Is Your Dog a Good Fit for Therapy Dog Work?
- Therapy Dogs
Getting a service dog certified in Australia may feel complex. This guide breaks it down simply. You’ll learn what qualifies, what’s required, and how to get started.
A service dog is more than a pet. An assistance dog is specially trained to help someone with disability. These dogs perform tasks that alleviate the effect of a disability. This includes helping people with physical, psychiatric, sensory, or neurological conditions.
Dogs that meet the legal definition of an assistance animal are allowed in public places. Their behaviour and hygiene must meet public access standards. These animals are not emotional support pets. They are trained to help people with disabilities in specific ways.
In Australia, an assistance animal is defined under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. This law protects the rights of individuals with disabilities. It grants public access rights to their assistance animal. Businesses and services must allow entry to a person and their dog in a public place, including public transport.
To qualify, the dog should be trained by or under the guidance of an animal training organisation. It must demonstrate behaviour appropriate for an animal in a public place. This includes not causing disruption or risk.
There are different types of assistance dogs. Some are trained to guide people who are blind. Others support people with hearing impairments or PTSD. Some dogs help with mobility, while others alert to medical conditions.
Dogs that pass a public access test are legally protected. While therapy dogs and emotional support animals bring comfort, they do not have the right of entry like accredited assistance dogs.
Service dog certificates show your dog meets the required standard. Certification improves confidence in public spaces. It provides clarity to business owners, staff, and service providers.
It also helps avoid disputes when out in public. Certification typically includes an ID card and proof of training
If you’re the owner of an assistance dog, your responsibilities matter. You must control the dog at all times. It should be clean, well-behaved, and not a health risk. Your animal also needs to pass a testing to prove this.
This helps ensure assistance dogs are trusted and welcomed in public spaces. It supports the rights of all people who rely on assistance dogs.
To become an assistance dog handler, you must have a disability. The disability must impact your daily life. You’ll also need to show that the dog helps alleviate the effect of that disability.
There are two main options:
We can support both paths at Paws for support.
Not all dogs are ready to become an assistance animal. A service dog must be calm, attentive, and resilient in busy places. The animal should show strong trainability and consistent focus. Breeds like Labradors and Poodles are often chosen, but mixed breeds can also be suitable. The dog should be capable of meeting the minimum standards of hygiene and behaviour. But what matters most is whether t he dog can be specifically trained to perform tasks that alleviate the effect of a disability in public settings.
Your dog must be specially trained to assist someone living with disability. It also needs to behave appropriately in public.
This is assessed through a public access test. The test ensures the dog is trained to:
We offer pre-assessments, guidance, and referrals to a training organisation. This helps ensure your dog passes the test.
Once your dog passes the PAT, you may register it as an assistance dog. States like Queensland and Western Australia have their own systems. You’ll usually get an ID card that confirms your dog is accredited.
Registration helps when accessing public spaces. It makes travel on public transport and visits to shops, schools, and clinics easier.
An emotional support dog offers comfort but is not legally protected. These dogs are not trained to assist a person with a specific task. They don’t have public access rights under the Australian Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
However, therapy dog certification may be a good fit. It’s ideal for people who want to acknowledge their dog’s emotional support role. This includes NDIS participants, carers, and families.
Owning an assistance dog is a long-term commitment. Dogs must be re-tested regularly to ensure they meet standards. This includes a repeat public access test to maintain accreditation.
We help with ongoing support, training updates, and certification renewal.
We make the certification journey easier. We offer guidance, training referrals, and flexible support. Whether you need full training or just a public access test, we’re here to help.
Let’s work together to make your dog a certified assistance animal.
Need help? Contact us to book a consultation today.
Hundreds of Australians have joined the paws for support crew – creating real impact in schools, clinics, aged care and beyond. You can too.
to see if you and your dog are ready.
