Questions we get asked.
Answered honestly.

Indie dogs - India's indigenous street dogs - are remarkably well-suited for this work. They are hardy, intelligent, and highly adaptable. Centuries of surviving on India's streets have made them alert, socially perceptive, and resilient. These are exactly the qualities that make a great assistance or therapy dog. We are not importing a breed. We are recognising what was already here.

Read more about the Indie dog →

We work with local communities and animal welfare organisations to identify litters or young puppies on the street. We look for dogs that show curiosity rather than fear, recover quickly from surprises, and are comfortable around people. Not every dog we meet makes the cut - and that is by design.

Temperament above everything else. We look for puppies that are calm under mild stress, social with strangers, and not easily spooked by noise or movement. Temperament can be shaped to some extent, but a puppy with fundamental temperament issues is unlikely to become a reliable assistance or therapy dog. That is why selection is where the work really begins.

No. We rescue. Breeding would mean bringing more dogs into a country that already has millions of street dogs without homes. (Animal Husbandry Department, 2023). Every dog in our programme is rescued from the street - and given a life and a purpose they would not otherwise have had.

Dogs raised primarily in kennels can miss many of the everyday experiences they will encounter as working dogs. Because our dogs will live in homes, hospitals, schools, and communities, we believe the best place to raise them is in a home. Our foster-trainers raise each dog as part of their household from puppyhood.

It builds the foundation that no amount of formal training can replicate. A dog raised in a home learns to read human behaviour, adapt to unpredictable routines, and stay calm in a variety of situations. By the time formal training begins, the dog already knows how to live alongside people.

Home-based raising requires space, time, and a stable environment - conditions more available in rural India than in cities. Quieter surroundings allow us to introduce new experiences gradually and deliberately, helping puppies build confidence without becoming overwhelmed. The programme also creates meaningful income in places where formal employment options for women are limited. It is designed to work well precisely where it is placed.

It was not a policy decision - it emerged from the ground. Women in the communities we work with showed the most interest, commitment, and natural aptitude for this work. The programme has stayed that way because it works.

Read their stories →

A skilled role, a regular income, and - as our stories show - something harder to measure. A sense of capability, independence, and pride in work that genuinely matters.

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Science-based, force-free training. No punishment, no dominance, no shortcuts. We work with the dog's natural behaviour and use positive reinforcement to build the skills they need. This is the global standard for assistance and therapy dog training, and it is what we hold ourselves to.

Never. These tools work through pain, fear, or discomfort - and we do not use them. Not on our dogs, not at any stage of training. A dog that complies because it is afraid is not a reliable working dog.

Aversive methods can produce quick results. We will not pretend otherwise. But they produce compliance, not understanding. A dog trained through fear or pain will perform - until it does not. Stress, inconsistency, and suppressed behaviour are common long-term outcomes. Force-free training takes longer because we are building genuine understanding and trust. The behaviour lasts because the dog is a willing participant, not a reluctant one. For dogs that will work with vulnerable people - people with disabilities, people in hospitals - that reliability is not optional.

From rescue to placement, the journey takes roughly 18 to 24 months. This includes the early socialisation phase with the foster-trainer, structured skill training, and assessment before placement.

Because we are not teaching tricks. An assistance or therapy dog needs to perform reliably in unpredictable environments, with strangers, under stress, and over years. That level of reliability is built in stages - socialisation first, then foundation skills, then task-specific training, then assessment in real settings. Rushing any stage undermines the whole. Eighteen to twenty-four months is not slow. It is what the work requires.

Our foster-trainers - women in rural India who raise these dogs from puppyhood - handle the day-to-day training under structured guidance. Training protocols are developed and overseen by our advisor Kirsten Dillon, who brings decades of experience in assistance dog training and standards.

Yes - sporadically and on a need basis. Dogs raised in villages need exposure to city environments - traffic, crowds, lifts, public transport, and the general noise of urban life. We introduce this progressively so the dog is not overwhelmed. How much urban training a dog needs depends on where they will eventually be placed.

Every dog follows a documented training protocol. Progress is tracked against defined milestones. Dogs that do not meet the standard are not placed - they are either given more time or found a good home through adoption. We do not place a dog we are not confident in.

Our training standards are guided by Kirsten Dillon, our advisor with decades of experience in assistance dog training. We align with international best practices while adapting for the Indian context - the dogs, the settings, and the people we work with.

Before any dog is placed, it goes through a structured assessment covering obedience, task performance, temperament under stress, and behaviour in public settings. We look at how the dog responds to crowds, unfamiliar people, sudden noises, and unpredictable environments. Only dogs that meet the standard across all areas are placed. Every dog is assessed against the same predefined criteria - there is no negotiating on standards.

Many established assistance dog programmes report that only 30 to 50 percent of dogs ultimately qualify for placement, although success rates vary between organisations, breeds, and training models. In other words, 50 to 70 percent of dogs do not complete training and reach placement. [Animal Behaviour, 2022 Review] [PLOS One, 2019]

One of the largest published studies, involving 537 dogs from five Belgian assistance dog organisations, reported the following reasons for not qualifying (as a percentage of all dogs enrolled): [PLOS One, 2019]

Together, behavioural and orthopaedic issues accounted for approximately 35% of all dogs entering the programme, making them by far the two largest causes of release. Among dogs released for behavioural reasons, fearfulness and anxiety accounted for 56%, followed by aggression (22%), over-excitability (11%), low motivation (7%), and prey drive (4%). [PLOS One, 2019 - detailed breakdown]

HeartDogs works with rescued Indie dogs rather than purpose-bred dogs. Research on free-ranging dogs confirms they are genetically more diverse than purpose-bred pedigree populations - a product of natural selection rather than closed studbook breeding - which may reduce the burden of inherited disorders and contribute to better overall health. [Bhattacharjee et al., 2020] [Sindhoor Pangal et al., 2023]

Behavioural research on Indian free-ranging dogs has shown that they are highly adaptable and remarkably skilled at interpreting human intentions and adjusting their behaviour accordingly. These abilities are thought to have developed through generations of living alongside people in complex urban and rural environments. [Bhattacharjee et al., 2018]

However, these observations have not yet been validated in formal assistance dog programmes. One of HeartDogs' goals is to evaluate this systematically. Our pilot cohort is progressing through training, and we will publish programme outcomes as the dogs advance towards placement.

Yes, and we will not pretend otherwise. Dogs are not robots. A change in environment, a difficult experience, an illness, or even just a disrupted routine can affect behaviour. What matters is how quickly it is caught and addressed. We stay in contact with recipients after placement, and if something shifts, we step in early. Regression is manageable when it is not ignored.

Yes. Every dog in our programme is vaccinated, dewormed, and regularly health-checked throughout their training journey.

Puppies are not separated from their mothers before eight weeks of age. This is standard responsible rescue practice - early separation affects socialisation, temperament, and emotional development in ways that cannot be reversed. We wait until the puppy is ready, not until it is convenient.

Yes. All our dogs are spayed or neutered as a standard part of the programme. This is responsible animal welfare practice, and it also supports a calmer, more focused working dog. It has no negative effect on their ability to do the work they are trained for.

The dog's welfare is central to everything we do. Force-free training means the dog is never put under undue stress. Foster-trainers are trained to read dog behaviour and flag any signs of distress. Dogs receive daily exercise, enrichment, and play - welfare is not just about veterinary care. A dog that is not thriving is not being pushed forward - welfare comes before programme targets.

Veterinary care after placement is the recipient's responsibility, though we support them with guidance and connect them with reliable vets where we can. We remain available to advise if a health issue could affect the dog's working role, and we step in together with the recipient to decide the right path forward.

An assistance dog is trained to support a specific individual with a disability in their daily life. This could mean retrieving objects, alerting to sounds, providing physical support, or grounding someone during a mental health episode. The dog lives with the person and works as their daily companion.

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A therapy dog does not belong to one person. It visits hospitals, care homes, schools, and mental health settings to bring comfort and connection to people in those spaces. The dog is handled by a trained handler and visits multiple settings.

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An assistance dog is matched to one person and works exclusively with them. A therapy dog works across settings and with many people. Both require rigorous training - but for different purposes and environments.

Assistance dogs work with individuals living with physical disabilities, autism, hearing impairment, and psychiatric conditions. Therapy dogs work in hospitals, geriatric care homes, schools, and mental health clinics.

No - and this distinction matters. An emotional support animal provides comfort by its presence and does not require task-specific training or formal assessment. A therapy dog is trained to a defined standard, assessed before placement, and works in institutional settings under a trained handler. Our therapy dogs go through the same rigorous 18 to 24 month training programme as our assistance dogs. An emotional support animal is a personal choice. A therapy dog is a trained working animal.

India does not yet have a clear, enforceable public access policy for assistance dogs - unlike the UK or the US, where trained assistance dogs have legal rights to enter most public spaces. This means our dogs may face restrictions in malls, restaurants, public transport, or hospitals depending on the establishment. We work with recipients to navigate this, educate organisations about working assistance dogs wherever possible, and are actively engaged in advocacy efforts to improve this situation. It is one of the reasons HeartDogs exists - to build the case, one dog at a time, for what these animals can do.

Public transport access depends on the operator and their policy - there is no national standard in India that guarantees access. Taxis and ride-hailing services vary too; some drivers will refuse, and there is currently no legal recourse. For flights, policies vary by airline. We work with recipients to navigate this where needed and advocate for clearer access rights. This is an evolving area and we keep recipients informed.

Yes. If you are an individual living with a disability, or an institution looking for a therapy dog, we would like to hear from you. Reach us through the Connect page and we will take it from there.

Matching is not just about the dog's skills - it is about fit. We look at the individual's or institution's specific needs, the dog's temperament and strengths, and the environment the dog will be working in. A dog that is brilliant in a quiet home may not be the right fit for a busy hospital ward.

Training one dog takes 18 to 24 months and costs significantly - food, treats, supplements, veterinary care, and trainer salaries all add up. We fund a large part of this through donations. But we do need to recover some costs, and what a recipient contributes depends on their situation. We aim to ensure that financial circumstances alone are not a barrier to receiving a dog. Get in touch and we will have that conversation honestly.

Yes - and this is not optional. Receiving an assistance dog is not like adopting a pet. Before a dog goes home, the recipient and their support network go through a structured handover process covering how to give cues, maintain training, read the dog's behaviour, and care for it day to day. The dog has been trained to a high standard; the recipient needs to be able to work with that. We stay involved to support this process well after placement.

Yes - and this is something we think through carefully during matching. The tasks the dog is trained to perform are specifically chosen to complement what the person can and cannot do. The dog is there to fill the gap, not add to the load. We also work with the person's support network - family, caregivers - to make sure the dog is well cared for.

Yes, in many cases - but it depends on the individual and their support network. A therapy dog placed in an institution is cared for by trained staff - the responsibility does not fall on one person. For assistance dogs placed with individuals, we assess the support available around the person - not just the person alone. We do not place a dog where there is no reliable support structure.

Yes, in some cases. It depends on the dog and the home environment. Some dogs are comfortable with other animals; others are not. More importantly, the assistance dog's ability to focus on its work should not be compromised. We discuss this openly during the matching process.

A working assistance dog should not be treated as a family pet - even if it lives in a family home. Children need to understand that the dog has a job, and interacting with it while it is working is not appropriate. We cover this during the handover process. Therapy dogs in institutional settings are always handled by trained staff, so this is managed differently there.

No, not usually - and for good reason. Matching is driven by what works best for the person and the dog, not preference or appearance. A dog chosen because it looks a certain way may not be the right fit for the work. We share information about the dog being matched and explain our reasoning. Rarely, where there is a specific and valid reason, we will discuss it.

Not every dog makes it to placement - and that is normal. Globally, assistance dog programmes see fallout rates of 50 to 70 percent. A dog may have the temperament but not the focus, or may simply be better suited to a different kind of life. It does not mean the dog has failed. These are exceptionally well-raised animals - socialised, health-checked, and trained with care. We work to find them good homes through adoption, where they make wonderful companions.

We stay involved after placement. If a match is not working - for the person or the dog - we step in. The dog's welfare and the recipient's needs both matter. We will find a better path forward.

Life changes - illness, a move, a family situation. If a recipient can no longer care for the dog, they contact us first. The dog does not go to just anyone. We assess the situation, find the right next step - whether that is temporary support, a new placement, or a carefully chosen adoptive home - and make sure the dog's welfare is protected throughout.

Assistance dogs typically work for 8 to 10 years, though retirement is based on the individual dog - their health, energy, and the demands of the role - not simply their age. When a dog retires, we work with the recipient and the dog's history to find the best outcome - whether that is staying with the family as a companion, or moving to a home suited to a retired working dog. Retirement is planned, not sudden.

Most assistance dogs have a working life of 8 to 10 years. After that, their physical stamina and focus naturally decline. We begin planning for transition before the dog shows signs of slowing down, so the recipient is not left without support.

We stay involved. This is not a handover and goodbye. We check in regularly, support with any training questions, and step in if something is not working. The relationship with the family or institution continues well after the dog goes home.

It is a fair question. Human caregivers are essential and we are not here to replace them. But a trained assistance dog offers something a caregiver cannot - constant presence, unconditional consistency, and no shift changes. A dog does not clock out. For many people with disabilities, the combination of a caregiver and an assistance dog gives them a level of independence that neither could provide alone. And for those who cannot afford or access caregivers - India has 26.8 million persons with disabilities (Census 2011) and a severe shortage of trained caregivers - a dog may be the most reliable support they have.

You can love a dog deeply and still not have the skills to train it for assistance or therapy work. This is specialised training built over 18 to 24 months using structured protocols. Most pet owners do not have access to the knowledge, the time, or the consistency this requires. A HeartDogs dog has been assessed, trained, and placed with care - a pet dog has not.

Labradors and Golden Retrievers are popular in assistance dog programmes in the West because they were bred for certain traits. But they also carry a greater burden of inherited genetic disorders than landrace populations - hip dysplasia, eye conditions, and more - that shorten their working lives and add to costs. Indies are healthier, hardier, and already adapted to the Indian climate and environment. And frankly, relying on specialised breeding programmes when millions of street dogs are already here is hard to justify. (Learn more about the Indie dog)

No. The outcomes we are working toward are measurable - a person with a disability gaining independence, a therapy dog reducing patient anxiety in a hospital ward, a woman in rural India earning her own income. India has 26.8 million persons with disabilities (Census 2011), 197.3 million people living with a mental health condition (Lancet, 2017), and 76.9 percent of women in rural India remain in agriculture due to lack of opportunity (PLFS 2023-24). The need is real and documented. We track every dog, every outcome, and every placement.

HeartDogs Enablement Foundation is a registered Section 8 non-profit - Licence No. 187745. We are accountable to the law, to our donors, and to the people we work with. Our costs are documented, our outcomes are tracked, and we are building toward full public reporting. If you want to know where your money goes, ask us. We will tell you.

Yes. Corporate sponsors can fund a dog's full training journey - from rescue to placement. We will keep you updated through the process and connect you with the impact your support has made. Reach us through the Connect page.

We understand why sponsors would want to. To protect the dogs' routines and welfare during training, visits are limited and arranged only when appropriate. Sponsors receive regular updates - photos, progress notes, and milestones - throughout the dog's journey. When a visit makes sense, we will arrange it. Get in touch to find out more.

One. Each foster-trainer raises one dog at a time. This is deliberate - the consistency and attention a dog needs during its formative months cannot be split across multiple animals. The one-woman, one-dog model is central to what makes our training work.

Yes - and that is the plan. The model is designed to scale through more villages, more foster-trainers, and more cohorts running in parallel. What does not change at scale is the standard. Every dog still goes through the same selection, the same home raising, the same training protocol, and the same assessment. We are not going to move faster than the quality allows.

More villages. More women in rural India trained as foster-trainers. More dogs in the programme at any given time. The coordination becomes more complex, but the unit - one woman, one dog, one home - stays the same. That is what makes it replicable. Growth will never come at the expense of welfare or training quality.