Welcome to the Adolescent Dogs Online Academy for Owner Trained Assistance Dogs in the UK
We proudly support the training of Owner Trained Assistance Dogs in the UK and worldwide through our Online Assistance Dog Programme.
Why Choose Us?
We mirror and exceed the highest standards recognized for assistance dogs around the world, ensuring your dog receives the best training possible.
We Support a Wide Range of Disabilities:
✅ Physical
✅ Medical
✅ Psychological
All breeds are welcome (except banned breeds), and there’s no waiting list!
Our Assistance Dog Programme is open to anyone who wishes to train their own pet dog to become their assistance dog, covering a wide variety of disabilities including physical, medical, psychiatric and neurological.
Who are we?
We are a team of qualified, force free dog trainers who have been training family dogs for over 19 years, helping Owner Trained Assistance Dog teams to reach their goals
Our mission is to make assistance dog training accessible to all. The inclusive nature of our programme allows us to have no waiting lists, no breed restrictions or neuter requirements, allowing more people to fulfil their dream of having a trained assistance dog without the barriers than often exist with traditional routes.
By providing home-based training options and ongoing support, we're able to empower individuals to take control of their own assistance dog journey, which is a powerful and much needed service in todays world.
What disabilities do we support?
We support a wide range of disabilities including:
Physical disabilities (wheelchair users, PoTS, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, ME, Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Injuries, Brain injuries, Strokes, Amputees etc)
Medical support (Diabetes, Epilepsy, Seizures, Addisons, Allergies, Blood Pressure, Migraines, POTS, Crohns, non epileptic seizures)
Guiding & Hearing - we only currently have light guiding & hearing videos available, but our trainers are happy to support your training journey in any way we can
Psychiatric & neurological support (Autism, Downs Syndrome, PTSD, C-PTSD, Dissociative Identity Disorder, FASD, Bipolar Disorder, Major depression, Severe anxiety) Your dog would need to ease your symptoms via specially taught tasks
Emotional support dogs: An emotional support dog is a dog who provides emotional support and eases your anxiety/symptoms without any training. Unfortunately Emotional Support Dogs are not recognised in the UK.
Online Programme
Train your assistance dog from home
We provide comprehensive assistance dog training, supporting you from puppyhood to a fully trained assistance dog, guiding you at each stage of the journey.
Video Library: Gain instant access to over 450 on-demand video tutorials, covering everything from puppy training and socialisation to basic and advanced obedience, distraction-proofing, public access skills, and behavioural challenges.
Task Training: Our tutorials also include specific task training, tailored to help your dog support you with tasks that mitigate the effects of your unique disability.
Trainer Support: Enjoy live trainer support seven days a week, along with the option to join weekly live Zoom sessions for personalised guidance.
Practical Support: We hold monthly workshops exclusively for our assistance dog members, offering hands-on support for awards, temperament assessments, and task training. Residential training options are also available to utilise alongside the online programme to give your dog's training a boost
Awards: Progress through our Award system—from Puppy to Gold level and the Mitigating Task Award—before qualifying for the Access Test, conducted in person in Surrey, UK once your dog is 18 months or older. Our Public Access Test meets and exceeds international assistance dog standards. Certificates and rosettes are available at each level.
Our Application Process
Our program is open to anyone looking to train their own dog to assist with a disability. Puppies as young as 8 weeks old can join to begin their learning journey.
While we welcome all applicants, please note that not every dog may be suited for assistance work, and not all dog-owner teams will meet the training standards necessary to pass each assessment.
You can start training with us right away. To begin, please provide:
- A letter from your doctor confirming your medical diagnosis
- Proof of pet insurance with third-party or public liability coverage (please inform your insurance provider that your dog is working if you’re planning public access training to ensure coverage).
To qualify as an Assistance Dog, your dog must:
- Have a stable temperament without signs of fear or reactivity
- Receive yearly veterinary checks to confirm good health and suitability
- Have public liability/3rd party insurance
- Achieve an advanced training level (we can support you in this). Dogs can take awards at any age, but Access Tests are available only after 18 months of age.
- Demonstrate three specialised skills that assist you with your disability (we can provide training for these skills as well).
If you're unsure about your dog’s suitability, please contact us for a free assessment, as dogs with behavioural issues may not be ideal candidates for assistance training.
Membership
There is a membership fee which can be paid monthly or annually. You can also purchase lifetime membership for a one off payment.
Members will be able to access:
- The Online Academy of over 450 on-demand video tutorials
- The Assistance Dog Academy with task tutorials
- New video tutorials created upon request unique to your needs
- Expert support teaching mitigating tasks
- Daily online trainer support & direct message the trainer
- Feedback on your progress: post videos of training sessions
- Help building training plans & finding videos
- Weekly Live Zoom Q&A with the Head Trainer for individual support
- £100 per week discount on residential training stays
- Access one to one lessons in Surrey or Stafford
- Support with access issues
- Ongoing support & evaluation
- The right to wear an Adolescent Dogs 'in training' vest and carry a membership card
- Purchase organisation vests & gear customised to your own style
- Free Assistance Dog Award assessment via online video submission
- Be part of the Facebook Support group and meet other teams
- Access test is in Guildford or within 50 miles (£120: includes lifetime membership to the Academy, ongoing support with access issues, the right to carry a membership card & the right to wear an Assistance Dog vest with the Adolescent Dogs Logo). Yearly re-testing is required, but can be done for free via video
Membership will only be granted to those who meet the eligibility criteria. All documents must be sent to [email protected]
Complete the application form here and wait for approval before selecting your payment option below: www.formlets.com/forms/eSwvxQE38Jdq7qVT/
Assessments
Assessments for assistance dogs aren’t legally required. If your dog helps mitigate your disability, you are protected under the Equality Act 2010—your dog functions as an auxiliary aid just like a walking stick or wheelchair and therefore cannot be denied access.
That said, owner-trained teams often face access challenges. Having formal assessments to demonstrate your dog’s training level, along with our training vests, can help improve access (though please note our programme does not guarantee that you won’t encounter access issues, especially with air travel).
It’s also important to know that any organisation or company insisting that your dog be trained by a specific provider or requiring an ID book is acting against the law. In the UK, there is no legal requirement for ‘registration’ or ‘certification’ of assistance dogs.
We recommend training your assistance dog to the highest standards so that your dog can support you effectively in public without causing disruption. Our programme offers online Awards, allowing you to submit videos to achieve certificates at each level—from Puppy through Bronze, Silver, Gold, and finally the Access Test.
- Puppy Award: Available at any age.
- Bronze Test: From 6 months.
- Silver Award: From 9 months after a temperament assessment.
- Gold Test: From 12 months.
- Access Test: From 18 months.
Please note that your dog must pass the Silver Award and Temperament Test before being eligible to purchase our Assistance Dog in Training Vests, which can be a great tool for minimising unwanted attention in public.
By training to these high standards, your assistance dog will be well-prepared to support you and enjoy seamless access wherever you go.