Finding a new home for a much-loved dog is never easy. If your Labrador, Labradoodle, or Retriever is healthy, social, and still young, there’s a meaningful path forward: assessment for our Autism Assistance Dog Programme. We’re looking for dogs with steady temperaments and a love of people to train as working partners for autistic handlers across the United Kingdom.
These criteria help us identify dogs with the best potential for public-access work and bespoke task training, which always begins with health checks and structured temperament assessment.
Retrieving breeds are typically people-focused, biddable, and food-motivated. With the right health and temperament, they excel at tasks like deep pressure therapy, calm public access, and gentle interruption of escalating distress. Our training pathway combines structured obedience, public-access proofing, and autism-specific task design for real-world reliability.
Your dog’s wellbeing is at the heart of every step. Dogs in our programme receive health checks, temperament evaluations, progressive training, and ongoing support from qualified staff. Once paired, each team benefits from scheduled follow-ups, annual reviews, and an active community for peer support.
We also host a friendly peer space where families share tips, milestones, and positive social media guidance, helping each team stay supported online and offline.
We prioritise Labradors, Labradoodles, and Retrievers due to their typical suitability for public-access and task training, but closely related types may be considered case-by-case based on health and temperament.
Our ideal window is 1–3 years so dogs have time to complete training and enjoy a long working life. If your dog is just outside this range but otherwise exceptional, email us and we’ll advise.
If a dog does not meet programme standards for public-access or task work, we’ll discuss next steps sensitively. Only dogs who are comfortable and suitable progress into training.
Training includes structured socialisation, obedience, public-access preparation, and bespoke autism-specific tasks, followed by family training and long-term aftercare. Timelines vary depending on each dog’s progress and the matched handler’s needs.
Yes. If your dog is accepted, we’ll send updates on progress as they move through training and, later, as part of a supported partnership.
We’re based in Cheshire and work with families across England, Scotland, and Wales. Collection or handover can be arranged with our team.
If you’re considering rehoming your Labrador, Labradoodle, or Retriever and want them assessed for assistance dog training, contact us:
📧 caroline.preston@autismdogs.co.uk
Please include your dog’s age, medical records, behavioural history, and your location. We’ll reply with next steps.
💙 Thank you for considering this path for your dog.
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