assistance dog

[Lcw29]

My son is 6 and is autistic. We are thinking of applying for an assistance dog to help him as he gets very nervous and is finding it hard to go out abs next people. There are other issues too so we feel it would really help him. Does anyone have experience with this? Can you still interact normally with the dog at home as a family?
Also we live in private accommodation and have been given permission to have a dog if it is specifically trained to help a child with asd. If we had to train our own dog for this purpose due to the long waiting list for an official assistance dog, would it still count?
Just trying to cover all bases.

No, it will not be classed as an assistance dog and you wouldn't be able to take it in the places only assistance dogs are allowed to be.

Yes when not 'working' the dogs are like pets too

My mum trains hearing dogs for the deaf.

Thank you for that.. a charity is opening their list on Monday so I think we will apply. Initially its to find out more info so no guarantees .

If we had to train our own dog for this purpose due to the long waiting list for an official assistance dog, would it still count?

No, as the dog would be classed as pet.
Even if you go through one of these self help training charities.

Plus, unless you have experience with training dogs, stay way clear of that option.
Training a dog takes time and commitment...you are looking at 18- 24 months of chaos, frustration, attending training class and questioning yourself at every other step of the way.

Assistance dogs aren't protected by UK law in the same way guides dog are - and you can be refused access.

These are separate things
Guide dogs.... for the blind, professionally trained and qualified

assistance dogs ..... for other needs but professionally trained and qualified.

Support animals ..... a pet used to help someone feel but not given the legal access and rights as qualified dogs.

I don't think I explained it well.

There is no law in the UK that states assistance dogs need to be trained, qualified or registered - anyone can say they have an assistance dog, and you can just buy the harnesses and equipment off eBay.

So while there is an assistance dog charity that trains and registers assistance dogs, there's no requirement to train or register with them which can cause a lot of problems.

The main assistant dog charity sums it up better:

In the UK there is no assistance dog register so it is not possible to register a dog as an assistance dog, regardless of where it has been trained.
Only dogs that have been trained by ADUK members are issued an ADUK Identification Booklet.
ADUK cannot issue dogs that have not been trained by one of our members with identification or branded dog gear.
Assistance dog owners are not required by law to carry identification.
Not all assistance dogs are trained by ADUKs members or candidates.

https://www.assistancedogs.org.uk/faqs/