Mobility Task Assistance Dogs
Physical Disability Assistance Dogs are taught Mobility tasks that will help the person who may not be able to perform them due to their disability. These disabilities can include Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Motor Neuron Disease (MND), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)and other physical conditions.
The demand for pre-trained dogs is high, with a long wait list and at a great cost, so it often more cost effective and faster to train your existing dog if it is proved to be suitable.
I can assist you with training your dog to do tasks that will greatly enhance your quality of life. These tasks will include but not limited to, retrieving items, opening cupboards and doors, removing articles of clothing, and alerting caregivers when you require help. These tasks obviously require time, effort, and commitment to training, so the owner/caregiver must be prepared and able to train the dog on their own.
Once the dog knows the basics, we can extend the tasks further. Unfortunately, not all dogs will be able to be trained in this capacity, but an assessment will be able to ascertain the potential of the dog.
When deciding if you would like to train your dog to assist with tasks that you are finding difficult to undertake yourself, certain factors will need to be considered. The suitability of your dog, whether you would like the dog to just be an “in-home” emotional support dog or whether you want your dog to go through the additional process of becoming certified for Public Access.
This area of training is a lengthy process to ensure that the reliability and appropriate performance of the tasks in public situations (if you are going down the PAT certification route) is effective. This time period for documented reliable performance will be at least 6 months so there will be at least 12 months of training, if not more involved. Dogs should be at least 18 months of age before they begin the arduous requirements that this work entails.
If you are interested in this training, I will arrange a Zoom consult to discuss your particulars. If everything is right, we can arrange an in-person consult to assess your dog and start the process
Steph W.
"Yvonne has worked with my dog, Rory since he was 10 weeks old. Yvonne eased my worries about his training and been the post I know I can lean on. She not only knows how to interact with the dog but understands the gentle balance between training and caring for the human. Her methods of force free and clicker training have been amazing for Rory, allowing him the independence to make good decisions.
Thanks to Yvonne's guidance, Rory is well on his way to becoming an assistance dog. I can’t thank Yvonne enough for walking into my life and steering Rory and I on the right course."
Kylie P."We started working with Yvonne a year ago after we decided to owner-train a dog as a physical, hearing and psychiatric assistance animal. Yvonne took all of that complexity in her stride and immediately established a strong bond with not only our dog but also our whole family. She trains us and the dog with infinite patience and calm. She is always available for advice and encouragement and instils in us a sense of confidence - the most common refrain in our house is 'we love Yvonne'. Thanks to Yvonne, at one, our dog is already able to open a drawer or fridge, he can hold and retrieve things for my daughter and, most importantly, he is a loved member of our family - he is amazing! Yvonne is one of the kindest and most caring people we have met, she understands how to work with people with anxiety and how to help you get the best out of your dog. Our dog absolutely loves Yvonne and you will too." | Video Demonstrations |