Tell us about your organisation…
Veterans With Dogs is a national charity dedicated to supporting veterans living with mental health challenges through the life-changing benefits of assistance dog partnerships.
We train and partner specially selected assistance dogs with veterans, providing individually tailored support designed to increase independence, confidence and wellbeing, reduce social isolation and help veterans reconnect with everyday life.
Our specialist team brings together expertise in assistance dog training and mental health, supporting both veteran and dog throughout the development of their partnership and beyond.
At the heart of our work is a simple but powerful belief: the right partnership between a veteran and an assistance dog can transform lives. Our aim is to enable more veterans to experience that transformation while maintaining the highest standards of support, training and dog welfare.
Veterans With Dogs supports veterans living with mental health challenges through specially trained assistance dog partnerships. Our work is accredited by Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK) and Assistance Dogs International (ADI), reflecting the standards underpinning our programme.
Our Labrador puppies begin with a structured socialisation programme, developing the skills, confidence and behaviours needed for their future role. Suitable dogs are then carefully matched with a veteran according to the individual needs and characteristics of both.
Veteran and dog progress together through our Partner Animal Life Skills (PALS) programme, including residential training courses where they develop the skills and relationship needed to become an effective assistance dog partnership.
Following training and assessment, successful partnerships qualify, but our involvement does not end there. We provide ongoing specialist training, mental health and partnership support, helping veterans build greater confidence, independence and quality of life.
We are proud to be part of a sector united by a shared commitment to ensuring that those who have served our country, and their families, can access the support they need.
What makes us particularly proud is the breadth of expertise, compassion and collaboration across the Armed Forces charity community. No single organisation can meet every need, and we recognise the enormous value of working together, sharing knowledge and connecting veterans with the organisations best placed to support them.
We are also incredibly proud of the veterans themselves. Seeing individuals overcome significant challenges, rebuild confidence and independence, reconnect with their communities and move forward with their lives is a powerful reminder of why this sector matters.
Being part of a community of organisations collectively working to improve outcomes for the Armed Forces Community is something Veterans With Dogs is very proud of.
Being a member of Cobseo helps Veterans With Dogs remain connected to the wider Armed Forces charity sector and ensures that we are part of a strong, collaborative community working to improve outcomes for veterans and their families.
Membership provides valuable opportunities to build relationships, share knowledge and good practice, learn from other organisations and better understand developments and emerging needs across the sector.
It also helps us identify opportunities for collaboration and appropriate referral, recognising that veterans may have a range of needs extending beyond the specialist support Veterans With Dogs provides.
Importantly, Cobseo membership enables us to contribute our own experience and expertise while learning from others, helping us continually strengthen our services and ensure that veterans receive the right support from the right organisations at the right time.
Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here