Train Your Dog to Become an Assistance Dog — With Expert Residential Support
Our intensive residential training programmes help you turn your own dog from pet dog to assistance dog prospect, with tailored support for obedience, public access training, and disability-mitigating tasks.
Whether you need help with the full journey from puppy to Public Access Test, or support at a specific stage of training, our expert trainers can guide your dog through every step in a real home environment.
Best for owners who:
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Want expert help training their own dog as an assistance dog
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Are unable to do all the training themselves
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Want a structured pathway from puppy foundations to public access
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Want the highest level of support through the full programme
Why Choose the Full Pathway?
Our Full Pathway is the most supportive and comprehensive option for owners who want expert guidance through the entire assistance dog training journey.
Rather than booking one stay at a time and trying to piece the process together, the Full Pathway gives you a clear plan from early foundations through to advanced training, mitigating tasks, and Public Access Test preparation.
The Full Pathway is ideal if you want:
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A clear long-term training plan
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Professional support at every stage of development
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Help preventing mistakes and training gaps early on
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A dog trained with your disability needs in mind from the beginning
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Continuity between stays, online training, and owner transfer sessions
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The best chance of building strong foundations for future public access work
Instead of wondering what to do next, you’ll have:
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A structured roadmap
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Expert guidance at each milestone
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Tailored task training
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Ongoing support between stays
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Owner training to help you maintain progress at home
What disabilities do we support?
We support a wide range of disabilities including:
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Physical disabilities (wheelchair users, POTS, EDS, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, ME, Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Injuries, Brain injuries, Strokes, Amputees etc)
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Medical support (Diabetes, Seizures, Addisons, Allergies, Blood Pressure, Migraines, POTS, Crohns)
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Psychological & neurological support (Autism, Downs Syndrome, PTSD, Functional Neurological Disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder, FASD, severe anxiety, Bipolar, major depression)
If you’re unsure whether we can support your needs, contact us for a free assessment and we’ll talk you through your options.
Before You Apply
To begin assistance dog training with us, you will need:
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A letter from your doctor confirming your diagnosis
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Third party liability insurance covering your dog as an assistance dog
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A dog with a suitable temperament for assistance work
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Ongoing vet care confirming your dog is healthy and fit for training
Your dog should be:
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People and dog neutral, or capable of working calmly in public
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Free from significant fear, aggression, or reactivity
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Physically healthy and suitable for the role
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Able to progress toward advanced obedience and public access standards
Dogs with significant behavioural concerns are not usually suitable for assistance work. If you’re unsure whether your dog is a suitable candidate, we offer a free assessment before you commit.
The Training Pathway
Our residential assistance dog programme follows a clear step-by-step pathway, designed to take your dog from early foundations through to advanced support work.
Your dog lives with one of our trainers in their family home and receives intensive daily training tailored to your needs, your dog’s stage of development, and the skills required for your disability.
The pathway includes:
1. Puppy Foundations
Socialisation, engagement, confidence, calmness, and basic cues.
2. Bronze
Proofing core obedience and building reliability in daily life.
3. Silver
Adding distractions, distance, duration, and more advanced control.
4. Gold
Strong on and off lead control, advanced obedience, settling, neutrality, and public behaviour.
5. Mitigating Tasks
Teaching practical disability-support tasks tailored to your needs.
6. Public Access Test Preparation
Preparing your dog to work reliably and calmly in public spaces.
Typical timeline:
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Under 6 months: Puppy Foundations
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From 6 months: Bronze
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From 9 months: Silver
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From 12 months: Gold
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From 18 months: Public Access preparation and testing
Every dog progresses at their own pace, and we’ll guide you honestly at every stage.
Choose Your Level of Support
Our residential training programme is an ideal option for owners who may not be able to do all the training themselves — whether due to the nature of their disability, a demanding schedule, or simply needing an experienced hand to work through a tricky training patch or achieve a specific award level.
Your dog will live with one of our expert trainers in a home environment, receiving daily, personalised training that fits their needs and your long-term goals.
Option 1: Milestone Stays
Ideal for owners who want support with a specific stage of training, a particular award, or a tricky patch.
Best for:
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Building stronger foundations
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Preparing for the next award
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Troubleshooting specific training issues
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Boosting progress before continuing at home
Option 2: Full Pathway Programme
Our most comprehensive option for owners who want support across the full training journey.
Best for:
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Starting with a young prospect and planning the full route ahead
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Owners who cannot manage the full process alone
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Dogs needing consistent professional input over time
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Handlers who want the most structured route toward advanced assistance dog training
The Full Pathway may include multiple residential stays across your dog’s development, with online support and owner transfer lessons built in throughout.
Recommended for most owners seeking the strongest long-term support.
Puppy to Bronze
Stay
Perfect for young dogs needing strong foundations.
During this stay, we focus on:
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Basic obedience cues
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Confidence building
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Handling and household manners
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Socialisation and environmental exposure
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Early lead walking and recall foundations
Goal: build the skills needed for Puppy and Bronze level work.
Silver
Stay
Ideal for dogs ready to advance beyond the basics.
During this stay, we focus on:
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Distractions, duration, and distance
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Proofing cues in new environments
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Improving reliability in busier places
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Preventing or resolving developing bad habits
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Beginning or progressing task foundations
Goal: prepare for Silver level work and stronger real-world reliability
Why Owners Choose Adolescent Dogs
Choosing who to trust with your assistance dog prospect is a big decision. We take that responsibility seriously.
With us, your dog will:
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Live in a family home, not kennels
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Receive kind, positive, force-free training
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Be trained in real-life environments, not just controlled sessions
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Have a programme tailored to your disability needs and long-term goals
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Receive personalised support from an experienced trainer
As an owner, you’ll receive:
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Regular photo and video updates
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Direct contact with your trainer
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Weekly progress reports
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Owner lessons to help transfer the training back to you
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Ongoing support after the stay
We combine residential training, owner transfer, and online support so you’re not left on your own once your dog comes home.
Gold & Tast Training Stay
Ideal for dogs working toward advanced obedience and stronger support skills.
During this stay, we focus on:
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Advanced obedience in busy environments
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Neutrality around people and dogs
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Better settling in public
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Stronger on and off lead control
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Disability-mitigating task work
Goal: prepare for Gold level work and stronger task reliability.
Public Access Test
Preparation Stay
For dogs approaching final public access standard.
During this stay, we focus on:
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Calm, reliable behaviour in public access spaces
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Settling in shops, cafes, restaurants, and transport
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Maintaining focus around distractions
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Task reliability in public
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Preparing handler and dog for the final stage of training
Goal: prepare your dog for Public Access Test level.
What's included
Every residential stay is designed to give your dog intensive training and give you the support needed to continue progress at home.
Your package includes:
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A chance to chat with or meet your trainer before booking
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Daily personalised training in a family home
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Force-free training methods
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Real-world training in home and public environments
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WhatsApp contact with your trainer
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Regular photos, videos, and updates
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Weekly progress reports
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Owner transfer lessons at the end of each milestone
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Lifetime access to our Online Assistance Dog Programme
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Ongoing trainer support after the stay
Full Pathway extras:
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Assistance dog membership card and lanyard
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Customised “Assistance Dog in Training” vest
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“Assistance Dog” vest after passing the Access Test
Nationwide collection is available on request.
Honest Guidance at Every Stage
Not every dog is suited to assistance work, and not every dog progresses at the same speed.
Your dog’s age, breed, temperament, health, learning history, and life experience all affect how quickly they progress — and whether they are ultimately suitable for advanced public access work.
We will always be honest with you throughout the process.
That means:
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We do not make false promises
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We assess temperament at each stage
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We tell you if your dog needs more time
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We tell you if your dog may not be suited to full assistance work
If you have any doubts before starting, we offer a free assessment to help you make an informed decision.
Watch videos of Assistance Dogs who have trained with us
Investment
You can book a single milestone stay, or choose a longer-term pathway with support across multiple stages of your dog’s development.
For owners who want the highest level of support, we recommend the Full Pathway, which allows you to plan your dog’s journey in advance and spread payments across the programme.
Weekly training rates:
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Junior Trainer: £1150 per week
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Senior Trainer: £1250 per week
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Head Trainer: £1550 per week
Payment options:
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50% non-refundable deposit to secure your stay, with the balance due 1 week before arrival
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or 25% non-refundable deposit when booking further in advance, with monthly payments until arrival
Full Pathway payment option:
For the Full Pathway, you can pay a 25% non-refundable deposit on the full programme and then pay for each stay as it arrives, or spread payments monthly.
Funding:
Some clients may be able to use Direct Payments or other funding routes. We also provide guidance on applying for funding.
Read customer reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my dog suitable to become an assistance dog?
Not all dogs are suitable for assistance work. We offer a free assessment to help you understand whether your dog is a good candidate before you commit.
Do I need to book the full pathway all at once?
No. Some owners choose single stays, while others plan the full pathway in advance for more structure and continuity.
What if my dog needs more time at a stage?
That’s completely normal. Dogs progress at different rates, and extra stays can be booked if needed.
Will my dog be living in kennels?
No. Your dog lives with their trainer in a home environment as part of the family.
Do you support owner training too?
Yes. We include owner transfer sessions and lifetime access to our online programme so you can continue progress at home.
Can you guarantee my dog will qualify?
No ethical trainer can guarantee that. Suitability depends on health, temperament, maturity, and progress across training.
Ready to Explore the Best Pathway for Your Dog?
Whether you’re starting with a young prospect or already partway through training, we can help you choose the right next step.
If you’re looking for the most complete support, ask us about the Full Pathway — our most comprehensive option for building your dog’s skills from foundations through to advanced training and public access preparation.
Complete the form below and we'll be in touch to help you to decide the best pathway for you and your dog