Assistance Dogs
for the Disabled

Assistance dogs are trained to help disabled people manage everyday tasks, making their lives easier.

Not only are they life changers, they are lifesavers.

Assistance Dogs UK work with assistance dog charities, each with the aim to improve disabled people’s lives and encourage independence.

The charities mainly work on key areas such as blindness, deafness, mental health and those with mobility issues.

• Autism Dogs Charity
• Canine Partners - for a range of disabilities and conditions including Multiple Sclerosis and Cerebral Palsy
• Dog A.I.D - for people with physical disabilities
• Dogs for Good - specialises in supporting parent/carers of children with Autism.
• Guide Dogs - for adults and young people who are blind or partially sighted.
• Hearing dogs for Deaf People
• Medical Detection Dogs - dogs that have been trained to detect the odour of human disease.
• Service Dogs UK - for those with PTSD who have served.
• The Seeing Dogs Alliance - for blind and partially sighted
• Support Dogs - for Autism, Epilepsy and physical disability
• Veterans with Dogs - dogs for ex-service and military personal with a diagnosed mental health condition.

While assistance dogs are on the job, it’s crucial that you understand how to behave around them; the smallest of distractions could impair their ability to look after their handler.

How much do you know about assistance dogs?

Here's a snapshot of just some of the amazing work they do.....

• Hearing dogs can distinguish the difference between smoke alarms, door bells, alarm clocks and people shouting their owner’s name.
• Guide dogs are trained to judge spatial awareness so their owner doesn’t bump into objects.
• Autism assistance dogs can help children to be more engaged and independent.
• Medical detection dogs have special sniffing abilities; they can even detect one teaspoon of sugar in two Olympic-size swimming pools.

Any dog, big or small, can be trained to assist a disabled person.

Take a look at the infographic below to find out more about how to act around assistance dogs:

The full infographic on assistance dogs can be found on the Co-op Insurance hub.

Do you have an Assistance Dog for the Disabled?

If so, what difference has it made to your life?  What can you do now that you couldn't do before?

Obtaining an assistance dog usually involves a long application process as the charities need to be sure that they match the right dog to the person they are helping.  

How was the application process for you?  

Help others by sharing your tips and experiences.  And....let us know your stories about life with an assistance dog and the difference it has made to your life.