ASSISTANCE AND THERAPY DOGS
assistance dogs
Assistance dogs are much more than well-trained pets. They are specially trained working dogs that help a person with disability carry out everyday tasks, increase independence and participate more safely and confidently in daily life.
Depending on their handler’s needs, an assistance dog may be trained to:
Pick up dropped items or retrieve objectsOpen or close doorsAssist with mobility-related tasksAlert to certain medical eventsSupport a person who is Deaf or hard of hearingInterrupt or respond to behaviours associated with psychiatric disabilityCreate space or provide trained support during overwhelming situationsGuide a person with vision impairment
In Australia, an assistance animal can be recognised under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 when it meets the relevant requirements, including being trained to alleviate the effects of a person’s disability and meeting appropriate standards of behaviour and hygiene in public.
An assistance dog also needs a very high standard of behaviour. Public-access work requires a dog that can remain calm, controlled and appropriately behaved around people, other animals, food, noise and busy environments.
It’s also important to understand the difference between an assistance dog, therapy dog and emotional support animal. An assistance dog is individually trained to perform tasks related to a person’s disability; companionship alone does not make a dog an assistance animal under Australian federal law.
Behind every successful assistance dog is an enormous amount of training, careful selection, consistency and teamwork between dog and handler.
They are working dogs doing an incredibly important job, so when you see an assistance dog working in public, the best thing you can do is give them space and avoid distracting them unless their handler invites interaction. K9 Connections is accredited to assess assistance dogs, supporting handlers and their dogs through the assessment process and helping ensure teams meet the standard expected for safe, appropriate work in the community.
Depending on their handler’s needs, an assistance dog may be trained to:
Pick up dropped items or retrieve objectsOpen or close doorsAssist with mobility-related tasksAlert to certain medical eventsSupport a person who is Deaf or hard of hearingInterrupt or respond to behaviours associated with psychiatric disabilityCreate space or provide trained support during overwhelming situationsGuide a person with vision impairment
In Australia, an assistance animal can be recognised under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 when it meets the relevant requirements, including being trained to alleviate the effects of a person’s disability and meeting appropriate standards of behaviour and hygiene in public.
An assistance dog also needs a very high standard of behaviour. Public-access work requires a dog that can remain calm, controlled and appropriately behaved around people, other animals, food, noise and busy environments.
It’s also important to understand the difference between an assistance dog, therapy dog and emotional support animal. An assistance dog is individually trained to perform tasks related to a person’s disability; companionship alone does not make a dog an assistance animal under Australian federal law.
Behind every successful assistance dog is an enormous amount of training, careful selection, consistency and teamwork between dog and handler.
They are working dogs doing an incredibly important job, so when you see an assistance dog working in public, the best thing you can do is give them space and avoid distracting them unless their handler invites interaction. K9 Connections is accredited to assess assistance dogs, supporting handlers and their dogs through the assessment process and helping ensure teams meet the standard expected for safe, appropriate work in the community.
therapy dogs
Therapy dogs are specially selected and trained dogs that work alongside their handler to provide comfort, connection and emotional support to people in a variety of settings.
They may visit places such as:
🏥 Hospitals and health facilities
👵 Aged care homes
🏫 Schools and educational programs
💙 Community and wellbeing programs
🧠 Counselling or therapeutic environments
🐾 Support programs for people experiencing stress, grief or anxiety
A good therapy dog needs much more than a friendly personality. They should be calm, confident, sociable and comfortable being handled by different people, while also being able to cope with unfamiliar environments, noises, equipment and situations.
Therapy dogs may help encourage:
💙 Social interaction
🧠 Emotional regulation
😊 Relaxation and reduced stress
🤝 Communication and connection
🐶 Confidence around animals
🌟 Positive experiences during difficult situations
It’s important to understand that a therapy dog is different from an assistance dog. Assistance dogs are individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with disability, while therapy dogs usually work with their handler to support and interact with multiple people.
Therapy dogs also do not automatically have the same public-access rights as assistance dogs.
Most importantly, therapy work should always consider the welfare of the dog. The dog should enjoy the work, be given regular breaks and never be expected to tolerate interactions that make them uncomfortable.
Therapy dog work requires much more than simply having a friendly dog. Dogs need to demonstrate the right temperament, confidence, manners, resilience and ability to remain calm and appropriate in a range of environments. K9 Connections is proud to work as a locum trainer and assessor for Therapy Dogs Australia, supporting therapy dog teams through training, guidance and assessment.
Therapy dog work requires much more than simply having a friendly dog. Dogs need to demonstrate the right temperament, confidence, manners, resilience and ability to remain calm and appropriate in a range of environments. K9 Connections is proud to work as a locum trainer and assessor for Therapy Dogs Australia, supporting therapy dog teams through training, guidance and assessment.
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