Support Dogs

Support Dogs is a national charity dedicated to increasing independence and quality of life for people with various medical conditions. We provide, train and support specialist assistance dogs to achieve this. Our charity runs three programmes of support: Seizure Alert Programme Epilepsy is the most common neurological illness with more than 600,000 cases in the UK. We train epilepsy seizure alert dogs to provide a 100% reliable warning up to 50 minutes in advance of an epileptic seizure, providing safety and independence. We are the only charity in the UK providing this service. Autism Assistance Programme Autism assistance dogs are trained to provide safety and to facilitate a more independent and socially inclusive life for both the child with autism and their family. Support Dogs are one of just two registered charities in the UK to provide this service. Demand for this service has increased by over 400% over the past five years. Disability Assistance Programme Our disability assistance dogs are trained to improve independence for people whose physical disability significantly reduces their quality of life. We work with clients whose conditions include MS, cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia and spinal cord injury. We specialise in training a client’s own pet dog to provide this support. This includes raising an alarm in an emergency, opening and closing doors, picking up objects and assisting with dressing and undressing. Champions of the second chance As well as our puppies, many of the dogs we train come to us from rescue centres, or found as unwanted pets on the internet. We are champions for dogs who need a second chance and we do not shy away from dogs that may be classed as difficult and therefore left without a home, as we know from experience that given the correct training, home and care these dogs can become fantastic assistance dogs.