How to Get an Assistance Dog: Your Guide to the Different Routes

An assistance dog can be life-changing, offering independence, confidence, and essential support to people with disabilities or long-term health conditions. But when you first start looking into getting an assistance dog, the process can feel confusing and overwhelming.

There are several routes to getting an assistance dog, each with its own pros and cons. In this blog, we’ll break down your options and explain how our Assistance Dog Programme can support you if you decide to train your own dog.

What Is an Assistance Dog?

Assistance dogs are trained to carry out tasks that directly mitigate their handler’s disability. Examples include:

• Medical alerts – such as detecting changes in blood sugar, blood pressure, heart rate, or early seizure activity

• Mobility support – like retrieving dropped items, opening doors, or providing stability when walking

• Psychiatric support – including grounding during panic attacks or interrupting self-harming behaviours

• Autism support – such as providing safety, deep pressure therapy, or interrupting meltdowns

These dogs are more than companions — they are working partners who enable their handlers to live fuller, more independent lives.

Route 1: Charities

Many people are familiar with large UK charities such as Guide Dogs, Dogs for Good, and Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. These organisations breed and train dogs and then place them with applicants.

Pros:

• Dogs are provided at no cost.

• Training is completed to very high standards.

• Ongoing aftercare is available.

  
  

Cons:

• Waiting lists can be several years long.

• Strict eligibility criteria.

• Only certain disabilities and breeds are covered.

• Dogs are not trained for highly individual or unusual needs.

Route 2: Training Your Own Dog With Professional Support

This is where our Online Assistance Dog Programme comes in. Increasingly, people are choosing to owner-train their assistance dog, either with a dog they already have or with a carefully chosen new puppy.

We provide everything you need to train your own dog to assistance standards, including:

• 450+ step-by-step video tutorials (covering obedience, distraction-proofing, public access, and disability task training)

• Live trainer support 7 days a week

• Optional weekly Zoom calls for personalised advice

• Award progression system from Puppy to Gold level

• Public Access Test at 18 months to ensure your dog meets or exceeds international standards

We also offer residential training stays, where your dog can come and live with one of our professional trainers for an intensive period of foundation training, before returning to you with full handover support.

Pros:

• No waiting list.

• Tailored training for your individual needs.

• You can bond with your dog from the start.

• Flexible support options (online, in-person, or residential).

Cons:

• Requires time, patience, and consistency from the handler.

• Not every dog is suited to this pathway (temperament and health matter).

Route 3: Purchasing a Fully Trained Dog

Some organisations (including private trainers) offer fully trained assistance dogs for purchase.

Pros:

• Quicker access to a trained dog.

• Less personal training required.

  
  

Cons:

• High financial cost (£15,000–£30,000+).

• Bonding can take time, as you did not raise the dog.

• Often further training is required

• Careful research is needed to ensure ethical, force-free training methods are used.

Legal Rights of Assistance Dogs in the UK

Whether trained through a charity or our Owner-Trained Assistance Dog Programme, your dog is recognised under the Equality Act 2010 once they are fully trained. This means they are entitled to access public places such as shops, restaurants, and public transport.

How to Get Started

1. Decide which route is best for you — charity, owner-trained, or purchased.

2. Assess your dog (or potential dog) — suitability is crucial, and we can help with temperament tests.

3. Begin foundation training early — socialisation, obedience, and confidence building are essential.

4. Get professional guidance — our programme ensures your training is structured, ethical, and effective.

5. Work towards your Public Access Test — this ensures your dog is safe, reliable, and legally recognised as an assistance dog.

Final Thoughts

There is no single “right” way to get an assistance dog. What matters most is finding a path that meets your needs and prioritises your dog’s welfare and suitability.

If you’d like to explore the owner-trained route, our Assistance Dog Programme provides everything you need to succeed, whether you prefer to train at home with our step-by-step videos or combine this with hands-on support through our residential stays.

👉 Ready to start your journey? Get in touch with us to learn more about how we can help you and your dog become a successful assistance dog team.