INFORMATION FOR BUSINESSES

INFORMATION FOR BUSINESSES

Welcoming RAD assistance dogs to your business


RAD assistance dogs are highly trained to support their disabled handler in a range of situations and areas, including in those that pet dogs are not usually permitted. 


To support your business in welcoming handlers of RAD assistance dogs, this page shares information about your legal obligations, recognising a RAD dog, and how to support assistance dog handlers effectively.

Access rights of assistance dogs in the UK




Allowing highly trained assistance dogs into your premises alongside their disabled handler is considered a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010. The Act states that businesses have a duty to ensure disabled people can access venues, goods or services that others can. 


This means that most businesses have a legal obligation to welcome highly trained assistance dogs, as outlined by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC):

‘It would be unlawful to refuse access to a disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog except in the most exceptional circumstances (for example, in certain hospital wards).’


In the UK, some assistance dog charities are part of a coalition called Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK), but not all assistance dogs will be trained by one of these charities. Some assistance dogs will be trained by other specialist charities or by the owner themselves, and all assistance dogs have the same legal access rights, regardless of who has trained them. 


Some assistance dogs will have an ID card, usually to show their membership of a particular charity organisation, but it’s important to note that not all assistance dogs will have an ID card. It is unlawful to refuse access if a handler’s dog doesn’t have an ID card.


For more information about the access rights of handlers with assistance dogs in the UK, explore the following guides from ADUK and the EHRC:





For more information about the access rights of handlers with assistance dogs in the UK, explore the following guides from ADUK and the EHRC:




What about ‘in training’ assistance dogs?

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Assistance dogs in training’ are not included in the relevant legislation and so service providers are not legally obliged to give access to someone with an assistance dog in training.


While handlers of ‘in training’ assistance dogs don’t have the same rights to access as those with fully trained dogs, at RAD we only issue ‘in training’ vests and lead slips to dogs which our trainers have assessed as being ready to train in public places and able to meet all of the basic standards. As these dogs are still learning we can’t guarantee that there won’t be a few minor slip ups, but if your business is able to support RAD handlers with their training by allowing their ‘in training’ dogs access, we really appreciate this.



What does an assistance dogs look like?

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Assistance dogs come in all shapes and sizes, depending on the tasks they are trained to support their handler with. 


Some charities train particular breeds; for example, Guide Dogs often works with larger breeds like labradors as they are trained for physical guide work. For less physical tasks, such as performing deep pressure therapy or alerting their handler to a particular situation, some handlers prefer to work with a smaller dog. This means that assistance dogs can be any size or breed - from miniature dachshunds through to Great Danes. What all assistance dogs have in common, however, is that they are highly trained to mitigate disabling barriers for their handler.



Many assistance dogs wear a vest and/or lead slip to show that they are working or with a particular charity, but there is no legal requirement for assistance dogs to be identifiable in this way.


If the handler has chosen to vest their RAD assistance dog, it will look like this:


Some RAD dogs will have a RAD ID card, but only if the handler chooses to carry one. Assistance dogs are not legally required to have any kind of ID card to ‘prove’ they are legitimate, as some dogs are trained independently.

What you can expect from a RAD assistance dog


RAD Assistance Dogs is a candidate organisation with ADUK, a UK-based coalition of assistance dog organisations that are accredited by Assistance Dogs International and/or The International Guide Dog Federation. While all assistance dogs in the UK have the same access rights under the Equality Act 2010, some countries only allow ADI accredited animals to work, and so gaining membership with ADUK will help us to support RAD handlers abroad.


When welcoming a handler and their RAD assistance dog to your business, you can expect that:


  • RAD dogs are assessed against the same welfare and public access standards as assistance dogs you may be more familiar with, such as Guide Dogs or Hearing Dogs.
  • RAD dogs are only issued with a RAD vest once they can satisfy all the basic behaviours that an assistance dog is expected to show in public. 
  • You can contact RAD to verify a dog if needed, or to report any concerns.
  • You can ask an assistance dog handler to use a specific seat or placement to mitigate a health and safety issue, as long as the disabled person isn’t disadvantaged (e.g. by having a restricted view). 
  • RAD handlers are encouraged to contact venues in advance but legally they are not required to do so, so it is good for businesses to have a plan in place with which all staff are familiar.


As with any assistance dog handler, RAD handlers may have specific needs and already be feeling sensitive when out doing public access with their dogs, so we would appreciate businesses undertaking awareness training with their staff. ADUK offer training for service providers if this is something you’re interested in learning more about.



Can I charge extra for an assistance dog?


Businesses are not allowed to impose additional charges because someone is accompanied

by an assistance dog. This means assistance dogs are exempt from charges like dog charges in a hotel room, or cleaning charges in other situations.


When is it reasonable to restrict an assistance dog’s access?


Equality law includes a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people

can access services, meaning it is unlawful to provide an inferior level of service because a person uses an assistance dog. 


To meet this law, you might amend a ‘no dogs’ policy to allow assistance dogs. Similarly, if you have a ‘pet dog friendly’ area in your business already, you might update your signage to allow assistance dogs outside of the designated ‘dog friendly’ area, including letting handlers with assistance dogs sit inside where pet dogs are only allowed outside.


Where an assistance dog cannot be safely or comfortably accommodated in all areas of a venue, however, it is acceptable for an assistance dog handler to be offered specific seats as long as these are equal to those offered to anyone else, i.e. they don’t have a restricted view, and they aren’t restricted to a general ‘dog friendly’ area that pet dogs are allowed in. An example of when this might apply includes wheelchair users and assistance dog handlers being seated pitch-side at a football game.


Often what is ‘reasonable’ depends on the specific circumstances. The assistance dog handler’s rights have to be balanced against those of other people. An example of this might be if a restaurant customer is allergic to dogs, they have a right not to be seated right next to a dog.

In this situation it would not be reasonable to exclude an assistance dog from the premises, but legal compliance would mean finding and facilitating a balance between the rights of both parties, such as both agreeing to be seated as far apart as is possible.


Allergies and fear of dogs

Businesses cannot refuse entry to an assistance dog handler on the basis of allergies, fear or dislike of dogs. 


If you are aware that a staff member has an allergy, you should put plans in place to mitigate this, such as an alternative member of staff serving the assistance dog handler. As above, if another customer is allergic, you would need to find and facilitate a balance, such both agreeing to be seated as far apart as is possible.


Assistance dog handlers often experience allergies as a reason for taxi drivers refusing access but, unless a taxi driver holds an exemption certificate on medical grounds, they cannot refuse an assistance dog on the basis of an allergy.


Religious objections

Religious and cultural objections are not a legal reason to refuse access for assistance dogs. Notably, the Islamic Shariah Council has said that Muslim businesses should accept Assistance Dogs.


Hygiene concerns

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have confirmed that Assistance Dogs should be allowed entry to food shops and other food premises. 


RAD Assistance Dogs are required to be regularly groomed to reduce the likelihood of fur-shedding, and only work when they are clean (for example not to be wearing their vest after a muddy walk and then taken into a food premises where dogs would not ordinarily be allowed).


Zoos, wildlife and safari parks

Some zoos and other animal attractions place restrictions on access for assistance dogs. These are imposed for the health and welfare of the resident animals, whether this is because they may be alarmed or distressed by the presence of any dog, or because of the risks of disease. 


Some facilities may require to see evidence that the dog has been treated for parasites etc. before granting access. RAD requires all Assistance Dogs training or trained by us to be treated with preventative parasite treatments.


All such restrictions and requirements are accepted in law for the protection of the resident animals and outweigh the usual requirement to allow access for assistance dogs.

Flying

RAD will only endorse a client to fly with their Assistance Dog if the dog is fully qualified and has completed specific ‘flying’ training. We also encourage handlers to look into Assistance Dog law in the place they are visiting before attempting to fly with their dog.


Cruise lines

Some cruise ships do allow trained assistance dogs on board, and RAD can verify a current member’s training, but we advise our handlers to remember that most cruise ships are not registered in the UK and that therefore UK law does not apply on board, meaning regulations around ‘reasonable adjustments’ and additional fees may not apply.


Ferry services

We strongly encourage RAD handlers to contact ferry companies before bringing an assistance dog on board, and where a specially constructed toilet box is required, RAD can offer handlers support with training their dog to use this facility.


There may be some routes where assistance dogs are not accepted for safety reasons, which is acceptable within equality law.



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