apply to become a client

Who can apply to train with us?

RAD works exclusively with clients who are over the age of 18 and have a primary diagnosis of a mental health condition or autism.


As a Leicestershire-based charity we prioritise applicants who live within 2 hours' travel of Leicester where our training takes place.


We support clients to train their own dog to become fully public access certified mental health or autism assistance dogs . 


Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about our criteria for clients and dogs.


To become a client of RAD Assistance Dogs you need to be able to provide the following documents:

  • Evidence from a mental health professional of your Mental Health Disability or autism diagnosis.
  • Vet Health and Vaccination Evidence
  • Dog Insurance Certificate


It is a requirement at RAD that all dogs need to be neutered or spayed before undertaking their final public access assessment.

HOW DOES Our TRAINING WORK?

RAD trains handler & dog teams via a combination of weekly online classes held via Zoom and face to face training. Our face to face training typically takes place in group sessions held in the Leicester area. Therefore clients joining the programme should be willing and able to travel to Leicester two to three times per month. All clients are required to attend at least 51% of their training in person. 


There are 5 blocks of training, which clients must attend and pass, alongside attending the required amount of face to face training sessions, before they can go forward for Public Access assessment.



Our waiting list and assessment process

RAD currently has a very long waiting list and we are working through those who are waiting to join the programme. We are unable to provide any updates or time estimates to people who have registered their details with us. Currently waiting times are expected to be 1-2 years.


It is our aim to start two cohorts of new clients per year, with a cohort comprising of between 10 & 15 clients. Our capacity to do so relies on those already in the programme attending all of the required training and progressing towards Public Access.


In order to join one of our training cohorts clients will be invited to attend an assessment day and must pass the assessment in order to be accepted into the programme.The assessment day is held in Leicester and costs upto £25. Attendance at the assessment day does not guarantee a place on the programme.


Cohorts are chosen from the waiting list based on their likelihood of training successfully. To assist the selection process we may need to ask prospective clients for additional information. Joining the waiting list does not guarantee that you will be invited to assessment.


Please note, we reserve the right to decline any application. We are unable to offer a place to everyone who applies to us. As a small organisation we do not guarantee to be able to offer any feedback about declined applications.





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Frequently Asked Questions

  • How long does it take to complete training?

    RAD training requires clients to work through 4 levels of training before a Public Access Test can be considered. These are: Dog Beginners, Dog Intermediate, Dog Advanced and Dog Public Access. To complete all 4 courses, it will take roughly 18 months to 2 years depending on the client's needs and also when each block is scheduled.  

  • What age can a dog take their final public access assessment?

    At RAD assistance dogs we only assess dogs for their final public access assessment over the age of 18 months.

  • What behaviours do we train?

    At RAD we train behaviours to mitigate the symptoms of mental health disability.  


    These include: blocking (to create space around you and create distance from others), deep pressure therapy, responding to crying, interrupting behaviours, leading to an exit, tug, get it.


    We also teach basic obedience behaviours. These include: sit, down, stay, send to bed, emergency stop.  


    RAD does not train any medical alerts for conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes and POTS. 


    We do not train any mobility tasks such as bracing, or safety tasks such s tethering. 

  • Can I train more than one dog?

    Our training is in-depth which is why we recommend working with only one dog when you start learning.

  • Where does training take place?

    Our training is split between zoom and face to face training which takes place in Leicester. Clients must be able to commit to undertaking both aspects of training throughout the programme. 

  • Training equipment restrictions

    RAD has a policy against the use of aversives, that includes slip leads, choke chains and prong collars.


    At RAD we put a huge focus on lead walking training and recommend the use of a lead and/or harness.

  • What breeds does RAD accept?

    Dog welfare is important to us at RAD and we need to make sure that the breed of dog is the right choice for the client.  


    RAD has guidelines on dog breeds which typially do or do not make good assistance dogs. These can be provided on request. The dog needs to be suitable for the job and for your lifestyle.  


    Assistance dogs need to spend a lot of their time in a settle, especially if you attend school or work. Please consider this requirement before purchasing a 'working' line dog.  


    RAD does not accept brachycephalic dogs. These breeds can be prone to BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) and can have severe breathing concerns.  These dogs are more likely to get heatstroke in hot weather.  RAD has a heat policy, and the working temperatures for brachycephalic dogs are lower.  If you have a brachycephalic dog there will be large proportions of the year you wouldn't be able to work your dog.  


    RAD is here to support you and we are happy provide advice, especially if you have a mixed breed dog. Please contact RAD at enquiries.radassistancedogs@gmail.com if you have any concerns or questions.

  • Can RAD train a dog for my child?

    RAD only trains dogs for handlers who are over 18. The handler is the person with a qualifying disability who the dog is being trained to support. We cannot train a parent or carer as the handler for a dog. 

  • Can an assistance dog support my whole family?

    RAD receives a lot of enquiries from families where more than one family member has a qualifying disability. RAD believes that a dog can only be expected to assist one person, and our training is focused on training the dog to recognise the cues from one handler and perform the tasks they require. 

  • Can RAD provide me with a fully trained dog?

    RAD supports owners to train their own dog. We do not provide any dogs. 

  • Who can apply to train with RAD?

    RAD only trains dogs for adults over the age of 18 who have a primary diagnosis of a mental health condition. 

    Applicants must:

    * Be able to independently train their own dog every day.

    *Be able to provide adequate exercise for their dog's age and breed. 

    *Ideally live less than 2 hours by car from Leicester. We will not accept any applicants who would be travelling more than 3 hours'.  

     *RAD operates primarily in Leicestershire and neighbouring counties. We are a charity registered in England and Wales. We are not accepting any new clients from Scotland. 

    *Live in accommodation which has direct access to a private garden for their dog to use. 

    *Have their dog living with them for the majority of the time. 

    *Be able to afford insurance, parasite treatments, veterinary care, and a good quality diet for their dog. 

    *Have a dog which is aged between 9 months and 5 years with no identified behavioural problems.

  • Can RAD certify my already- trained Assistance Dog?

    RAD does not offer immediate assessments for fully trained dogs trained independently or by another organisation. As candidates of ADI we require clients to train with RAD for a minimum of 6 months before we can assess a dog for public access. 


    If you are in training with another trainer or organisation and would like to discuss the process for becoming a client with RAD please email:

    enquiries.radassistancedogs@gmail.com 

  • Can RAD get my dog on airlines?

    Currently, as candidates of ADI, dogs which have passed RAD's additional flying training, after their Public Access Test, can fly on British Airlines. The rules for Assistance Dogs on flights are set by the CAA and are subject to change from time to time. RAD does not offer any guarantee that our dogs will be able to access flights.