Visiting the UK with an assistance dog (the UK term for service dog), can be a bit complicated at times. Here is a basic rundown of what to expect. Please be aware that not all of the general dog laws cover the whole of the UK and may only cover parts of it.

Within the UK there are 5 banned breed types. These being the American Pitbull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, XL Bully and the Japanese Tosa. If your assistance dog is one of these breeds you can not come to the UK with them. Assistance dogs are not exempt from the breed ban and can be seized when entering the UK if they are one of these breed types. It is important to note that the UK bans the breed type. This means that for a dog to be banned they have to fit a set of measurements which are characterised by each of the 5 banned breed type. This means that if your dog resembles one of these 5 breeds in measurements they can be seized regardless of genetics.

E collars

E collars are banned in Wales and are planned to be banned in England on 1st February 2024. Please be aware collars like prong and e-collars are not routinely used in the UK and banned in some countries in mainland Europe.

All dogs are required to have an up-to-date microchip and be registered with an authorised database for the nation you are visiting (https://www.gov.uk/get-your-dog-microchipped), unless your dog is medically exempt. When in a public place, your dog must wear a collar with a tag or plate which states your name (not the dogs) and address. You may voluntarily want to also include a tag with the address of where you are staying.

Dogs are required to be on lead when on a ‘designated road’ and where councils require it. When a council requires dogs to be on leads through a PSPO (Public Space Protection Order) , assistance dogs are often exempt or there is a ‘reasonable excuse’ clause. If this could be an issue for you, check with the councils you are visiting. You are likely to come across off-lead dogs in parks and walks.

Councils can create dog exclusion zones but generally assistance dogs should be exempt, either explicitly or through a ‘reasonable excuse’ clause of a PSPO.

You are required to pick up after your dog. Many PSPO’s doesn’t require you to if your disability means you can’t.

Dogs have to be suitably restrained when in a vehicle on the road.

Many shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs are dog friendly as is most public transport. Most dogs are suitably behaved but not all.

Please be aware that some dogs will have yellow gear or have a yellow ribbon on their lead to signify that they need space. You can find out more about it at Yellow Dog UK

There is currently no universal ID, certification or registration for assistance dogs in the UK and partnerships are not required to have them. Some partnerships may carry them.

Unfortunately, a business asking for ID is one of the leading causes of access issues.

The law requires a service provider to consider access for an assistance dog (a reasonable adjustment) on a case-by-case basis. Because of this there is no explicit list of where an assistance dog can and can’t go. There are very few places where it wouldn’t be suitable for an assistance dog to be. Examples where assistance dogs are allowed to be excluded include certain areas of zoos and certain wards of hospitals. There may also be places where a risk assessment may be necessary before allowing access.

For zoos see the BIAZA guidance.

Assistance dogs are not required to wear any form of identifying clothing such as a vest or harness but you may find it helps limit access issues.

‘Assistance Dog’ is the term for a dog that assists a disabled person in the UK. We recommend getting some gear that reflects this. Terms such as ‘guide dog’, ‘hearing dog’ and ‘medical alert dog’ are also widely recognised. If you can’t change the gear you use don’t worry, the law will still cover you but you may get a few more questions.

Though there are no colour requirements or official meanings, the general public may assume that your dog is for a particular disability depending on your vest or harness colour. This derives from the colours of vests used by popular assistance dog charities. The most common colour associations include a white harness for guide dogs and a burgundy vest for hearing dogs. Guide and hearing dogs are also the most well known assistance dog types and some people will believe that your dog is a guide or hearing dog regardless of vest colour.

Any questions? Contact Us