Where we started and where we are headed

Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) was established in the mid-1990s by a network of leaders from assistance dog organisations accredited by either Assistance Dogs International or the International Guide Dog Federation.

Although each organisation had their own specialism, they all shared a common challenge: assistance dog partnerships that were regularly experiencing access refusals.

By working together, they believed they could create a stronger, more consistent response than any organisation could achieve alone.

Our early years focused on collaboration within the sector. Member organisations shared knowledge, developed consistent approaches, and built trusted relationships that strengthened both individual organisations and the assistance dog community as a whole. That spirit of collaboration remains at the heart of everything we do today.

As the recognised umbrella body for the UK assistance dog sector, our role has evolved beyond supporting our members. With a small dedicated staff and volunteer team, we now work with businesses, service providers, policymakers and other stakeholders to improve understanding of assistance dogs, promote good practice, and help remove barriers faced by people who are partnered with assistance dogs.

The assistance dog landscape continues to evolve, bringing new opportunities as well as new challenges. By bringing organisations and the wider sector together, championing standards and providing clear, trusted guidance, we continue to build on the vision that inspired our founders while responding to the needs of today and tomorrow.

Learn more about our member organisations and how they can support you.

ADUK members

ADUK candidates
Jade with assistance dog Jules

What matters to us

Supporting member organisations

At the heart of ADUK is a collaborative network of organisations all working to the highest standards of assistance dog training and welfare. We bring them together to share knowledge, tackle common challenges, and speak with a unified voice on the issues that matter most.

Through education, learning opportunities, and facilitated working groups, we support  our members to be as effective as possible. Because when our members thrive, the assistance dog partnerships they support thrive too.

Educating businesses and service providers

Assistance dog definitions in legislation are not clear and, as a result, understanding them isn’t always straightforward. We work with businesses and service providers to translate complex legislation into practical, actionable information and guidance. The result is fewer access refusals, better experiences for assistance dog partnerships, and greater confidence among businesses and venues that want to do the right thing.

Advocating for legislative change

The Equality Act 2010 defines an assistance dog simply as “a dog which has been trained to assist a disabled person.” No training requirements. No welfare standards. No clarity. We are actively working to change this by engaging with policymakers, proposing clearer definitions, and championing a standards-based approach that protects the rights of disabled people and ensures high welfare for every assistance dog.

Amplifying partnership voices

Policy changes when people are heard. Our ambassador programme puts assistance dog partnerships at the heart of our work, bringing lived experience into everyday contexts and demonstrating the real impact of highly trained assistance dogs. These authentic voices help us push for change in ways that statistics alone simply cannot.

Assistance Dogs UK is a registered charity – number 1119538

ADUK does not claim to represent all assistance dog charities or owners. Not all assistance dogs In the UK will have been trained by an ADUK member.