidehonden voor Blinden”.

With that, the Netherlands gained one of the first official guide dog organizations in Europe.

The first dogs were primarily deployed to enable people with visual impairments to travel more independently and participate in society again. That was revolutionary at the time. For many people, a guide dog meant being able to walk down the street independently for the first time without being completely dependent on others.

Moreover, in the early years, organizations regularly worked with suitable rehomed dogs or shelter dogs. Later, specialized breeding programs emerged to make health, behavior, and stability more predictable.

Although the field of work expanded significantly later on, guide dogs for the blind formed the basis for many years upon which many later assistance dog programs were developed.

Foreign influence on the Dutch assistance dog world

The Dutch development did not stand alone.

Much knowledge about training, behavior, and training methods originally came from Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and later also from the United States.

The American development of assistance dogs, in particular, had a major global influence. Specialized assistance dogs for physical disabilities, PTSD, and medical alerting emerged there earlier.

International organizations, such as Assistance Dogs International, also influenced quality discussions and professional standards within parts of the European and Dutch assistance dog world.

As a result, it also received more attention in the Netherlands:

• quality of training

• welfare of working dogs

• public accessibility

• professional standards

• ethical cooperation between dog and user

From aid to partner

In the early years, guide dogs were primarily seen as a practical tool.

The emphasis was on obedience, safety, and functioning in traffic. Over the years, however, that vision changed.

People noticed that these dogs did much more than just guide:

• They gave self-confidence

• increase independence

• reduced social isolation

• brought peace and structure

• supported mental health

As a result, the societal view of assistance dogs shifted.

Not only as a “medical device”, but as support that helps someone to actively participate in society again.

This aligns with broader developments regarding inclusion, accessibility, and participation within the Netherlands.

The role of breeding programs and suitable breeds

In the early years, a strong focus was placed on which dogs were suitable for assistance dog work.

For a long time, the emphasis was primarily on:

• Labrador Retrievers

• Golden Retrievers

• German Shepherds

These breeds were known for their trainability, stability, and willingness to work.

In addition, many organizations worked with their own breeding programs to make traits such as stress resistance, social behavior, and health more predictable.

Later, that view changed.

There was more room for:

• intersections

• smaller dogs

• specialized combinations

• dogs from private lines

• dogs that were selected by users themselves

As a result, customization became more important than just race or origin.

Puppy foster families: the foundation behind many assistance dogs

Behind many successful assistance dogs stands a period that often remains out of sight: life with a puppy foster family or socialization family.

These families have played a crucial role in Dutch assistance dog programs for many years.

It is precisely in this first phase of life that young dogs learn to cope with:

• traffic

• shops

• children

• public transport

• sounds

• busy environments

• daily routines

That is often where the foundation is laid for stability, self-confidence, and sensory processing.

Many assistance dog schools would barely be able to function without puppy foster families.

The arrival of ADL and signal dogs

From the 1980s and 1990s, the Netherlands further professionalized in the field of assistance dogs.

Dogs became available for people with:

• physical disabilities

• muscle diseases

• wheelchair dependency

• hearing impairments

For example, these dogs learned:

• open doors

• picking up objects

• get help

• operate buttons

• signal sounds such as a doorbell or alarm

So-called ADL dogs also emerged: dogs that provide support with general daily activities.

During this period, several organizations specialized in various forms of assistance dogs.

Stichting Hulphond Nederland, among others, played an important role in this.

The term “assistance dog” became increasingly well-known in the Netherlands, although public knowledge remained limited.

Public transport and social independence

An important but often forgotten part of the history of Dutch assistance dogs is the role of public transport.

Trains, buses, taxis, and stations were the first places where independence truly became visible for many assistance dog users.

It was precisely there that it became clear how much difference an assistance dog could make:

• independent travel

• navigate safely

• reduce tension

• providing support in busy situations

At the same time, discussions arose there regarding accessibility, acceptance, and rights.

The societal acceptance of assistance dogs in public transport has increased significantly over the past decades and contributed to greater visibility of assistance dog teams within society.

The change in training vision

The way assistance dogs are trained has also changed significantly over the years.

In the past, the emphasis was often on:

• strict obedience

• corrections

• control

• function flawlessly

Nowadays, the training vision is much broader.

Modern assistance dog training focuses increasingly on:

• cooperation

• motivation

• well-being

• stress reduction

• recovery moments

• positive training methods

• reading body language and tension

As a result, not only the training of assistance dogs changed, but also the way working dogs are viewed.

No longer just as a “working dog”, but as a living being with boundaries, emotions, and needs.

Psychiatric assistance dogs: rarely visible for a long time

Psychiatric assistance dogs only became more widely visible and socially better known in the Netherlands relatively late.

In countries such as the United States, dogs were used for PTSD and mental disorders much earlier, especially with war veterans. The Netherlands lagged behind in this regard.

For a long time, there was doubt:

• Can a dog really help with psychological issues?

• When is something a “real” assistance dog?

• How do you measure quality?

• What are the limits of task training?

Only in recent years has societal recognition increased further.

At the same time, discussions arose about:

• legislation

• public access

• quality of education

• proliferation of providers

• certification and cards

The Netherlands does not have a legally mandatory national assistance dog passport or central registration system. This regularly causes confusion—among both the public and businesses and agencies.

Assistance dogs and children

A relatively new chapter within the Netherlands is the growth of assistance dogs for children.

Autism assistance dogs, in particular, made assistance dogs more visible indoors:

• families

• schools

• playgrounds

• daily parenting situations

As a result, the public visibility of assistance dogs also changed.

Many people were introduced to forms of assistance dogs other than just guide dogs for the blind for the first time through children.

The difference between assistance dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support dogs

As assistance dogs became more visible, more confusion also arose surrounding different types of dogs.

Many people still confuse these terms:

• assistance dog

• therapy dog

• emotional support dog

• visiting dog

An assistance dog is specifically trained individually to perform tasks for one person with a disability or medical condition.

A therapy dog usually works with a handler in, for example, healthcare institutions or therapy settings.

An emotional support dog primarily provides comfort or emotional support, but in the Netherlands generally does not have separate public access rights like assistance dogs may have, and is treated legally differently from task-trained assistance dogs.

Precisely because these terms are frequently used interchangeably, discussions arose in the Netherlands regarding recognizability, quality, and public access.

The shift towards collaborative training

An important development within the Netherlands is the growth of team training and partial self-training of assistance dogs.

In the past, assistance dogs were usually fully trained before they were placed with a user.

Nowadays, more and more people are opting for a form of training where user and dog learn to function together in their own living environment.

There are several reasons for this:

• waiting lists

• limited reimbursements

• need for customization

• specific medical situations

• rare task combinations

• better connection to the user's daily life

As a result, the role of the user themselves also changed. Many assistance dog users are now actively involved in training, behavioral knowledge, and task development.

Especially with medical signaling dogs, much is still done based on practical experience and individual collaboration.

Medical alert dogs in the Netherlands

One of the latest developments in the Netherlands is the growth of medical assistance dogs.

Think of dogs that learn to respond to:

• epilepsy

• diabetes

• dissociation

• panic attacks

• to faint

• cardiac arrhythmias

• autonomous dysregulation

In particular, so-called cardiac alert dogs—dogs that respond to changes in heart rate or autonomic dysregulation—are still relatively unknown in the Netherlands and less established than in countries such as the United States.

Although it is not yet fully scientifically clear how dogs perceive certain physical changes, practical experience shows that certain dogs can react very subtly to changes regarding heart rate, tension, or autonomic dysregulation.

Science is still trying to better understand exactly how dogs do this.

The influence of behavioral science and well-being research

Over the past few decades, scientific knowledge regarding dogs has also grown enormously.

Research into:

• stress

• behavior

• learning processes

• well-being

• overload

• communication between human and dog

had a major influence on the modern assistance dog world.

In the past, people mainly looked:

Is the dog doing his job well?

Nowadays, people are also increasingly looking at:

Can the dog perform this work for a long period in a healthy, safe, and mentally responsible manner?

That changed not only training, but also the way working dogs are viewed.

The difficult side of assistance dogs

The outside world often sees primarily the beautiful or inspiring side of assistance dogs.

But behind many assistance dog teams also lies a difficult reality.

Consider, for example:

• dogs that drop out during training

• medical disqualifications

• physical problems

• stress sensitivity

• behavioral changes during puberty

• biting incidents

• financial pressure

• long waiting times

• societal discussions

• constant visibility in public

Not every promising puppy eventually grows into a working assistance dog.

It is precisely those experiences that have helped shape the Dutch assistance dog world and have had a significant influence on modern training philosophies and welfare thinking.

For many users, an assistance dog means not only support, but also a great responsibility.

In addition, daily functioning as an assistance dog team requires constant alertness and adaptability.

Crowdfunding and own financing

A striking aspect of the Dutch assistance dog world is the significant role of self-funding.

Because reimbursements are limited or not always available, various creative ways emerged in the Netherlands to make assistance dog programs possible.

Consider:

• sponsorship campaigns

• donation campaigns

• crowdfunding

• webshops

• foundations

• fundraising events

• own fundraising

As a result, many assistance dog teams are not only involved in training and care, but also in making the process financially possible.

More attention to dog welfare

In recent years, attention to the well-being of assistance dogs themselves has also been growing.

More and more organizations, trainers, and users are taking a critical look at:

• workload

• moments of rest

• retirement

• physical strain

• stress signals

• spare time

• ethical boundaries of task training

Whereas in the past it was sometimes expected that an assistance dog was “always working,” there is now growing recognition that an assistance dog should also simply be allowed to be a dog.

The view on retirement has also changed significantly. Nowadays, there is more attention paid to a dignified transition from work to rest, and to the emotional impact this can have on both the dog and the user.

That well-being aspect is becoming increasingly important within modern assistance dog programs.

Aids, equipment and visibility

The equipment of assistance dogs also changed significantly over the years.

Whereas assistance dogs were formerly often only recognizable by a classic harness, nowadays there are many specialized aids, such as:

• ergonomic harnesses

• patches

• medical identification

• visibility gear

• customized lines

• safety solutions

• custom assistive devices

That shows how diverse the use of assistance dogs has become.

Small entrepreneurs and innovation from users

A modern development in the Netherlands is that more and more assistance dog users are designing solutions themselves.

Nowadays, the following emerge from practical experience:

• adapted aids

• training products

• ergonomic solutions

• information material

• visibility tools

As a result, innovation is increasingly shifting from large organizations to users themselves and small, specialized entrepreneurs.

Practical experience plays an increasingly important role in this.

The impact of inclusion and accessibility legislation

Over the past decades, the social and legal position of assistance dogs in the Netherlands has also changed.

Whereas assistance dogs were formerly often seen as a special exception or something done out of charity, a broader vision of accessibility and inclusion gradually emerged.

An important development in this regard was the growing attention to equal participation in society for people with disabilities.

International agreements, such as those of the United Nations, also contributed to increased attention for:

• accessible public transport

• participation in education

• access to shops and restaurants

• functioning independently in society

As a result, the societal view of assistance dogs also changed.

No longer merely as “something special granted to someone”, but increasingly as support that enables participation in society.

Volunteers: the silent force behind assistance dog programs

A large part of the Dutch assistance dog world has been supported by volunteers for years.

Without:

• puppy foster families

• host families

• drivers

• fundraisers

• event helpers

• volunteers within training programs

many assistance dog programs would simply not have been possible.

The socialization of young dogs, in particular, requires an enormous effort from people behind the scenes.

Therefore, volunteers still form an important part of the Dutch assistance dog sector.

Internet, media and knowledge sharing

The internet drastically changed the world of assistance dogs.

In the past, users were primarily dependent on:

• organizations

• brochures

• doctors

• mouth-to-mouth contact

Now assistance dog users are sharing online:

• training knowledge

• experiences

• medical information

• practical solutions

• tools

• legislation and rights

As a result, a much larger community of assistance dog users emerged who support and inform each other.

Television, documentaries, and news programs also played an important role in the visibility of assistance dogs.

Many Dutch people were introduced to the following for the first time through the media:

• ADL dogs

• autism assistance dogs

• psychiatric assistance dogs

• medical alert dogs

Social media and visibility

Social media made the Dutch assistance dog world even more visible.

Whereas many people previously rarely saw an assistance dog other than a guide dog for the blind, assistance dog teams nowadays share their experiences online daily.

As a result, the following arose:

• more visibility

• more knowledge sharing

• more awareness

• more contact between assistance dog users

• but also more societal discussion

Medical detection dogs, psychiatric assistance dogs, and teams that train together, in particular, gained much more recognition as a result.

Visibility versus privacy

With that growing visibility, a new field of tension also emerged.

Many assistance dog users face:

• personal questions

• curiosity of bystanders

• discussions in public spaces

• online opinions

• the feeling of having to explain or prove their disability

As a result, visibly living with an assistance dog sometimes also requires a lot of emotional energy.

For many assistance dog users, explaining society has become almost standard part of daily functioning.

The emotional bond between human and assistance dog

Perhaps the biggest change in the Dutch assistance dog world is the growing recognition of the emotional bond between humans and dogs.

In the past, the emphasis was primarily on function:

Can the dog perform tasks?

Nowadays, there is growing understanding of the importance of:

• to trust

• safety

• tuning

• emotional regulation

• cooperation

• adhesion

An assistance dog is not a machine.

The collaboration arises precisely because dog and user learn to read, understand, and support each other.

For many people, an assistance dog therefore means not only practical help, but also more peace of mind, safety, and independence in daily life.

From exception to visible part of society

The Dutch history of assistance dogs is still very much in development.

What once began with a small group of guide dogs for the blind has grown into a broad and diverse world of assistance dog teams with a wide range of support needs.

And although the Netherlands is still finding its way in some areas — for example, regarding legislation, quality requirements, and societal knowledge — recognition continues to grow.

Not only for the dog as an aid.

But for the collaboration between human and dog as something that can actually change lives.

The history of assistance dogs is therefore not only written by organizations or trainers, but every single day by the people and dogs who learn to function together in a society that is still evolving. 🐾

Timeline – The History of Assistance Dogs in the Netherlands

Early 1900s

Internationally, the first modern guide dog programs for blind war veterans emerged after the First World War.

1935

Establishment of KNGF Guide Dogs in the Netherlands.

1950s–1970s

Guide dogs for the blind are slowly becoming more visible on Dutch streets.

1980s

The first broader forms of assistance dogs emerge:

• ADL dogs

• signal dogs

• assistance dogs for physical disabilities

1990s

Growth of specialized assistance dog organizations such as Stichting Hulphond Nederland.

2000s

Psychiatric assistance dogs and autism support dogs are becoming more visible in the Netherlands.

2010s

Strong growth of:

• owner-trained teams

• social media visibility

• online knowledge sharing

• medical alert dogs

2016

The Netherlands ratifies the United Nations.

Years 2020–present

More attention to:

• welfare of working dogs

• ethical training

• medical alert dogs

• innovation from users

• accessibility and inclusion

Bibliography

Dutch organizations

• KNGF Guide Dogs

• Assistance Dog Foundation Netherlands

• Assistance Dogs International (ADI)

Legislation & Inclusion

• UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – National Government

• Human Rights Institute – Assistance dogs and accessibility

Research & science

• NCBI – Research into assistance dogs and medical signaling

• PubMed – Research on assistance dogs and medical alert dogs

Background information & international history

• The Seeing Eye – History of guide dogs

• International Guide Dog Federation