Next Level Dog Training

FULLY TRAINED
ASSISTANCE DOGS

We provide trained assistance dogs to support individuals with physical, and psychological challenges. Our expert team carefully selects a suitable dog based on your needs and provides comprehensive assistance dog training to ensure they develop the skills required to support you effectively.

Transforming Lives With Expert Assistance Dogs!

Assistance dogs provide life-changing emotional and practical support for individuals living with conditions such as PTSD, autism, anxiety, and trauma-related challenges. These highly trained dogs help promote a sense of safety, routine, and calm—offering reassurance in overwhelming environments and helping their handlers regain confidence and independence.

At Next Level Dog Training, we specialise in sourcing and training assistance dogs specifically suited to this type of work. Not all dogs have the temperament or resilience required, which is why we do not train dogs supplied by owners. Each dog is carefully selected and matched to meet the emotional and lifestyle needs of their future handler.

Our structured assistance dog training programme develops essential skills including grounding techniques, deep pressure therapy, environmental awareness, and reliable behaviour in public spaces. Through careful training and ongoing support, we help to create focused, dependable dogs that bring calm, connection, and stability to those who need it most.

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Why Are Assistance Dogs Essential?

For many individuals with conditions such as PTSD, autism, or anxiety, everyday situations can feel overwhelming and unpredictable. Assistance dogs offer steady, non-judgemental support that helps reduce emotional distress, build daily structure, and increase confidence in social and public environments. Their calming presence and trained responses provide reassurance in moments of stress, helping their handlers regain a sense of control.

Emotional Support

Emotional support dogs provide calm, steady companionship for individuals struggling with overwhelming emotions or mental health conditions. Their presence helps reduce anxiety, ease feelings of isolation, and offer comfort during moments of distress—improving emotional regulation and day-to-day resilience.

Autism

Assistance dogs for autism offer consistent, structured support that helps individuals manage overstimulation, navigate routines, and feel secure in public settings. These dogs can interrupt repetitive behaviours, reduce anxiety, and encourage positive social interaction—making daily life more manageable and less overwhelming.

Depression

Assistance dogs supporting individuals with depression offer reliable companionship, routine, and gentle encouragement. Their daily presence helps increase motivation, reduce withdrawal, and provide comfort during low periods—contributing to improved mental wellbeing and emotional connection.

PTSD

PTSD support dogs are trained to provide reassurance and grounding during moments of emotional distress. They help reduce hypervigilance, assist with navigating crowded or triggering environments, and offer deep pressure contact to interrupt anxiety or flashbacks—supporting a greater sense of safety and stability.

Our Approach to
Assistance Dog Training

We understand that choosing to welcome an assistance dog into your life is a significant and deeply personal step. That’s why our process is designed to be thorough, supportive, and tailored to the individual needs of each client.
Client Assessment

1. Initial Assessment

We begin with an assessment, conducted either face-to-face or via video call, based on your preference. This session allows us to gain a deep understanding of your lifestyle, challenges, environment, and specific support needs. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask questions, clarify expectations, and feel confident.
Agreement

2. Agreement & Deposit

Once we’ve determined that an assistance dog is a suitable option for you, we’ll move forward with an agreement clearly outlining the details, expectations, and timelines involved. At this stage, a deposit is taken to secure your place on the programme and allow us to begin the careful and detailed sourcing process to find your ideal partner.
Sourcing an Assistance Dog

3. Sourcing the Right Dog

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Using our trusted network of professionals, we assess 10–15 potential candidates based on temperament, confidence, focus, and natural aptitude for the role. This is a critical phase and may take up to six weeks, as we only progress with dogs we feel show genuine potential to succeed as assistance dogs.
Assistance Dog Training

4. Training Programme

Once the right dog has been selected, this is where our structured training begins. Over several months, we focus on developing obedience, emotional regulation, public behaviour, and specific support based on the handler’s individual needs. Each stage is carefully managed by our in-house trainer to ensure consistent progress.
Public Access Assessment

5. Public Access Assessment

As your new assistance dog advances, we conduct a Public Access Assessment to confirm they can remain calm, responsive, and focused in various real-world environments such as shops, cafés, public transport, and busy spaces. This ensures that your dog can confidently handle distractions, and maintain consistent obedience.
Dog & Owner Training

6. Dog & Owner Training

The final phase involves bringing dog and owner together. We provide personalised training sessions to ensure a strong working bond is built, with clear communication, structure, and confidence on both sides. A formal handover takes place once we’re satisfied that both dog and handler are ready to move forward as a team.

Assistance Dog Training FAQs

Whether you're considering an assistance dog for support with PTSD, autism, anxiety, or emotional wellbeing, this FAQ section covers the most commonly asked questions. From training timelines and breed suitability to public access rights and our matching process, we aim to provide clear, expert guidance to help you understand the journey and make confident, informed decisions.

Assistance dogs are individually trained to carry out specific tasks that directly support a person with a disability or long-term condition—such as PTSD, autism, or anxiety. These tasks may include providing deep pressure during moments of distress, interrupting repetitive behaviours, or helping their handler feel safe and grounded in busy environments. Assistance dogs are matched to one individual and work alongside them daily to improve their quality of life. They are granted full public access rights under the Equality Act 2010, meaning they can legally accompany their handler in shops, restaurants, public transport, and other spaces where dogs are normally not allowed.

In contrast, therapy dogs are usually pets who visit places like care homes, hospitals, or schools to provide comfort and companionship to a variety of people. They are not trained for specific tasks or to support one person long-term. Therapy dogs do not have public access rights and may only enter certain venues with permission.

In short, assistance dogs offer life-enhancing, specialised support to one person and are legally protected as working animals, while therapy dogs provide general comfort in controlled settings as part of structured visits.

The time required to train a service dog depends on the tasks they need to learn, the dog’s temperament, and the training programme used. It can take anything  between a few months and two years to fully train a service dog to perform their duties reliably in different environments. This really does vary depending on the complexity of the client's requirements. We usually advise on timescales during your initial assessment. 

Some dogs may progress faster, while others require additional time to refine their skills and adapt to real-world scenarios. Training must be consistent, thorough, and reinforced regularly to ensure the dog remains reliable in assisting their handler. While shorter programmes exist, a well-trained service dog undergoes extensive preparation to ensure they can handle distractions, work under pressure, and meet the needs of their owner in all situations.

While many breeds can be trained as assistance dogs, not all are well-suited for the role. The ideal assistance dog has the right temperament, intelligence, and physical ability to perform the necessary tasks. Common breeds include Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Cocker Spaniels, as they are highly trainable, friendly, and adaptable to various environments.

Working breeds with high energy levels or strong guarding instincts can also struggle with the calm, controlled behaviour required in public spaces. The most important factors are a dog’s willingness to learn, ability to remain focused, and temperament that allows them to work confidently and reliably alongside their handler.

In the UK, assistance dog handlers are protected under the Equality Act 2010, which grants them the right to access public spaces with their trained dog. This means assistance dogs must be allowed in shops, restaurants, public transport, hotels, and most other public venues where dogs are usually restricted. Denying entry to an assistance dog is considered discrimination under the law.

Handlers are not required to show identification or certification for their assistance dog, though many choose to carry documentation from recognised training organisations to help educate businesses and the public. Assistance dogs must be well-behaved, under control at all times, and trained to perform tasks that aid their handler’s disability. Employers, landlords, and service providers must make reasonable adjustments to accommodate assistance dogs, ensuring handlers can access the same opportunities as everyone else.

In the past, many people have supplied their own dog for assistance dog training, but 95% of them were not suitable for the role. While some trainers will offer assistance dog training for any dog, the reality is that selection is the most crucial part of the process. Without the right temperament, intelligence, and adaptability, a dog may struggle to meet the demands of service work, leading to disappointing results.

We take great care in sourcing the right dog to ensure they have the natural ability and characteristics needed for the job. By selecting a dog specifically suited to assistance training, we can develop their skills effectively, giving you a confident, reliable, and capable assistance dog that will enhance your independence and quality of life.

Finding Your Own Assistance Dog Starts Here!
Please complete our contact form, and one of our assistance dog trainers will be in touch to discuss finding and training the perfect assistance dog for you.

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