How does a puppy become an Assistance Dog?

It doesn’t happen overnight! And it takes patience, time and money. Did you know that it takes 24 months to train an Assistance Dog, nine years of support – and costs around $26,000? You’ll find out more about how it all works if you sponsor your own super puppy, but for now, here are two interesting features of puppy training:

They take the bus just like we do...

From a very early age we introduce the puppies to be able to go on to public transport so that their team mate can get out and about, go to the shops, go to uni or visit friends and family. These clever little fluff balls even know to curl up tightly into their owners chair so that they don’t get in the way of anyone having to stand nearby

They can help you cross the road!

Yes they can. Each Assistance Dog is trained to press the button at the lights to enable their team mate to cross the road safely.

 

                                                          The Training…

0 to 8 weeks

Your tiny puppy is living with its mum and siblings. As well as playing, exploring and napping, the puppy will have its first set of health checks and immunisations at 6 weeks. Early socialisation experiences start around 2 weeks of age.

8 weeks to 4 months        

Your puppy has now moved to its Puppy Raisers’ home. During these crucial months, the dog will be toilet trained, start learning good manners and basic commands, such as ‘sit’ and ‘down’ – as well as how to walk on the lead.

4 to 18 months

Your puppy is learning and doing so much, now is the time where they visit lots of new places and see lots of new things all to make them aware of what their working life may lead.

The puppies practice on different types of flooring from pavement and grass, to the tricky slidy floors, slate and wood. They visit shopping centres, go up and down in lifts, go to the supermarket, visit beaches, parks, schools and doctor’s surgeries. They get on buses, trains and trams and learn how to travel calmly and confidently.   

The pups also practice new cues such as ‘counter’ and ‘lap’ in busy and distracting environments like shopping centres and city centres. They learn how to lie calmly and wait for longer and longer periods such as at a restaurant, a meeting or in the movies.

The puppies attend weekly/fortnightly training classes during this time and also practice playing nicely with different people and other dogs. 

18-23 Months

Time for big school! Now your super pup is mature enough to learn all the advanced skills that they need to be able to help someone with a physical disability. They will learn cool task like:

  • Pressing the buttons at the traffic lights
  • Taking out bottles from the fridge
  • Picking up the phone
  • Alert barking
  • Opening and closing doors, drawers, wardrobes and cupboards
  • Picking up specific items
  • Pulling of items of clothing like socks and jumpers

Many of the super pups also get an opportunity to travel in the cabin of an aeroplane at this stage.

Plus lots, lots more!

23-24 Months

All the time your super pup has been at big school, its trainer has been assessing all his or her abilities and personality traits to see who the pup would be an ideal team mate for. Once this adult or child has been identified, the trainer will work with the dog on the applicants specific needs. This could be all sorts of things, from practical things like the person is stronger on their right hand side so they’d like the dog to always walk that side, or they’d like the dog to be able to pick up items they often drop like their computer mouse or toys. We look at each individual’s specific needs and address these. This has meant that part of their training our dogs have been taken to rock concerts, bike tracks, sat on stages to applause!

24 Months +

Congratulations – you are the sponsor of a fully trained Assistance Dog!

A trainer and your pup will undertake 7-10 days training in the new team mate’s home, ensuring that the partnership is a perfect match. From then on Assistance Dogs trainers will always be on hand to offer support, and your pup will take yearly public access tests.

How fantastic-your Assistance Dog has changed a person’s life forever!

Sign me up to sponsor a puppy now!

 

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                                                          Sponsor a pup today!