Dogs Trust
Dogs Trust is the UK's largest dog welfare charity, operating 22 rehoming centres and rehoming more than 11,000 dogs annually. It serves UK dog owners through free advice, paid behaviour training (£90–£290), and social support programmes for vulnerable owners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1891
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Dogs Trust does
Dogs Trust is the United Kingdom's largest dog welfare charity, founded in 1891 and headquartered in London, operating as a registered nonprofit (charity numbers 1167663 and SC053144, company number 09365971) under chief executive Owen Sharp. Its core offering is dog rehoming through a network of 22 rehoming centres spread across the UK and Ireland, complemented by a Dog Advice Hub of free expert content on training, health, and puppy care. The charity rehomes over 11,000 dogs annually and runs a free Behaviour Support Line alongside paid behaviour training priced at £90 (1-to-1 session), £135 (Reactive Dog Package), and £290 (Specialist Behaviour Package, requiring veterinary referral), with discounts of up to 85% for lower-income households.
The organisation is funded primarily through public donations, legacy gifts, Gift Aid contributions, and corporate grants (including a $50,000 grant from the PEDIGREE Foundation in November 2023), supplemented by retail income from Dogs Trust charity shops and the paid behaviour services. Its customer base spans UK dog owners seeking adoption, training, or welfare advice, prospective dog owners needing pre-purchase guidance, vulnerable owners supported through the Freedom Project (domestic abuse), Hope Project (homelessness), Canine Care Card (future-care planning), and a Cost of Living Support programme, plus other welfare organisations such as the RSPCA, with which Dogs Trust jointly handled large-scale multi-animal rescues (e.g., 250+ poodle-cross dogs in April 2026).
Dogs Trust runs the annual National Dog Survey, which informed its estimate that the UK dog population is approximately 13 million (over four million higher than prior figures), and distributes services directly via its website (dogstrust.org.uk), a 600,000+ subscriber newsletter, in-person coaching at multiple centres, and the free telephone Behaviour Support Line (0303 003 6666). Its infrastructure is non-technological in nature, focused on physical centres, trained behaviour staff, volunteers, and donor stewardship rather than software or platform architecture.
Dogs Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dogs Trust
- Legal name
- Dogs Trust
- Website
- https://dogstrust.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1891
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Dogs Trust is the UK's largest dog welfare charity, operating 22 rehoming centres and rehoming more than 11,000 dogs annually. It serves UK dog owners through free advice, paid behaviour training (£90–£290), and social support programmes for vulnerable owners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dogs Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal Welfare & Dog Rehoming Services
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK)
Keywords
Where Dogs Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices23 records
Markets served
Dogs Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Dogs Trust operates as a registered charity (numbers 1167663 and SC053144) funded primarily through public donations, legacies, and supporter contributions. Donations are tax exempt and Gift Aid can be claimed.
- Behaviour Services: Paid behaviour training services including 1-to-1 sessions, reactive dog packages, and specialist behaviour support. Revenue supports the charity's operational costs while providing discounted or free services to those in need.
- Retail (Our Shops): The charity operates retail shops selling pet-related merchandise, with proceeds supporting dog welfare activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Behaviour Support Line - Free telephone service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 1-to-1 Behaviour Training Session |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Reactive Dog Package |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Specialist Behaviour Package |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Dogs Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dogs Trust is the UK's largest dog welfare charity. It rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes surrendered, abandoned and stray dogs through a nationwide network of rehoming centres, and never puts a healthy dog down. It also operates a free behaviour support helpline, runs Dog School training classes, and delivers welfare education and campaigning aimed at improving dog welfare laws and owner awareness.
Product overview
Dogs Trust operates as the UK's largest dog welfare charity, offering a comprehensive suite of services organised around dog rehoming, behaviour support, and owner education. The core offering consists of dog rehoming through 23 centres across the UK and Ireland, complemented by a tiered behaviour support service comprising a free Behaviour Support Line, paid 1-to-1 Behaviour Training (£90), Reactive Dog Package (£135), and Specialist Behaviour Package (£290). The charity also provides specialist support programmes including the Freedom Project for domestic abuse survivors, Hope Project for the homeless, and the Canine Care Card for future planning. An extensive Dog Advice Hub delivers free expert content on training, health, wellbeing, and puppy care. Additional programmes include fostering, dog sponsorship, volunteering, fundraising, and the annual National Dog Survey research initiative.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Dog Rehoming Service Service for the general public through which Dogs Trust takes in surrendered, stray or abandoned dogs, assesses them, and rehomes them to vetted new owners; available across the UK and Ireland.
- Canine Behaviour Support Helpline Free phone-based advice service for dog owners seeking guidance on canine behaviour issues, helping reduce the number of dogs surrendered due to preventable behavioural problems.
- Dog School Training Classes Paid group training courses for puppies, adolescents and owners needing structured obedience and socialisation training, delivered by qualified instructors at local Dog School venues.
- Charity Shop and Branded Merchandise Sale of donated and Dogs Trust branded merchandise through physical charity shops and online store, with proceeds funding the charity's dog welfare work.
- Sponsor a Dog Programme Recurring donation programme through which supporters fund the care of a specific named dog while it lives at a Dogs Trust rehoming centre.
- Education and Campaign Programme Schools outreach, owner education materials and policy campaigning activities aimed at improving dog welfare legislation and public awareness.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 11,000 dogs rehomed annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Dogs Trust
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Dogs Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Dogs Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- RSPCAmajorThe RSPCA and Dogs Trust collaborate on large-scale animal rescue operations. In April 2026, over 250 poodle-cross dogs were rescued from a single overcrowded property, with RSPCA taking 87 dogs into care and Dogs Trust absorbing the remaining animals. The partnership addresses the significant increase (70% since 2021) in multi-animal neglect cases across England and Wales, with Dogs Trust providing overflow capacity for overwhelmed partner organisations.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Dogs Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RSPCA: The UK's largest general animal welfare charity; runs rescue centres, an inspectorate, and rehoming services that directly overlap with Dogs Trust's core offering, and is the most natural peer in the dog-welfare space.
- Wood Green, The Animals Charity: UK pet welfare charity running a large rehoming centre in Hertfordshire plus community programmes; competes with Dogs Trust for adopters, donors, and behaviour-services customers in the South East.
- The Blue Cross: UK pet welfare charity offering rehoming, behaviour support, and pet bereavement services. Comparable in mission mix and reliance on donations/legacies, with a smaller centre footprint.
- PDSA: UK's leading veterinary charity providing low-cost vet care to pet owners in need; complementary rather than competitive, with overlapping donor and volunteer bases and a shared cost-of-living support narrative.
- Mayhew: London-based animal welfare charity with rehoming, community veterinary, and education programmes. Comparable in operating model and donor base, though at a much smaller scale.
- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home: Another major UK rehoming charity with physical centres in London, Old Windsor, and Brands Hatch. Directly comparable in mission (dog rehoming, behaviour advice, fundraising) and donor base.
Regional players
- Scottish SPCA: Scotland's primary animal welfare charity, running rehoming centres and an inspectorate. Operates in an overlapping space but with a Scotland-only geographic remit where Dogs Trust also has centres (Dundee, Glasgow, West Calder).
Others
- Cats Protection: UK's largest feline welfare charity, structurally similar (charity status, rehoming centres, donation model, advice hub). Useful as a category benchmark for charity scale and digital engagement, even though its species focus differs.
Broad incumbents
- ASPCA: The largest US animal welfare organisation, offering rehoming, behaviour, and policy advocacy. Indirect peer — different geography and a broader species mandate — but a useful proxy for the size and scope an animal welfare charity can achieve.
Emerging players
- The Kennel Club: UK's primary dog breed and registration body. Adjacent rather than directly competing, but the Kennel Club's interest in responsible breeding and breed education overlaps with Dogs Trust's puppy-buying and breed-advice content.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dogs Trust social profiles
Digital presenceDogs Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dogs Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Dogs Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dogs Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dogs Trust
What does Dogs Trust do?
Dogs Trust is the UK's largest dog welfare charity. It rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes surrendered, abandoned and stray dogs through a nationwide network of rehoming centres, and never puts a healthy dog down. It also operates a free behaviour support helpline, runs Dog School training classes, and delivers welfare education and campaigning aimed at improving dog welfare laws and owner awareness.
Is Dogs Trust a public or private company?
Dogs Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Dogs Trust founded?
Dogs Trust was founded in 1891. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Dogs Trust based?
Dogs Trust is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Dogs Trust make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are behaviour Services and retail (Our Shops).
Who are Dogs Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RSPCA, Wood Green, The Animals Charity, The Blue Cross, PDSA, Mayhew and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Scottish SPCA is listed as a regional player. Cats Protection is listed as an others. ASPCA is listed as a broad incumbent. The Kennel Club is listed as an emerging player.
Does Dogs Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dogs Trust.
What industry is Dogs Trust in?
Dogs Trust's product category is Animal Welfare & Dog Rehoming Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAA, Animal Shelters & Adoption Services, with a secondary code of AFAEALAB, Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations. Its NAICS code is 8134 and its SIC code is 8300.