My Dog Already Helps Me; Why Get a Certified Assistance Dog?

Many people already rely on their dog for comfort, support, and everyday assistance. So, if your dog already helps you, why should you go through the process of training or getting certified—especially when waitlists with organisations like Guide Dogs Australia can be so long?

The short answer: Certification makes a real difference.
At Paws For Support, we help you take that support to the next level through a structured, recognised, and legally protected certification process for service dogs. Here’s why it matters.

1. Legal Public Access Rights

In Australia, a certified service dog (also called an assistance animal) is legally allowed to accompany you in public spaces—including public transport, shopping centres, and medical clinics.
These rights are protected under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA).

If your dog isn’t certified, those same access rights do not apply—even if your dog behaves perfectly. Therapy dogs and emotional support animals (ESAs) provide comfort, but they are not task-trained and do not have legal public access.

2. Clear ID and Confidence in Public

Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA), you are allowed to take your dog with you in all public places. The certification shows that your dog has passed training and meets standards and gives you and others peace of mind in public places.

3. Rules for behaviour and cleanliness in the community

Your dog needs to pass a Public Access Test (PAT) to be certified. This test shows that they can stay calm, listen to orders, and deal with busy or unpredictable places.

We’ll help you train your dog so that it meets these standards. This is not only to help you but also to keep your dog safe and trustworthy around other people. When your dog acts this way, it makes people trust and respect all service dogs in Australia.

4. Skip the Waitlists with the Owner-Trained Pathway

Yes—organisations like Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs Australia do amazing work. But demand is high, and waitlists can be years long.

At Paws For Support, we offer an owner-trained pathway instead.
That means you train your own dog, and we support you with a structured training programme, expert guidance, and all the resources you need to succeed. We tailor your programme around your needs and can assist with NDIS or other funding options.

5. Recognised Certification Australia-Wide

We’re not just a training provider—we’re a government-approved dog training organisation, recognised for Dog Certification Australia-Wide.

We’re also an Accredited Member of the Australian Association of Professional Dog Trainers, which means your certification holds weight—no matter which state or territory you’re in.

6. Continued Support After Certification

Getting certified is just the beginning. We still help you with:

• Registering your dog (in your state)
• Giving out ID cards and certificate packs for handlers
• Making your legal rights under the Disability Act clear

We also offer annual reassessments that you can choose to take to help your dog keep its certification and confidence over time.

Turn Your Dog’s Support Into Legal Recognition

Your dog is already making a difference.
Let’s make it official.

You make your dog’s role official, get public access rights, and lay the groundwork for independence, health, and daily life by getting Service Dog Certification through Paws For Support.

Start with a free consultation today.
You bring the bond. We’ll help you turn it into a certified team.