Nurturing Future Service Dogs at the Airport! Service Dog Candidates Train at Centrair

Nurturing Future Service Dogs at the Airport! Service Dog Candidates Train at Centrair

Chubu Centrair International Airport Co., Ltd. (Location: Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture; President and CEO: Hironori Kagohashi), in anticipation of 'Assistance Dog Day' on May 22 (Fri), partnered with the Japan Service Dog Association (Headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Training Center: Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture; Chair: Tomoko Takayanagi) to conduct training for 'service dogs'—which support individuals with physical disabilities—within the airport on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

This training, conducted since 2018, leverages the airport's unique environment—situated beyond everyday experiences—to improve the dogs' environmental adaptability. The program also aims to promote understanding of service dogs and enhance the service skills of tenant staff. This year marks the sixth session.

For this sixth session, four trainers and three dogs participated: two-year-old female Labrador Retrievers 'Niki' and 'Yura,' and a three-year-old male 'Glory,' who is nearing his debut as a certified service dog.

Training exercises included practicing to remain calm amidst the loud sounds of aircraft at the Sky Deck, waiting quietly in shops until the trainer finished shopping, and walking alongside the trainer in areas such as 'Chochin Yokocho' (a street lined with restaurants). Along the way, the dogs practiced assistance tasks such as picking up dropped items. Furthermore, while the service dogs showed initial hesitation when experiencing moving walkways for the first time, they soon became accustomed and remained calm throughout the training.

According to the Japan Service Dog Association, full-scale training for service dogs begins around the age of one. However, during the 'service dog-in-training' phase before official certification, opportunities to train in public facilities are limited. Therefore, the airport provides a valuable opportunity for dogs to adapt to diverse environments, offering a more open and non-everyday space compared to urban public transit facilities, featuring constant passenger traffic and various sensory stimuli, including aircraft engine noise.