k9assistance by Caesar ~ Assistance Dogs in the United Kingdom

Assistance Dogs in the United Kingdom
~ An Overview

An assistance dog is a dog that has been especially trained to assist their owner (partner) cope with the limitations to their independence caused by a disability.

The dog may be trained to help someone with the limitations of physical disabilty, sight problems, hearing problems, or early warning of the onset of medical problems.

A person and their assistance dog are often referred to as a team or partnership.

Aside from the obvious practical benefits, many assistance dog partnerships tell of the psycho-social benefits of partnership, such as increased confidence, ability to go out without the help of another person, increased social interaction, and so on.

In the United Kingdom virtually all Assistance Dogs are registered, having been through thorough training with one of the five member organisations which make up the umbrella organisation Assistance Dogs United Kingdom (A.D.U.K.)

The five member organsiations of A.D.U.K. are:-

Dogs for the Disabled
Guide Dogs for the Blind
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Support Dogs
Canine Partners

Assistance dogs from these organisations wear a jacket or harness when they are working to denote their special role. The jackets and harnesses all bear the logo of of the training organisation and A.D.U.K. in order that they can be easily recognised as Registered Assistance Dogs.

The ADUK logo

The A.D.U.K. logo can often be spotted at the door of shops and other premises where normally pet dogs are not allowed to enter, along with the words "Registered Assistance Dogs Only"