The PADs Foundation accepts preliminary applications for our Training Programme throughout the year, following an initial phone call to discuss the training process. All applications are then completed via our secure online platform.
Please note: submitting a full application does not guarantee automatic approval for membership.
As part of the online registration process, your doctor or psychiatrist must complete our downloadable medical questionnaire, and your veterinarian must complete our downloadable vet form. These documents are only accessible once the online application has been initiated. We do not charge any fee to join as an In Training Member.
Throughout the UK: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
If your application is successful, you and your dog will be accepted as In-Training Members of PADs Foundation. Please note that public access rights do not apply until your dog has successfully completed the required training standards and Public Access Test (PAT), and is able to consistently demonstrate the mitigating behaviours relevant to your disability.
As In-Training Members, you and your qualified trainer will work through the PADs In-Training Guide to develop the skills required to meet the standards of the PADs Public Access Test. Please note that not all dogs will successfully reach the level of training required.
Once you have passed the PADs Public Access Test (PAT) and your dog consistently demonstrates the required mitigating behaviours, you may be eligible for public access rights under the Equality Act 2010.
If you choose to become a Full Member at this stage, we will issue membership cards and a PADs harness, which may be used to help identify your dog as an assistance dog. Please note that an assistance dog harness is not a legal requirement under the Equality Act 2010..
Please see our Paws For Access page.
Full membership requires annual vet and dog behaviour checks.
There is no charge to register as an In-Training Member of PADs Foundation. For fully trained members, annual membership is £45, which covers the cost of new ID cards, postage, and contributes towards ongoing running costs. PADs will provide a PADs Assistance Dog tabard to those who pass the Public Access Test (PAT) and choose to become full members.
The cost of owning a dog varies depending on size and breed, please see the PDSA page here for further information.
The cost of owning a dog varies depending on size and breed. Please see the PDSA website for further information.
Training a dog also varies in cost depending on several factors, including location, trainer qualifications, experience, and training ratios. We recommend using our Finding A Trainer Guide. We require all In-Training Members to have a minimum of one face-to-face training session per month with a qualified trainer.
PADs Foundation is a small, volunteer-led charity and currently has a limited number of volunteer trainers across the UK. However, we are in the early stages of nationwide recruitment. While we may not be able to provide a volunteer trainer for every member, you are able to work with your own privately engaged, qualified trainer. PADs Foundation will support both you and your trainer throughout the training process.
Does PADs Foundation provide fully trained assistance dogs?
PADs Foundation supports owner-led training for all In-Training Members by providing a structured training guide to be followed alongside a qualified trainer. It typically takes 18–24 months of training to reach the required Public Access standards.
Training a dog to become an assistance dog requires commitment from both the handler and trainer. The result is a well-socialised, well-trained dog that is able to remain calm, responsive, and under control in a range of environments while performing required mitigating behaviours.
Please see Getting Started
PADs Foundation does not provide fully trained dogs.
Please see Getting Started
Currently you must be 18 or over to register with PADs but we hope to be able to offer registration for minors and their guardians in the future.
As part of the application process, your psychologist or doctor that is familiar with your mental history will need to verify that you are fit enough to both look after a dog and be safe with one in public places. Your condition must have been officially diagnosed at least 12 months previously to your application date and must be a significant mental health condition that severely impacts your daily living, including but not limited to:
For a dog to be legally recognised under the Equality Act 2010 as an assistance dog in the UK it will need to be trained to International Public Access Standards and perform a minimum of three mitigating behaviours for the handler.
For further information on public access rights and the law, please see a case tried for owner trained psychiatric assistance dog in 2019:
Seward vs Matador Trading LTD June 19th 2020.
Everyone registering with PADs must have a sponsor—someone who can take responsibility for your dog’s welfare in the event that you are unwell or unable to do so yourself.
