COMPANION DOG TRAINING
STEP BY STEP GUIDE HOW WE CAN HELP TRAIN AND CERTIFY A COMPANION DOG
Requirements
- Have a dog (from puppy to 7 years).
- Fill in an initial client application form (download available below).
- Undertake a suitability assessment. A face-to-face meeting to ascertain the suitability of your dog to undertake the required task/s (FREE)
- Undertake training. Training will be dependent on your requirements but also the age, breed and level of current obedience and behaviour.
- Get certified by passing PAT test.
Companion Dogs
Australian Human Rights Commission states – ‘Assistance animals’ are not pets, but rather are highly trained disability support services that enable a person with a disability to safely participate in personal and public life activities. We can help with this training.
Key Facts
Companion dogs are a type of support service to help people with a disability. (GP or specialist letter stating this is required.)
A dog must get special training to become a companion dog and assist a person with a disability.
Owners of companion dogs have the right to take their animals into public places.
States and territories are responsible for how assistance dog schemes get regulated. The Victorian Department of Agriculture states that ‘Public Transport Victoria’ can issue a travel pass as a service dog upon completion of a Public Access Test taken by a relevant, experienced qualified dog trainer. We can help with this training and certification.
There are a number of steps as listed above to achieve this certification.
Presuming you have a dog or about to get one you will need to fill in and submit an initial application form answering various questions including your general requirements. There is no cost or obligation at this stage.
Upon the application being assessed and approved by Secret Dogs Business, a face to face meeting/further assessment will be undertaken including an initial dog assessment. If you are funded by NDIS, your carer or case worker would be required to be in attendance. No cost or obligation.
Training
If we feel we can help with your and your dog’s training, we will prepare an individual training proposal that includes the training provided (face-to-face, notes, classes, etc), plus our costs. If the proposal is accepted by you/the carer organisation (perhaps via NDIS) and is signed by all parties, and an invoice is prepared and paid and training commences.
Once training commences a monthly report of the training is supplied including listing all visitations, locations and what training has been undertaken and progress. Please note videos and pictures are taken regularly to document training and training progress.
Please also note that to ensure the maximise effectiveness of all training sessions, we supply all relevant dog training equipment. This cost is in addition to the training costs.
Once training has been completed, a full ‘status’ report is prepared and supplied to you/your support worker/organisation. If further training is required a further training proposal will be supplied or if training is deemed to be completed sitting for the Public Access Test can be arranged,
PUBLIC ACCESS TEST (PAT)
A Public Access Test can be undertaken over several visits including visitation to public areas and various public transport. This is lodged with the Public Transport Victoria. Further costs are available upon request.
Annual re-assessments are then undertaken. An annual charge applies.
- Common Questions 50%
What is a typical cost of training a companion dog?
Costs will vary depending on the age, level of aptitude and training a dog already has, and the level of commitment the owner has. But as a guide a typical cost may run from $5000.
How long does the training generally take? It may take from between six and twelve months to get to a point when a team is ready to be certified, however there are many variables it can be done quicker and sometimes longer.
- 50%
What is my dog fails? There are cases where dogs are simply not up to the task to become qualified companion dogs, which is always sad and often no ones fault. The decision will then need to made do you move that dog on and try another, or simply live with you loving pet dog.
Is there any backup service provided? We here at Secret Dogs Business provide on going service for the life of dog (annual cost
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