How we can help you

Our Assistance Dog Programme is unique in that we support owner training for ALL KINDS of disabilities. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joy of having a well-trained dog, regardless of their disability status. We will help where we have capacity to do so and feel we can safely and properly support you, but we will place special priority on those that are autistic/neurodivergent over 8 and those with multiple and complex disabilities.

We take your dog’s needs seriously so we can meet yours, and are 100% committed to only using force-free training methods. We train using a mixture of environments including private venues, public access, scenario-based settings, and give support at home as well. Our thorough application process ensures that we are the best fit for you and your potential Assistance Dog. The only Assistance Dog training we do not provide is for clients with sight loss as the sole disability, or anaphylactic allergen detection.

We do not take on breeds that are considered illegal, nor any bull breeds and do not recommend brachycephalic breeds – see Dog Selection below.

We are proud to be different from most Assistance Dog organisations and dog sport schools, and strive to make a positive impact to the lives of disabled individuals and their dogs.

Is our training right for you and your dog?

At Infinity Dogs CIC, our primary goal is to provide safe and effective assistance to individuals with a wide range of disabilities and mental health needs. We prioritize those who are Autistic/neurodivergent, have complex and multiple disabilities, or are medical zebras not currently supported by any other organisation providing or training assistance dogs. The majority of our partnerships will involve training multi-purpose Assistance Dogs.

Who can we help?

Our eligibility criteria are as follows:

1. You must of been diagnosed with OR reasonably believe you are disabled in a way that can be mitigated by the support of training your own Assistance Dog.

2. You are 100% comitted to training force-free. We do not even allow headcollars on our Assistance Dog training program.

3. You must read and agree to all of our policies shown here.

4. You are a UK resident.

5. You agree that Infinity Dogs will be your only Assistance Dog training provider – including exclusion of specialist online training programme providers. The only exceptional circumstances would be if a prospective partnership currently has an ADI sourced and provided programme dog where the handler has sourced specialist permission from both their current programme and Infinity Dogs CIC. The programme must also train exclusively without aversives.

6. You agree to veterinary and behavioural screening if approved for the first stage of the application process.

7. You agree it is very likely you will be asked to train with an allocated trainer in the Midlands for at least 24 hours over a minimum of 6 months until we are able to offer full coverage nationwide.

How can we help?

Multi-purpose Assistance Dogs
The majority of our partnerships will involve training multi-purpose Assistance Dogs. These dogs are trained to alert and respond to various medical conditions, neurodivergencies, and mental health issues. We believe that categorising psychological or psychiatric Assistance Dog work under medical alert/response is more helpful, as it avoids separating conditions and acknowledges the role of the handler’s nervous system in these episodes.

Examples of medical alert/response tasks include seizure alert and response, blood sugar alert and response, shutdown/meltdown alert and response, PTSD alert/response, and heart rate alert/response. We also aim to train IgE change alert/response for conditions like MCAS in the near future.

Psycho-social Assistance Dogs
We also train psycho-social Assistance Dogs, which help handlers participate in social environments. This can include teaching specialist behaviors related to an Autistic person’s interests, assisting with leadwork for those with severe social anxiety disorders, integrating a healthy routine for those with severe depression, and providing grounding and a reassuring presence for conditions like ARFID.

Assistance for those with physical disabilities
For physically disabled individuals who may not require mobility assistance, we train dogs to perform tasks such as fetching dropped items, removing clothing, handing over wallets at checkouts, providing deep pressure therapy for pain management, and opening/closing doors and cabinets.

Mobility assistance
For those who require mobility assistance, we train dogs in tasks like light guidework, active and static forward momentum, and light counterbalance. These tasks help individuals navigate overwhelming situations, maintain balance, and climb stairs with support.

Areas not covered
While we are open to training other types of Assistance Dogs, we do not provide training where the main needs are for sight loss or hearing loss, and we do not train allergen detection for anaphylactic allergies due to the risk of accidental exposure during owner training. Additionally, we believe that tethering is not ethical for dogs or handlers.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of tasks and behaviours that we can train handlers and their assistance dogs in.

Costs and funding

To participate in our training programme, Assistance Dog partnerships until qualification are expected to pay a monthly fee of £35 which provides them with a minimum of 24 hours of real-life training support over the course of the programme, with the opportunity for much more than this. It is worth noting that this fee is significantly lower than what you would typically pay per hour in the traditional private sector, making it a much more affordable option.

You are asked to pay £105 for the first three months up front, with a further payment of £105 three months later. Payments may be made monthly after that.

Some councils will fund this training – ask your Social Worker if you have one.

On qualification, the fee drops to £6pm, or a one-off annual fee of £60.

At Infinity Dogs CIC, we understand that the expenses of living as a disabled person can be quite high. That’s why we strive to minimize costs for our partnerships as much as possible. However, it’s important to acknowledge that there are various expenses involved in running Infinity Dogs CIC, such as trainer CPD, hosting guest trainers, venue charges, trainers’ travel expenses and equipment. These costs contribute to the overall running expenses of our organisation.

Our primary goal is to rely on fundraising as our main source of funding. This way, we can ensure that any money raised goes directly towards funding services that will benefit our partnerships.

Dog selection

Infinity Dogs CIC does not directly provide Assistance Dogs, but instead offers support to handlers in training their own Assistance Dogs. We are open to assisting individuals who own most breeds of dogs, with the exception of breeds that are considered illegal in the UK, such as the Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brazillinaro, and XL Bully.

We do not support the use of any bull breeds in our Assistance Dog programme. This decision is not based on the belief that these breeds pose a higher risk to the public, but rather to avoid the possibility of support being abruptly withdrawn by the government or any future government.

Furthermore, we do not recommend the use of brachycephalic (brachy) breeds due to serious concerns regarding their health issues. It is crucial for Assistance Dogs to have the ability to breathe properly, and normalizing certain physical features of brachy breeds may not be in their best interest. We want to ensure the wellbeing of the dogs and prevent potential negative perceptions from the public.

Age requirements for dogs

Infinity Dogs CIC’s Assistance Dog programme has specific age milestones to ensure dogs are ready for each stage of training. Here are the minimum ages for each stage:

Applying: Dogs must be at least 8 weeks old.

Candidate Stage: Dogs must be at least 6 months old.

Basic Training: Dogs must be at least 12 months old.

Advanced Training: Dogs must be at least 14 months old.

Full Assistance Dog: Dogs must be at least 18 months old.

Ambassador Dog: Dogs must be at least 2 years old.

These age milestones guide partnerships through their training journey, ensuring they develop the necessary skills and maturity for each stage.

If you are interested in accessing our training for yourself and your dog please read:

Assistance Dog Programme

The Application Process

We have a multi-stage process to ensure that our partnership is a good fit for both parties. Here is an overview of each stage:

Stage 1: Website Evaluation We encourage you to visit our website to determine if we align with your goals and values as a partnership.

Stage 2: Remote Application This stage involves assessing whether you are a suitable candidate for our programme. We will evaluate if we can provide the necessary support for you to train your own Assistance Dog. Additionally, we will ensure that you have the appropriate resources to meet our rigorous training standards and maintain high welfare standards.

Stage 3: Virtual Open Day This stage aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of our training and assessment process. It also gives you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have before proceeding further.

Stage 4: Behavioral Screening Stage 1 If possible, one of our volunteer behaviour specialists in your local area will meet with you briefly to conduct a short assessment. This assessment will determine if your dog is likely to enjoy assistance work and does not pose any obvious safety risks.

Stage 5: Behavioral and Training Screening Stage 2 This stage focuses on evaluating your commitment to the training programme and your dog’s potential and suitability for training.

Stage 6: Veterinary Screening In this stage, we will request that your vet complete a short form to confirm that your dog is in good health and capable of performing the required tasks. Additionally, we will verify that you have health insurance and public liability insurance for your prospective Assistance Dog. If you pass this stage, we will provide you with some simple training exercises for your next assessment.

If you and your dog are assessed to be suitable potential partners, you will be invited to join the Foundation Stage of our Assistance Dog training pathway. To apply, please fill in the application form.

I didn’t like or want to go anywhere and if I did I had to have someone with me as I had no confidence and was worried what would happen if I fell or passed out. Having my dog with me has given me the freedom to start going out again and living a little better quality of life. As it’s still at the beginning of our training I don’t push him to do everything he will be doing in another 8 months time. Go for it and embrace the new chapter of your life!

Assistance Dog Handler

Your training questions answered

How long does training take?

Individual training sessions can be up to three hours long, with additional travelling time when visiting specific locations.

The initial training period is six months, though as all partnerships develop at their own pace, as long as the dog and handler team are suitable, we are happy for you to train for as long as is needed to be ready for the test.

Once partnerships have accumulated both 22 logged training hours and five months of training, they become eligible to undergo a soft public access test (PAT).

Once they have completed Advanced Training, the dogs are at least 18 months old and the partnership has worked with us for at least six months, they can sit their basic PAT and advanced PAT to become qualified Assistance Dogs. As a general rule, the training can take approximately 12 months.

Read more about the training process here.

Group sessions

While attendance at group sessions for Infinity Dogs CIC Assistance Dog handlers is optional, these sessions provide a range of benefits. They offer a supportive community, opportunities for socialization, expert guidance, accountability, and motivation. Handlers can connect with like-minded individuals, proof their dogs to diverse environments, learn from experienced trainers, maintain their commitment to training goals, and draw inspiration from the progress of others. Ultimately, these group sessions contribute to the success and wellbeing of Assistance Dog partnerships by fostering growth, facilitating learning, and celebrating achievements.

Do you provide people with Assistance Dogs?

We do not take on any bull breeds and do not recommend brachycephalic breeds.

Do you provide support at home?

Infinity Dogs CIC offers online home support specifically tailored for their Assistance Dog partnerships. This includes guidance on house manners, general husbandry behaviours, and problem-solving. By providing accessible and expert assistance, Infinity Dogs CIC ensures a harmonious and successful partnership between Assistance Dogs and their human partners.

Aftercare

Aftercare is crucial for the success of Assistance Dog partnerships, especially with organisations like Infinity Dogs CIC. It focuses on providing ongoing training support, expert guidance, and a supportive network to handlers. This ensures that handlers have the resources and education they need to navigate challenges and maintain the wellbeing of their Assistance Dogs.

Withdrawal

At Infinity Dogs CIC, we prioritize high standards and ethical conduct. Handlers may be withdrawn from the programme if they consistently fail to follow protocols, or compromise safety. Withdrawal can also occur due to significant changes in the handler’s circumstances. We have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying or mistreatment, including towards other handlers. Our goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where everyone feels respected and valued.

Whether withdrawal is requested by Infinity Dogs, or the handler decides to withdraw themselves, there will be no refund for any training up to the date of leaving the programme.

Retirement

An Infinity Dogs CIC Assistance Dog’s career may naturally come to an end after a certain period of service. This can be due to factors such as age, health, or a decrease in their ability to perform their duties. We closely monitor the wellbeing of our Assistance Dogs and make decisions in their best interest. Retirement is a part of their journey, and we ensure that they are provided with a comfortable and loving environment for the remainder of their lives.

Successor support

At Infinity Dogs CIC, we support handlers in preparing and training successor dogs. We prioritize seamless transitions and work closely with handlers to ensure a smooth transfer of responsibilities. Our aim is to foster a strong bond between the handler and their new Assistance Dog, providing ongoing support and guidance throughout the process. This enables the handler and their new companion to continue their journey together successfully.

What is force-free training?

Force-free training means we don't use force, fear or intimidation to teach or modify behaviours on our dogs. We adhere to the LIFE model: Least Inhibitive Functually Effective. We take this extremely seriously and have a strict anti-aversive training and equipment policy.

What is scenario based training?

At Infinity Dogs CIC, we understand that once they have been adequately prepared, the most effective approach to training our Assistance Dogs is through real-world experiences and learning in authentic scenarios alongside their handlers. This is why we place great emphasis on collaborating with and fostering strong working relationships with service providers.

Collaborating with healthcare providers and commercial partners, we offer sessions in diverse settings – from ambulance rides and medical facilities to public spaces, theme parks and visitor attractions. We’ve even taken part in flight simulation experiences with leading international airlines!

If you are a service provider interested in contributing your premises and/or staff for the purpose of real-world scenario-based training for these remarkable, life-changing dogs, please kindly get in touch using our contact form.

To see examples of this training, please click here.

Assistance Dog Law in the UK

The UK law on Assistance Dogs is covered by the Equality Act 2010.

This law states that disabled people have the right to be accompanied by their Assistance Dog in public places, including shops, restaurants, hospitals, and on public transport.

Assistance Dogs are not considered pets and are recognised as an auxiliary aid. The Equality Act 2010 defines an auxiliary aid as “anything that provides support or assistance to a disabled person”. This includes Assistance Dogs, which are trained to perform practical assistive tasks/behaviours for their disabled partners, or alert to life-threatening medical conditions to enable their owners to live more independent lives.

Useful Link

EHRC: A guide for businesses