How To Get A Therapy Dog UK: Finding Support Options

Medically reviewed by April Justice, LICSW

Updated October 22nd, 2025 by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the use of therapy dogs in the UK. Therapy dogs can not only bring comfort but also help people with a diverse array of mental health challenges, including anxiety, isolation, and low mood. If a client is using a therapy dog for the first time, they can join a programme for support. These programmes can also help people find a suitable therapy dog. Below, explore the role of therapy dogs and assistance dogs and the ways that therapy dogs can provide emotional support to people from all walks of life.

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What are emotional support dogs?

Many people love dogs, but therapy dogs are different than pets. Therapy dogs provide emotional support and comfort to people who are experiencing stress, anxiety, loneliness, or other mental health challenges. Therapy dogs often accompany volunteers to hospitals to visit patients who are recovering from various illnesses. While some people may associate therapy dogs with cancer patients, they can visit patients in numerous hospital departments and impact both patients and staff. Therapy dogs can also be taken to schools, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes for therapy visits, where they often significantly impact people’s emotional well-being.

Is an assistance dog different from a therapy dog?

An assistance dog differs considerably from a therapy dog. Assistance dogs are typically trained to do a specific task for a person living with a disability. For example, someone with a visual impairment might have a service dog that leads them when they leave home. People with an auditory impairment might also benefit from an assistance dog that alerts their owner to environmental noises. Some people have service dogs for psychiatric disabilities, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Types of assistance and therapy dogs

There are a few types of therapy and assistance dogs in the UK, and, as mentioned above, assistance and therapy dogs have slightly different functions. Assistance dogs offer people one-on-one assistance in their homes. For instance, an autism assistance dog can support autistic children. Guide dogs can support people who are vision impaired, and hearing dogs can support those who need assistance with hearing. There are also medical alert dogs, psychiatric assistance dogs, and mobility assistance dogs. Dog handlers train the dogs to the highest standards so that they can assist and bring comfort to clients and families. Therapy dogs, on the other hand, typically work in institutions such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes, offering comfort and affection to multiple people there, although in some cases therapy dogs support individuals.

Training and certification process

All therapy dogs in the UK will go through a training programme of the highest standards. First off, the handlers will assess a dog to see if it’s suitable for the job. A suitable dog will enjoy spending time with humans and is friendly and gentle. From there, the team will begin training that will prepare the dogs to assist humans in a variety of capacities. There are various levels of training the dog needs to go through, from beginner to advanced. The final step is taking a test as part of the certification process, and ongoing support is offered throughout the dog’s service term. This type of world-class training has offered countless people the companionship and support they require.

Is dog training extensive for therapy dogs?

While training for therapy dogs is not quite as extensive as training for service or assistance dogs, therapy dogs must be well-socialized, obedient, calm, and comfortable around strangers and in new environments.

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Costs, sponsorship, and fundraising options

For both individuals and organisations, there are costs involved in training suitable therapy dogs who can effectively support clients. Not all people who desire to train or use therapy dogs have access to funds. Some organisations allow volunteers to work with the dogs at no cost, while others require a modest subscription, and others charge a hefty fee. If you are in need of therapy dog services and can’t cover the cost, there are always the options of finding a sponsor, fundraising, or getting a donation from a charity.

How to get a service dog (UK options)

Several organizations provide therapy dogs in the UK. One such organization is Therapy Dogs Nationwide. Volunteers with the national charity take their pet dogs to visit people in care centers, hospitals, and schools. Therapy Dogs Nationwide also sends pet owners and their dogs to schools to help with reading and self-confidence. Another organization that provides therapy dogs is Canine Concern. Serving England and Wales, Canine Concern sends dogs to hospitals, care homes, and businesses to help reduce stress.

Individuals in Scotland may be able to find a therapy dog throughTherapet, which is managed by the Canine Concern Scotland Trust. Therapet has a network of volunteers who take their dogs to visit patients in hospitals and residents of care facilities throughout Scotland. Therapet has also participated in literacy events to encourage children to improve their reading skills. You can go through any of these organizations or others to learn whether your dog could become a therapy dog.

A number of organisations aside from Therapet can also help with getting you access to a suitable dog. You might have to put in a therapy dog application with a specific programme. Once the team has accepted your application, you may need to undergo training with the dog handlers.

Pets as therapy: Animal-assisted therapy dogs

Animal-assisted therapy with dogs is a type of therapy often used to enhance therapeutic techniques. Some therapists might use a therapy dog in occupational therapy to help people as they recover from an injury and begin to do everyday tasks again. Physical therapists might also use them to encourage people during their recovery from surgery or an injury.

How to get a therapy dog: UK therapy and mental health support as a primary treatment

Therapy dogs can profoundly impact a person’s mental health and well-being. However, many people living with a mental health condition still benefit from professional support through psychotherapy. Credentialed therapists in the UK can often help reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. They can also help with various life challenges like relationship problems or major life transitions. That said, if you work with a therapist, they may recommend a therapy dog and provide guidance for starting the process.

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Life with a therapy dog: What to expect

Life with a therapy dog can bring comfort, fun, and ongoing support. While at home, your therapy dog is a lot like any other pet. However, when you enter public places, your therapy dog may be able to access places that other dogs are not allowed. When you go out into the world for the first time, you may want to prepare how to be with your dog and engage with others ahead of time. Your dog’s handlers can give you advice for this.

Stories and news from the therapy dog community

The news is full of success stories of how dogs bring comfort to patients and their families. When handlers are able to place suitable therapy dogs out in the world, in various organisations such as hospitals and rest homes, it can make a big difference for a client. For instance, hospital staff at the Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital in East Yorkshire, UK describe the “miraculous” effect that their eleven therapy dogs have had on patients.

Online therapy to complement pet therapy

Some people might be unable to attend traditional in-person therapy for several reasons. Other people prefer to speak with a counsellor outside their local community. In these cases, online therapy may be a more viable option. With online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp, you can speak with a credentialed mental health professional from anywhere in the UK. You can participate in therapy sessions via audio, video, live chat, or a combination of these methods. Additionally, you can contact your therapist outside of sessions through in-app messaging, and they’ll respond as soon as they can. This feature of online therapy may be useful for times when you have questions or concerns between therapy sessions.

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Online therapy has repeatedly been shown to be effective for several mental disorders. For example, in one systemic review and meta-analysis, researchers found that online therapy was as effective as in-person therapyfor reducing symptoms of depression.

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Takeaway

Suitable therapy dogs can significantly improve the mental health and emotional well-being of others. They are trained by a team to the highest standards and areoften taken to visit and support people in hospitals, care facilities, schools, and other organizations to reduce loneliness, bring comfort, and improve mood. You may be able to obtain visits from a therapy dog in the UK by contacting organizations like Pets As Therapy and Therapy Dogs (PAT Dog) Nationwide and becoming a client. If you’re experiencing mental health concerns, you may also benefit from speaking with a credentialed therapist, either in person or online.

Frequently asked questions

Read more below for answers to questions commonly asked about this topic.

What agencies provide therapy dogs in the UK?

Several agencies in the UK train and provide therapy dogs. Pets As Therapy, Therapy Dogs Nationwide, Canine Concern, and Therapet are a few organisations that send therapy dogs and volunteers to hospitals and care centers.

What dog breed makes a good therapy animal?

Some of the best breeds for therapy dogs tend to be poodles, golden retrievers, and labradors. Other breeds can also serve as therapy dogs and improve the emotional well-being of others. However, organizations typically cannot accept breeds listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Who qualifies for an emotional support animal in the United Kingdom?

To receive an emotional support dog, you may need to fill out an application form and submit an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letter from a doctor. Emotional support dogs don’t provide help with a specific disability like assistance animals, so you don’t have to have a physical disability to receive an emotional support dog. You may qualify for an emotional support dog if you experience anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among other mental health conditions. Generally, an emotional support dog benefits people experiencing mental health challenges by providing comfort and companionship. However, these dogs can’t go in public like service animals.

What disabilities qualify for an assistance dog in the UK? When can you use pets as therapy?

There are specific types of assistance dogs that help people with different disabilities. People may qualify for an assistance dog if they have a visual or auditory impairment. Also, people who experience seizures and those living with autism may be eligible for an assistance animal.

Individuals might find an assistance dog through the following seven charities that Assistance Dog UK has accredited:

Guide Dogs
Canine Partners
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Dogs for Good
Support Dogs
Dog AID
Medical Detection Dogs

Finding a service dog for a psychiatric disability may be difficult in the UK due to the program requirements.

How do you qualify to get your dog trained as a therapy dog in the UK? Is dog training difficult?

If you wantto get involved and have your own dog trained to become a therapy dog, several organizations can help. The requirements during the application process may vary by organization, but typically, owners must have had their dog for a certain amount of time. For example, Pets As Therapy requires that applicants have owned their dog for at least nine months. Also, dogs must be at least 12 months old to serve as therapy dogs. Dogs must also have vaccination certificates, regular worming treatment, and protection against fleas.

Another organization that provides therapy dog training is Therapy Dogs Nationwide. This organization requires that dogs be at least nine months old and be with their owner for at least six months. Therapy Dogs Nationwide conducts a temperament assessment on each dog. Dogs must be able to walk on a relaxed lead and respond well when the assessor checks their tail, paws, and ears. They must also respond calmly to unexpected noise and accept a treat without snatching it during the assessment.

What is animal-assisted therapy?

Animal-assisted therapy is any type of therapy that incorporates the use of animals. While dogs are the most common animals that serve during therapy, cat, bird, and horse owners can also sometimes volunteer their animals for pet therapy. Therapy animals can often make a difference during physical or speech therapy with adults and children.

What is the cost of therapy animal in the UK? Who can I talk to about how to get a therapy dog (UK options)?

Any pet can be a therapy dog if they meet the criteria of a program to join. Typically, programs look at the ages of each puppy or dog that applies, whether they have their shots, their exercise level, their ability to be calm when interacting with other dogs, and whether they have a great temperament for this type of work. You can adopt a dog from a shelter or buy one from a breeder. Adopting from a shelter is often more affordable, whereas a purebred pup may be over 1,000 pounds.

If you’re looking to buy or adopt a service (assistance) dog that will be trained to complete a task for a disability, you might look at each individual program. Some programs provide these dogs for free, whereas others charge a certain amount for the dog. Some service dogs can cost thousands of dollars because they are trained for the family member to offer unique services for that person, and the program orr residential care homes training the dog guarantee that they are healthy and have been cared for well to provide unconditional love and bring joy and support to its new owner.

Can I say my dog is a therapy dog?

Your dog is not a therapy dog unless it has been trained by a therapy dog program and has a certificate to provide gentle support and love to people in healthcare or mental healthcare facilities. These dogs are taught by their programs through research-backed methods to improve mood, self-esteem, and stability for residents and individuals who interact with them. Therapy dogs have a job and are not permitted to go into public areas where pets aren’t allowed, just like a regular pet. However, they can enter pre-approved locations, like hospitals, to do their jobs.

What are the costs for training my dog as a therapy dog?

Training costs depend on how and when you train your dog. Some programs offer cheap classes for under 200 pounds, whereas one-on-one training can be more expensive, sometimes surpassing 10,000 pounds. These programs may be more professional and allow you to charge for therapy dog services.

What disqualifies a dog from being a therapy dog?

A dog may not be able to be a therapy dog if they have the following traits or issues:

The dog is under six-months-old
The dog barks a lot or nips
The dog does not respond to basic commands and can’t be controlled off-leash
The dog is aggressive to other dogs, children, cats, or people
The dog is not friendly or does not have interest in interacting with people
The dog frequently gets into food, runs away, or chews on items
The dog has excess energy and struggles to calm down or offer support
The dog is overly intense and anxious and becomes sensitive to other people’s emotions to the point they become upset

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