Initial Assessment

Start your journey with clarity, care, and the right support for you and your dog.

At Pawsitive Action Leeds CIC, we offer Initial Assessments for anyone interested in working with us for training, behaviour support, or assistance dog guidance. This is your opportunity to share your story, explore your options, and create a plan that works for both you and your dog.

We prioritise welfare, access, and inclusion, and assessments are designed to be welcoming, pressure-free, and tailored to your needs.

What’s Included in an Initial Assessment?

An Initial Assessment is a one-off, structured session where we:

  • Learn about you, your dog, and your goals

  • Discuss relevant history (medical, behavioural, environmental)

  • Explore which services or support options might be right

  • Provide immediate advice or guidance where appropriate

  • Begin building a welfare-first, realistic plan

  • Offer clarity on pricing, assessments, and potential next steps

You’ll also receive:

  • A follow-up email summary

  • Priority booking for relevant services

  • A discount on your first booked appointment following the assessment

  • A referral to trusted trainers, behaviourists, etc, if you’re not yet ready for assistance dog training

Who Is This For?

  • People interested in assistance dog training

  • Clients needing a temperament or access assessment

  • Anyone unsure where to start but needing structured support

What’s NOT Included?

General enquiries are free.
If you just have a quick question about services, prices, or availability, you don’t need to book an assessment. Email us any time at pawsitiveactionleeds@gmail.com and we’ll happily help.

Cost & Access

  • From £50 per initial assessment

  • Lasts approximately 45–60 minutes

  • Available in person, online, or by phone

  • Funding and concession places may be available – please ask if cost is a barrier

We don’t upsell or pressure – this is about building the right relationship between you, your dog, and our team.

Assistance Dog Training

Empowering you to train your own assistance dog, with ethical, inclusive support every step of the way.

At Pawsitive Action Leeds CIC, we support disabled and neurodivergent people to train their own assistance dogs using force-free, welfare-based methods that prioritise both your needs and your dog’s wellbeing.

We believe that assistance dog access should be affordable, accessible, and inclusive, not limited to long waiting lists or charity placements. That’s why we offer structured, supportive training designed around you and your dog’s unique journey.

What is Owner-Trained Assistance Dog Support?

Instead of applying for a pre-trained dog, you work with a dog you already live with (or one you choose), and we help you train them to assist with your specific disability-related tasks.

You’ll receive:

  • One-to-one training tailored to your needs

  • Guidance in task training, behaviour, and public access readiness

  • Support navigating legal rights and access advocacy

  • Ongoing welfare checks and ethical decision-making around suitability

What Can Assistance Dogs Be Trained to Help With?

Every team is different. We help dogs learn tasks that support:

  • Mobility and physical access (e.g. retrieving items, opening doors)

  • Medical alert or response (e.g. seizure, fainting, migraine, or anxiety support)

  • Autism or sensory regulation (e.g. deep pressure, disruption of repetitive behaviours)

  • Mental health support (e.g. grounding, waking from night terrors, routine reminders)

  • Cognitive or executive function support
    And more, depending on your lived experience.

What Makes Our Support Different?

We offer:

  • Trauma-informed, force-free training only

  • Supportive, non-judgemental guidance for disabled and neurodivergent people

  • Inclusive formats: in-person, remote, Easy Read, and sensory-adapted sessions

  • Flexible pricing, payment plans, and community-funded places

  • An ethical, welfare-first approach – if your dog isn’t suited to assistance work, we’ll help you explore other options without pressure or blame

We Can Help With:

  • Puppy and dog selection advice

  • Early training and socialisation

  • Public access preparation

  • Task training for disability support

  • Assessments for temperament and public access

  • Documentation to support self-advocacy

  • Training support for teams already working independently

What You’ll Receive

  • A bespoke training plan tailored to your goals

  • Regular progress reviews and support

  • Access to Public Access and Task Readiness Assessments

  • Optional written reports for housing, education, or service access

  • Continued support for changing needs

How It Works

  • Initial assessment (from £40)

  • Ongoing one-to-one sessions (£70)

  • Optional assessments and written reports

  • Flexible formats: in-person (Leeds area), remote, or hybrid

  • Funded and low-cost places available – ask about current availability

Important Note

We are not ADUK-accredited, but our assessments are structured, evidence-based, and built to help you navigate your rights under the Equality Act 2010. We advocate for the recognition of owner-trained assistance dogs and provide documentation to support you.

Temperament Assessments

Understanding your dog’s behaviour, needs, and potential – the welfare-first way.

At Pawsitive Action Leeds CIC, we offer compassionate, expert-led Temperament Assessments for dogs of all breeds and backgrounds. Whether you’re looking to better understand your dog, check suitability for assistance work, or support their training journey, our assessments are designed to help you make informed, welfare-focused decisions.

What is a Temperament Assessment?

A temperament assessment is a structured session that examines your dog’s natural traits, emotional responses, and coping strategies in a safe and supportive environment. We assess how your dog reacts to new people, environments, handling, sound, and more, always at their own pace.

This is not a pass/fail test, but an informative tool to:

  • Identify your dog’s strengths and sensitivities

  • Spot early signs of stress, fear, or reactivity

  • Understand how your dog communicates

  • Support future training or behavioural planning

  • Evaluate suitability for specialist roles (e.g. assistance, therapy, or public access work)

Who is this for?

  • People considering training their own assistance dog

  • Families that are unsure if their dog is comfortable in busy or public settings

  • Owners with rescued or reactive dogs who want deeper insight

  • Organisations seeking temperament screening for dogs in care or rehoming

What We Assess

Every dog is unique – we tailor our sessions to meet your specific needs. Common areas include:

  • Sociability and responsiveness

  • Stress signals and resilience

  • Handling tolerance and body sensitivity

  • Adaptability to new environments

  • Impulse control and arousal levels

  • Interest in training or task work

We take a neurodivergent and disability-aware approach, adapting our process for both humans and dogs who need a gentler, clearer, or more sensory-considerate experience.

Temperament Assessments for Assistance Dog Candidates

If you’re training your own assistance dog, this assessment helps determine if your dog is likely to cope with the demands of public access work, travel, and task training.
We will not approve dogs for assistance work if it’s not in their best welfare interest, and we will always offer alternatives or support plans where needed.

What You’ll Receive

  • A written report with clear findings and next steps

  • Personalised recommendations for training or development

  • Optional follow-up or referral for behaviour or welfare support

  • Kind, honest, and judgement-free feedback

Pricing & Access

Temperament Assessments £90
(Concessions, payment plans, and funded slots may be available – contact us for details.)

Sessions usually last 60–90 minutes, and can take place:

  • In your home

  • At a quiet outdoor space

  • In a controlled community venue (if needed)

  • Remotely (where appropriate)

Public Access Assessments

Ensuring your assistance dog is confident, safe, and ready for public life.

At Pawsitive Action Leeds CIC, we provide welfare-first, disability-informed Public Access Assessments for owner-trained assistance dogs. Our goal is to support both dogs and handlers in navigating public environments with confidence, safety, and mutual trust.

We believe in empowering individuals with disabilities and neurodiversity to train their own dogs with the guidance and respect they deserve – and our Public Access Assessments are part of that journey.

What is a Public Access Assessment?

A Public Access Assessment evaluates whether your assistance dog is well-prepared to work in public settings, such as shops, cafes, medical facilities, and public transportation. It checks that your dog can remain calm, focused, and responsive in environments with unpredictable stimuli.

This is not about perfection – it’s about welfare, safety, and readiness.

Who Needs This Assessment?

  • People training their own assistance dog

  • Owner-trainers wanting documentation to support access advocacy

  • Individuals facing access challenges who need evidence that their dog meets public standards

  • Handlers preparing for public access tasks or public-facing work

We specialise in supporting neurodivergent and disabled individuals, and tailor our assessment style to meet your specific communication, mobility, and sensory needs.

What We Look For

We assess your dog’s ability to:

  • Walk calmly through public areas

  • Ignore food, strangers, and distractions

  • Remain settled during downtime

  • Respond reliably to your cues

  • Cope with loud noises, tight spaces, and unexpected events

  • Maintain appropriate hygiene and manners in public

  • Demonstrate a strong, trusting relationship with their handler

We assess using positive, welfare-based methods only – no corrections, no harsh tests, no unnecessary stress.

What You’ll Receive

After a successful assessment, you’ll receive:

  • A written Public Access Assessment Report

  • A handler certificate of assessment

  • Optional digital ID badge design (for personal use – not a legal document)

  • Honest feedback and recommendations on whether more training is needed

Please note: This is not a legal license, but it is a recognised, structured way to demonstrate your dog’s training and suitability in public. We advocate alongside you for your legal rights under the Equality Act 2010.

What if My Dog Isn’t Ready Yet?

That’s okay! We will never pass a dog who is stressed, overwhelmed, or not yet prepared – because welfare comes first.
If your dog needs more time, we’ll offer you:

  • A progress plan

  • Optional follow-up support

  • Continued training sessions and check-ins

There’s no shame in needing more time – we’ll walk that journey with you.

Assessment Info & Pricing

  • Duration: 90–120 minutes (includes briefing and debrief)

  • Locations: Real-life public settings (e.g. supermarket, café, public transport)

  • Cost: From £80
    (Concessions, sliding scale pricing, and grant-funded places available – just ask.)

Advocacy & Support Services

At Pawsitive Action Leeds CIC, we understand that navigating systems, policies, and institutions can be exhausting, especially when you are disabled, neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, or an assistance dog handler. Our advocacy service exists to help reduce those barriers and ensure your rights, needs, and lived experiences are taken seriously.

We offer practical, person-centred advocacy support, working alongside you rather than speaking over you.

What We Can Help With

Our advocacy support may include help with:

Assistance dog access issues:

  • Refusals in shops, venues, housing, taxis, or public services
  • Challenging unlawful policies or misinformation
  • Support drafting complaints or escalation letters

 

Workplace advocacy:

  • Requesting and negotiating reasonable adjustments
  • Support with Access to Work evidence
  • Advocacy around disability discrimination or policy barriers

 

University, college, and education settings:

  • Reasonable adjustment requests
  • Support with disability services, complaints, or appeals
  • Assistance dog access within educational environments

 

Taxi and transport complaints:

  • Assistance dog refusals
  • Equality Act–based complaints and follow-ups
  • Support with local authority or licensing complaints

 

Benefits and welfare support:

  • Support preparing for PIP tribunals or appeals
  • Evidence letters and impact statements (where appropriate)
  • Understanding reasonable adjustments during assessments

 

Policy and systemic challenges:

  • Challenging inaccessible or discriminatory policies
  • Advocacy letters grounded in lived experience and law
  • Support escalating concerns to organisations or regulators

 

How We Work

  • We are trauma-informed, disability-led, and non-judgmental
  • We prioritise accessibility, clear communication, and consent
  • We work at your pace and within your energy limits
  • We can support via written advocacy, guidance, or structured conversations

 

We do not replace legal advice, but we can help you understand your options, prepare evidence, and advocate confidently within existing systems.

 

Pricing & Donations

Our advocacy service is donation-based, depending on:

  • Current workload and capacity
  • The complexity and time required
  • Your personal circumstances

 

This allows us to keep advocacy as accessible as possible while remaining sustainable as a small community organisation. No one will be pressured to donate, and we are always transparent about what we can offer.

 

Who This Service Is For

  • Disabled and neurodivergent people
  • Assistance dog handlers and owner-trainers
  • People facing access barriers or discrimination
  • Those who need support navigating complex systems

 

If you’re unsure whether we can help, you’re welcome to get in touch; we’ll always be honest about what support we can offer and where a referral elsewhere may be more appropriate.

Dog Reiki

Gentle, energy-based healing to support your dog’s wellbeing.

At Pawsitive Action Leeds CIC, we offer Dog Reiki sessions as a calming, complementary therapy to support your dog’s emotional, physical, and energetic balance.
Whether your dog is anxious, recovering, ageing, or simply in need of a little peace, Reiki offers a safe space for relaxation and healing, on your dog’s terms.

What is Reiki for Dogs?

Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive energy therapy that promotes deep relaxation, emotional release, and natural healing.
It can be especially helpful for dogs who are:

  • Anxious or fearful

  • Reactive or easily overwhelmed

  • Recovering from illness, trauma, or surgery

  • Senior or end-of-life

  • Adjusting to change or new environments

  • Assistance dogs managing high workloads

Reiki is not a replacement for veterinary care or behavioural therapy – it’s a complementary support that can reduce stress and support healing at all levels.

What Happens During a Session?

Reiki is always offered – never forced. Your dog can choose how close they want to be, whether they want to be touched, or prefer energy sent from a distance.

A session typically includes:

  • A calm, quiet environment (home visits or outdoor sessions available)

  • Time for your dog to settle and feel safe

  • Gentle, non-invasive energy healing

  • Optional gentle touch if welcomed by your dog

  • Observation of body language and consent signals

  • Time to decompress after the session

We honour your dog’s choices at every step.

Why Choose Dog Reiki?

  • Helps reduce stress and anxiety

  • Promotes calm during training or life changes

  • Supports bonding and trust between dog and guardian

  • Can ease discomfort, restlessness, or tension

  • Encourages emotional processing after trauma or rescue

It’s also an ideal support for dogs working in assistance roles, helping prevent burnout and maintain emotional resilience.

Inclusive, Accessible Healing

As a neurodivergent- and disability-led service, we understand how important it is that both you and your dog feel safe, respected, and seen.
We offer flexible session options, sensory-considerate environments, and clear communication around what to expect.

Session Info & Pricing

  • Session length: approx 45–60 minutes

  • Location: Home visits, outdoor settings, or remote Reiki (by arrangement)

  • Cost: from £35 per session
    (Pay-what-you-can slots and funding support may be available – please ask.)

Optional Add-ons:

  • Follow-up email with aftercare advice

  • Wellbeing notes from the session

  • Combined Reiki + training session for additional emotional support

To be updated – Please contact Kerry at kerry.palcic@gmail.com for general puppy training enquiries.

To be updated – Please contact Niamh or Kerry for behavioural consultations.

Our Financial Transparency

Pawsitive Action Leeds CIC

At Pawsitive Action Leeds CIC, transparency and fairness are central to how we operate. As a Community Interest Company (CIC), we exist to benefit the community, not to generate private profit.

We believe that people accessing services — especially disabled people seeking assistance dog support — deserve to know exactly where their money goes.

How service fees are distributed

When services such as dog training, assessments, or workshops are delivered through Pawsitive Action Leeds CIC, the trainer delivering the work is usually a self-employed professional working in partnership with us.

From each service fee:

  • 95% goes directly to the trainer delivering the service

  • 5% goes to Pawsitive Action Leeds CIC

This model ensures that the people doing the work are fairly paid for their time, knowledge, and experience.

What the organisational contribution supports

The 5% contribution supports the basic costs required to run a responsible community organisation, including:

  • Insurance and safeguarding requirements

  • Website hosting and digital systems

  • Accessibility improvements and inclusive resources

  • Community events and outreach projects

  • Development of educational materials and training resources

We intentionally keep this percentage low so that most of the income goes to the professionals delivering the work.

Supporting access to assistance dog training

After essential running costs are covered, any remaining funds are placed into a community support fund.

This fund is used to subsidise assistance dog training and support for disabled people who would otherwise be unable to afford access to these services.

Assistance dog training can be expensive, and we believe that financial barriers should not prevent disabled people from accessing life-changing support.

Our commitment to ethical practice

  • Pawsitive Action Leeds CIC does not distribute profits to individuals.

  • Any surplus income is reinvested into community benefit activities.

  • We aim to operate with clear, open communication about how funds are used.

We believe transparency builds trust, and trust is essential when working with disabled people, dogs, and the wider community.

Our goal is simple:
to create a fair, ethical, and accessible model for assistance dog support in Leeds and beyond.