Trainee service dogs

TwitchAndMore
TwitchAndMore Community Member Posts: 6 Listener
edited February 2025 in Housing and independent living

Has anyone had any luck with letting their private landlord allow them to have a trainee service dog? The waiting lists for charities are so long and have such high backlogs that I've found organisations which help aid you to train your own. I was just worried about the fact that you can have a trained service dog legally as it is seen as an aid, but the same doesn't go for a trainee service dog. Has anyone managed to get their landlord on their side andhave any tips?

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  • TwitchAndMore
    TwitchAndMore Community Member Posts: 6 Listener
    edited December 2024

    I like in a privetly rented flat and have been looking into getting an assistance dog to help me with my disabilities (mobility, seizures ect). There's such a shortage on assistance dogs already trained by charities that I've decided to owner train a dog with a training organisation. I'll be getting a dog not yet trained and then be training it to be able to help me manage my disabilities.

    The landlady has given me permission to have the trainee assistance dog but then the freeholder of the flats said no.

    I'm at a loss on what to do as the trainer provider said the dog isn't protected unless it has had some training, but I won't be able to do that until I have the dog.

  • Holly_Scope
    Holly_Scope Posts: 5,270 Online Community Team
    edited February 2025

    Hi @TwitchAndMore that's a tough one! I presume they've declined just whilst training is ongoing? I don't think they can prevent you once it's trained. It's disappointing they're not more supportive given the circumstances.

    Just wondering about alternatives whilst training. Could somebody you know and trust temporarily house and train?

    All the best,

    Holly.

  • durhamjaide2001
    durhamjaide2001 Scope Member Posts: 15,455 Championing
    edited February 2025

    apparently I have seen something in a law to say that it is against the law not to let you have an assistance dog in the flat if you have a disability

  • Ray212
    Ray212 Community Member Posts: 738 Empowering
    edited February 2025

    That maybe correct but at the moment it is not an assistance dog as it hasn't had the training, it's just a normal dog unfortunately.

  • Holly_Scope
    Holly_Scope Posts: 5,270 Online Community Team
    edited February 2025

    You're right @durhamjaide2001 but unfortunately as @Ray212 has said, whilst the dog isn't yet an assistance dog, it looks like the freeholder has found a bit of a loophole (at least temporarily until trained).

    I find it really disappointing that they've chosen to do that. It just seems very wrong even if it is "technically" legal... 😔

  • Holly_Scope
    Holly_Scope Posts: 5,270 Online Community Team
    edited February 2025

    Thanks @MW123, perhaps the wrong use of term from me there. I'm far from a legal expert.

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