Dog Welfare & Home Care Statement

At Oliver’s Army Assistance & Therapy Dogs, the health, safety, and wellbeing of every dog on our programme is our highest priority. To ensure your dog is able to learn, progress, and work safely, all handlers must be able to meet the following welfare expectations at home and in daily life.

To join and remain on our programmes, you must:

Provide - regular access to an appropriate toileting area.
If you do not have private outdoor space, your dog must be taken out frequently for toileting and exercise.
Follow - age-appropriate exercise guidelines.
Puppies require careful management to protect developing joints — as a guide, around 5 minutes of exercise per month of age until fully grown.
Ensure - dogs are not left alone for extended periods.
Puppies should never be left for more than 2 hours, and trained Assistance Dogs for no longer than 4 hours at a time.
Maintain - your dog’s ongoing health, grooming, and wellbeing.
This includes veterinary care, parasite treatment, appropriate nutrition, rest, grooming, enrichment, and mental stimulation.
Hold - suitable insurance for your dog.
Handlers must provide their own insurance. Once a dog has passed Bronze level, insurance must include Public Liability cover.

These standards ensure that every dog in training remains healthy, safe, and ready to develop into a confident Assistance or Therapy Dog.

Equipment & Public Access Statement

At Oliver’s Army Assistance & Therapy Dogs, we are committed to ensuring that all dogs train and work safely, humanely, and in line with the highest welfare and public access standards. To protect both handlers and the wider community, the following rules apply to all dogs on our programmes.

Handlers must ensure that:

Retractable leads are not used at any time or in any circumstances.
These leads can cause injury, reduce control, and are not compatible with safe assistance or therapy dog work.
Only positive, welfare-friendly equipment is used.
Electronic collars, choke chains, prong collars, bungee leads, slip leads, and citronella collars are not permitted under any circumstances.
When entering public places for training or working, your dog must:
- Wear their official Oliver’s Army jacket and full approved equipment.
- Remain on lead and under control at all times.
- Be accompanied by the handler carrying their Oliver’s Army ID card.

This ensures clarity for the public, supports safe access, and upholds the reputation of the charity.

All equipment, jackets, and ID badges remain the property of Oliver’s Army and must be used responsibly and kept in good condition.

Non-compliance with these standards may result in immediate removal from the programme.

Handlers will be required to return all Oliver’s Army equipment, including jackets and ID badges, without delay.

These measures help us maintain a safe, consistent, and professional environment for every team representing Oliver’s Army in the community.

Programme Requirements & Class Attendance Statement

At Oliver’s Army Assistance & Therapy Dogs, we want every handler and dog to have the best possible experience. To help classes run smoothly, safely, and fairly for everyone, we ask all clients to follow the guidance below before joining our programme and throughout their training journey.

Before Starting Classes

To begin training, we require a completed application form, signed Training Agreement, and photos of both the handler and the dog for our records.

We also need to see your dog’s full vaccination history.

All class places with Crosshill Centre must be secured through block booking payments made in advance. Each class costs are £15 per session, paid in half-term blocks (e.g., 6 weeks = £90).

(Prices for training classes within our Outreach Programme vary and are set by the individual Kennel Club Accredited Instructor delivering the training. Fees may differ depending on the instructor’s location, experience, and operational costs).

If classes are full, your details will be added to our waiting list and spaces are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Puppies may join our training classes one week after their second vaccination (around 12 weeks old).

We are unable to enrol dogs over 6 years of age, and dogs under 1 year start at Puppy Foundation, while those over 1 year begin at Bronze Level.

Attendance & Eligibility

Dogs must attend a minimum of 6 weeks of classes in each level before sitting the relevant assessment.

Assistance Dogs in Training must have a vet letter confirming fitness and good health before attempting their Public Access Assessment, and all Assistance Dogs must be fully toilet trained before progressing to public access work.

Dogs who are unwell must not attend classes.

Female dogs in season are unable to participate until their cycle has ended.

For the safety of our community, handlers and family members must not attend classes when unwell. They may return 48 hours after symptoms end (72 hours for COVID).

For full details regarding Health & Safety, please refer to our Health and Safety Policy Statement ( POL-HR-038 ).

If you would like to request a copy of these policies or ask a question about how we handle your data, please contact us at:
management@oliversarmyassistancedogs.org or use our contact form.

If you miss a class, the full session fee still applies unless exceptional circumstances have been agreed with a head trainer in advance.

During Your Classes

Please arrive 5–10 minutes early to toilet your dog before entering the building.
Bring all required equipment, including treats, grooming tools, and a bed or blanket.

To ensure a positive learning environment:

Handlers must remain in control of their dog at all times.
Approach other dogs only with the handler’s permission.
Children must always seek permission before greeting another dog.
Inform a handler immediately if their dog approaches, nudges, or sniffs you.
Do not feed any dog other than your own.
Engage fully and practise skills at home between sessions.

Handlers are responsible for their own dog’s behaviour. Oliver’s Army cannot accept liability for incidents arising from a handler’s actions.

Children aged 6 to 18 years are very welcome to participate in training sessions at our Crosshill Centre and may assist in working with their dog. To ensure everyone’s safety and comfort, all children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times. The accompanying adult remains fully responsible for both the child and the dog while on the premises or during training activities.

Training Standards & Conduct

To avoid confusion for your dog and maintain consistency, training must not be carried out with non–Kennel Club Scheme trainers outside of Oliver’s Army.

For health and safety reasons, excessively drooling dogs cannot join the Assistance Dog Programme.

We discourage the use of daycare services, as these environments can lead to behaviours that conflict with assistance and therapy dog training standards.

Our Crosshill Centre classes run for 50–55 minutes, with a short changeover period for cleaning. If you have questions that can wait, please talk to us after the class or contact us by email so that classes can run on time.

All assessments must be paid in full prior to the assessment date.

Handlers must never train or handle their dog while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

When travelling, dogs must be legally and safely restrained in your vehicle using a crate, harness, carrier, or boot grate.

Our trainers and volunteers reserve the right to decline working with any dog if concerns arise.

We expect all handlers to treat one another with courtesy and discretion. Please respect personal boundaries and avoid asking about another person’s disability; if someone appears to need help, simply offer assistance.

Behaviour & Safety Statement

At Oliver’s Army Assistance & Therapy Dogs, the safety and wellbeing of all dogs, handlers, families, volunteers, and trainers is our highest priority. To ensure that every class remains a safe, positive, and productive learning environment, we follow the guidance below for dogs who may present behavioural challenges.

Behaviour in Class

We reserve the right to decline entry to, or remove, any dog whose behaviour may be overly disruptive, unsafe, or likely to be made worse by participating in a group class. This allows us to protect all participants and ensure that dogs receive the most appropriate form of support.

Where appropriate, we may offer credit for the remainder of a block booking and recommend private training options or a behaviour consultation if available. This is considered on a case-by-case basis and decided in consultation with our Trustees.

Aggression & Guarding Behaviours

For the safety of our community:

Dogs showing aggression, guarding, or unsafe behaviour towards people or other dogs may be removed from the programme without notice.
Dogs that display ongoing aggression or guarding behaviours cannot progress to Assistance Dog status.
Oliver’s Army reserves the right to refuse training to any dog showing signs of aggression at any stage.

Probation for Emerging Behaviour Issues

Sometimes dogs may begin to show new or unexpected behaviours.
If agreed by a Head Trainer, the dog may be placed on a probation period to work on these issues with structured guidance.

If the handler does not follow the agreed training plan, or if progress is not being made, their place on the programme may be withdrawn.

Respect & Conduct

We expect all handlers, families, and visitors to treat one another with kindness and respect. Inappropriate language, rude behaviour, or disrespect towards staff, volunteers, or participants will not be tolerated.

If any altercation occurs in a class setting, handlers must keep a safe distance, ensure their dog is under control, and follow trainer instructions immediately.

Support, Conduct & Volunteer Respect Statement

At Oliver’s Army Assistance & Therapy Dogs, we aim to create a supportive, respectful, and fair environment for everyone involved in our programmes. The following principles help ensure positive working relationships between handlers, volunteers, and trainers.

Support Letters

We can provide official supporting letters or emails—for example, for housing, education, workplace adjustments, or other relevant purposes—One free letter per year is included in your £10 per month membership fee (after six months of training within our programme) additional letters can be provided for a fee of £20 per letter.

Fair Treatment and Equality

We expect all volunteers, trainers, handlers, and clients to treat one another with fairness, respect, and courtesy at all times. Everyone within Oliver’s Army has the right to feel valued and supported.

Public Access Support

If you encounter difficulties in public while working with your dog, and you have followed our public access rules (including wearing full Oliver’s Army equipment and carrying an ID card), we may be able to support you with any necessary follow-up—such as contacting the police, dog warden, or other relevant authorities.

Respect for Our Volunteers

All of our trainers and staff are unpaid volunteers who dedicate their time, skills, and passion to supporting our handlers and dogs.
We kindly ask that you respect their efforts and understand that, although we aim to respond to all messages and emails as promptly as possible, our volunteers also need personal time with their families and their own dogs.

In-Training Identification & Public Access Statement

Once a dog has successfully achieved the Bronze Assessment, handlers could become eligible to lease official ‘In Training’ identification, including an ID badge and jacket. These items help introduce the dog to appropriate public behaviour and support early, structured exposure to real-world environments.

Use of ID and Jacket

Handlers may lease both an ‘In Training’ ID badge and a jacket once Bronze level is achieved. (Achievement of the Bronze level does not automatically ensure issuing of jackets).
The ID badge and jacket must be worn at all times when working in public and during classes. This helps your dog understand when they are “on duty” versus relaxed or off duty.
When wearing Oliver’s Army equipment in public, you are representing the charity. Please act respectfully, responsibly, and in line with our public access standards at all times.

Early Public Access

Young dogs should be introduced to public environments slowly and gradually, beginning with dog-friendly locations before progressing to more challenging spaces.
Handlers must provide their own insurance, including Full Public Liability, before accessing public places with their dog.

Safety Expectations

Escalators must not be used, unless your dog is correctly fitted with protective boots.
If a handler or dog behaves inappropriately or unsafely in public, the dog may be removed from the programme.

Progression & Task Training

Task training may begin once the dog has passed the Silver Assessment and is over 1 year old.
Dogs must learn at least three tasks to be eligible for their Public Access Assessment.

Attendance & ID Badge Review

Consistent class attendance is essential.
If a handler has not attended classes for over 6 weeks without a valid reason, the trainer may place the team on probation and temporarily withdraw the ID badge until attendance returns to an acceptable level.

Public Access Assessment & Qualified Assistance Dog Standard

The Public Access Assessment is a major milestone in the development of an Assistance Dog. To protect safety, welfare, and professionalism for all teams, handlers must meet specific requirements before attempting the assessment and must continue to uphold high standards after qualifying.

Eligibility for Public Access Assessment

Before sitting the Public Access Assessment, handlers must ensure that:

Dogs are at least 24 months old.
Dogs are spayed/neutered, with veterinary proof provided.
Male dogs have never sired a litter, and female dogs have never produced puppies, as breeding dogs are not eligible for Assistance Dog status.
A veterinary letter confirming good health is provided before the assessment takes place.

The Public Access Assessment fee is £300 for all handlers.

Annual Re-Assessment

To maintain high welfare and training standards:

Dogs must re-sit the Public Access Assessment annually.
The re-assessment fee is £300.
Failure to re-sit or meet required standards will result in the removal of the jacket and ID badge until the team passes again.

Post-Qualification Catch-Ups

To ensure consistency, welfare, and ongoing support, all qualified teams must attend one catch-up session per month.

Catch-ups may be completed:

Face to face, or
Via virtual meeting (online)

These monthly sessions help maintain skills, identify any issues early, and ensure teams continue working to Assistance Dog standards.

Progression & Additional Training

Handlers may continue attending regular classes if they wish to expand their dog’s task training or work on additional skills beyond the Public Access Assessment requirements.

Health, Grooming & Welfare

Handlers must maintain their dog’s health, grooming, and cleanliness at all times before accessing public places.
Any illness, infection, injury, or behavioural concern must be reported to Oliver’s Army Assistance & Therapy Dogs without delay so we can support you appropriately.

Behaviour & Representation

When wearing Oliver’s Army jackets or ID in public:

Handlers and dogs must demonstrate excellent behaviour, manners, and professionalism.
Unsafe or inappropriate behaviour may result in the removal of the ID badge and jacket and removal from the programme.

Every access in public is a representation of both the handler and Oliver’s Army.

Leaving the Programme

If you choose to leave the programme, for any reason, you must provide 10 days’ written notice, and return your jacket and ID card.

Support in School, Work or Education Settings

Once the Public Access Assessment is achieved, we can work with your school, college, university, or workplace to support your dog’s transition into that environment.

Some locations legally cannot be accessed by dogs due to Health & Safety legislation. These restrictions apply to all Assistance Dogs in the UK.

Therapy Dog Assessment & Welfare Statement

Therapy Dogs play an important role in providing comfort, confidence, and emotional support to individuals in schools, care settings, and community venues. To protect both the dogs and the people they interact with, there are specific requirements and welfare standards that all Therapy Dog teams must meet.

Eligibility for Therapy Assessment

Before sitting the Therapy Dog Assessment, handlers must ensure that:

Dogs are at least 12 months of age.
Handlers are 18 years old or over (If younger they need to be accompanied by a parent / legal guardian who takes responsibility.
Dogs have successfully completed their Kennel Club Good Citizen Gold Award.
Dogs are not fed a raw diet, for health and infection control reasons.
A veterinary letter confirming the dog’s good health is provided before the assessment.

Re-Assessment & Ongoing Standards

To ensure high standards of welfare and professionalism:

Dogs must re-sit the Therapy Assessment annually.
Failure to re-sit or to meet the required standard will result in the removal of the jacket and ID badge.
Therapy Dog teams must attend catch-up classes every quarter to maintain training standards.

Public Access & Venue Requirements

Therapy Dogs do not have general public access rights.

Therapy Dogs may only enter venues with prior agreement between the venue and the charity.
Dogs must always wear their Therapy Dog jacket and ID badge when attending a visit.
Handlers must complete and return all required paperwork for every visit to the Scotland Centre.

Insurance

Handlers must provide their own insurance, including Public Liability cover of at least £5 million.

Behaviour & Incident Reporting

For safety and welfare:

Any incident—such as reactivity, growling, or discomfort—must be reported to the charity immediately. This helps us support you and address any underlying causes.
Therapy Dog work should always be conducted calmly and safely.
Handlers are responsible for their dog’s wellbeing and may say no to any interaction that may cause distress or compromise safety.

Welfare & Wellbeing

Your dog’s welfare is our top priority.
Dogs working in therapy settings must always be:

Healthy
Calm and comfortable
Free from fear, stress, or distress
Given regular breaks and rest time
Monitored closely by their handler throughout every visit

Handlers must ensure their dog is safe, respected, and supported at all times.

Privacy Statement

At Oliver’s Army Assistance & Therapy Dogs, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring your personal information is handled safely and responsibly.

We only collect the information we need to deliver our charitable services — such as supporting handlers, volunteers, and veterinary professionals — and to maintain accurate welfare, health, and communication records. We will never sell or share your data for marketing purposes.

All personal data is collected and used in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, and is stored securely with access limited to authorised team members only.

You have the right to access, correct, or request the deletion of your personal information at any time. We aim to be transparent about how and why we collect data, and to respect your preferences and privacy at every stage of your engagement with us.

For full details of how we collect, store, and use personal data, please refer to our Privacy Policy (POL-HR-032) and Data Protection Policy (POL-HR-019).

If you would like to request a copy of these policies or ask a question about how we handle your data, please contact us at:
management@oliversarmyassistancedogs.org or use our contact form.

Links to Other Websites

Our website may include links to other websites that we think you may find useful or of interest. However, once you leave our site, please be aware that we have no control over the content or management of those external websites.

We cannot be responsible for the protection or privacy of any information you provide while visiting other sites, as they are not governed by this Privacy Statement. We encourage you to read the privacy statement of any website you visit to ensure you are comfortable with how your information may be used.

Equality & Diversity Statement

At Oliver’s Army Assistance & Therapy Dogs, we are committed to providing an inclusive, welcoming and respectful environment for everyone involved in our work — including our clients, volunteers, staff, and partners.

We believe everyone should be treated fairly and with dignity, regardless of race, sex, pregnancy or maternity, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, disability, religion or belief, age, or sexual orientation.

We actively oppose all forms of discrimination and strive to ensure equality of opportunity in every area of our organisation — from volunteering and training to the services we provide.

We aim to reflect the diverse communities we serve and ensure that our programmes and activities are accessible to all.

A copy of our full Equality & Diversity Policy (POL-HR-004) can be requested by contacting us at management@oliversarmyassistancedogs.org or via our contact form.

Safeguarding Statement

At Oliver’s Army Assistance & Therapy Dogs, the safety and wellbeing of everyone we work with — especially vulnerable people — is our highest priority.

We believe that nobody involved in our activities should ever experience abuse, harm, neglect, or exploitation. Every trustee, staff member, and volunteer has a shared responsibility to protect others and to act immediately if they have any concerns.

We are committed to:

Creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all.
Ensuring our team is trained and supported to recognise and report concerns.
Working in line with Charity Commission safeguarding guidance and UK law.
Taking all safeguarding concerns seriously and responding quickly, fairly, and sensitively.

If you have a safeguarding concern or wish to request a copy of our full Safeguarding Policy (POL-HR-042), please contact us at:
management@oliversarmyassistancedogs.org or use our contact form.

Complaints Statement

At Oliver’s Army Assistance & Therapy Dogs, we aim to provide a positive and professional experience for everyone who engages with our organisation. We recognise that concerns may occasionally arise, and we are committed to addressing them fairly, respectfully, and promptly.

We encourage anyone with a concern to raise it with a member of our team as soon as possible so that we can respond quickly and, where appropriate, resolve matters informally. If a formal process is needed, we have a clear procedure in place to ensure complaints are properly investigated and handled in line with our responsibilities.

All complaints are treated confidentially and in accordance with data protection requirements. We also use feedback to identify improvements in our services, procedures, and training.

Submitting a Complaint
If you would like to make a formal complaint, you may contact us directly at:

Email: management@oliversarmyassistancedogs.org
Personal For: Head Trainer and/or Trustee(s)
Oliver’s Army Assistance & Therapy Dogs
Unit 29/30 Crosshill Business Centre
Crosshill, Lochgelly
Fife, KY5 8BJ

Complaints addressed to a Head Trainer or involving a Head Trainer/Trustee are handled in accordance with our internal procedures to ensure fairness and impartiality.

A copy of our full Complaints Policy (POL-HR-018) can be requested at any time via email management@oliversarmyassistancedogs.org or our contact form.