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Is an Assistance Dog right for you?

What's involved

Expenses

Costs involved

Dog purchased from high-standards breeder

Health Insurance

Vet assessment

Vet bills (Desexing, vaccinations, flea&worm ect.)

Premium food (per year)

Equipment (Bed, collar, training pouch ect.)

Assistance dog jacket

Public Access Test

$2500+

$1000

$500

$1000+

$800+

$300+

Dependant on loan agreement

Dependant on factors surrounding test

NDIS covers only the training sessions in which support work is provided, this means the above mentioned expenses are of a personal cost to the handler. Cost of the session is $130.94 as per the NDIS support worker rate, minimum 2 hours booking. This fee includes a 45minute session, travel time to and from appointment, case-noting and any non face-to-face work which fits into this time. 

Training

At Assistive K9s we provide 1-1 support, helping to give you the knowledge and skills needed to train your own assistance dog. Upon completing our program, you will be provided with a certificate stating you reach assistance dog standards under the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act). From here we strongly advise you to undergo a PAT by the Dog and Cat management board in order for your pup to become a fully accredited assistance dog, we will assist you in sourcing an assessor and providing documents (where possible) to do so. 

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Training an assistance dog takes a lot of work, including;

  • 2+ years training commitment, plus keeping standards up through rest of working life. (Be prepared that your dog may not be suited for assistance work for a number of different variables, these can come into play at any time in its working/training life). 

  • Recommended 3 monthly check-ins after passing the course, and legal retest every 3 years if completed PAT.

  • Daily training & exercise, including lots of exposure to different environments.

  • Training can be personally difficult, dealing with self-reflection, the attention having an assistance dog can draw in public, the strain on a family, staying consistent and persevering even on tough days.

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Clients must:

  • Be over the age of 18, or have a parent/guardian present at sessions.

  • Commit daily time to train and care for your dog outside of sessions.

  • Be willing to participate, follow instructions and complete weekly homework set.

  • Be available and flexible for appointments.

Caring for a dog

The average working life of an assistance dog is 7 years, after this, it is down to you to retire the dog, and either keep as family pet or chose to rehome/repurpose the dog.

Adequate care of an assistance dog is pivotal when they are working for us humans, this too takes a lot of dedication, including: 

  • Keeping dog healthy and clean

  • Ensuring a balance of work/play lifestyle 

  • Keeping a great trust and bond between each other

  • Ensuring adequate care is provided if handler is away

  • Ensuring regular vet checks and grooming standards are met

  • Proper and fair treatment under government policies (see below)

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It is pivotal to the success of the training experience that the right dog is chosen for the job, this includes work/training drive, ability to carry out selected tasks, adequate health for a life of work, and suitable breed characteristics. We reccomenned to get in touch before buying a dog to help with finding the best breed suited to your needs as well as what to look for in a breeder. 

PAT 

Assistive K9s are members of the IACP and train to their standard of Public Access Test as well as  SA dog and cat management standards.  Public access laws differ between states and countries, we urge you to research before travelling. 

 

If the canine/handler team wishes to undertake their PAT the following requirements are needed to be met:

For the client:

  • Must have a disability defined by the Disability Discrimination Act (1992)

  • Medical certificate providing evidence of handlers disability and need for an assistance dog

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For the dog:

  • Full health check of the dog by registered veterinarian

  • Desexed and up to date with vaccinations

  • No older than 4 years old

  • Is NOT a prescribed breed or a Brachycephalic (short-nose) breed

  • Weigh a minimum of 10% of the handlers adult bodyweight

  • Has no history of aggression towards dogs, people or other animals

  • Has no history of behaviour problems like fear, reactivity or separation anxiety

  • Can perform three or more tasks that mitigate the impact of a disability and ease daily life of their handler

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Training a dog to this standard undertakes a lot of work and is never a guarantee that you or your dog will be suited for this lifestyle. 

Liability & Guarantees

The owner of an Assistance Dog is solely liable for any damage to persons, premises, or facilities including places of public accommodation, public conveyances or transportation services, common carrier of passengers, places of housing accommodations, and places of employment caused by that assistance dog.

An “Individual with a disability”, including but not limited to, the blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or otherwise disabled who uses an Assistance Dog shall keep the dog properly harnessed or Leashed, and a person who is injured by the dog because of an “Individual with a disability” is entitled to maintain a cause of action for damages in a court of competent jurisdiction under the same laws applicable to other causes brought for the redress of injuries caused by animals.

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Assistive K9s does not guarantee a successful completion of the training of your dog to “Assistance Dog status” as there are too many variables and one experience can be enough to greatly impact all future training and behaviours. 

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Your dog will be required to wear an Assistive K9s jacket throughout any training and working in public access spaces, this will be charged separately to training fees. Upon purchase of a Assistive K9s jacket - you will be required to sign a form which agrees to loan the jacket for a fee, this will be returned to you at the end of your dogs working life upon return of jacket and any identifying badges as long as the jacket remains in good condition.

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Policies we adhere to, and expect clients to do the same:

  • Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth), (s9)

  • Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 (SA)

  • Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA)

If evidence is found of non-compliance, you will be immediately discontinued from the program and a report may be made.

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