Welcome to P.E.T.S

Pets Education Training Support is a professional dog training business located in Swan Bay, Richmond Valley in the beautiful Northern Rivers of NSW.

P.E.T.S primarily provides an assistance dog coaching service for people diagnosed with a disability, who are aiming to train their own dog to Public Access Test (PAT) standards.

We service our local area of Woodburn, Evans Head and Coraki, and travel between Ballina, Lismore, Casino, Lennox Head and Yamba offering our clients a high standard of personalised training and support.

assistance dog training

At P.E.T.S we use up-to-date, science-based, positive reinforcement training methods. This method of training helps to promote a positive relationship based on trust and understanding, which is paramount for creating the bond needed for an Assistance Dog team.

P.E.T.S ensures the handler and dog are supported throughout the training process and beyond into the handler and dog’s working life together. Our programs are flexible and customised to suit each specific team. The handler is guided step by step through the training process from understanding the theory behind how dogs learn, through to training specific tasks to support the individual’s needs.

We also offer private training for companion dog owners in the Northern Rivers who are needing assistance with basic manners or with training for emotional support/therapy (visitation) dogs. As well, we offer training for new puppy owners, ensuring they get off to the right start. Setting people up for a wonderful future with a well-mannered canine citizen is our primary goal.

We DO NOT perform Public Access Testing (PAT) for teams who have not completed training with us.

We DO NOT provide pre-trained Assistance Dogs.

Am I fully prepared to owner train an Assistance Dog?

Financial commitment involved with owner trained Assistance Dog training & certification: P.E.T.S is a privately run small business, which is not affiliated with a charity or organistation. There are charges for the services that I provide, and you need to consider if you are financially equipped to take on this long term commitment. Training your dog to a high standard will require a considerable amount of money and if you are not prepared for this financial outlay then owner training may not be the right path for you.

Important points to consider…

Consider what aids or supports you currently use to mitigate the effects of your disability. Can you describe how a dog would do a better job? Just wanting a dog that can go everywhere with you, is not a valid reason for needing an Assistance Dog. Take some time to think about what you would like the dog to be able to do for you, including what specific tasks you believe they could be trained to do to help assist you. Write these down so that your trainer can go through them with you and discuss whether or not they are realistic goals.

Consider what aids or supports you currently use to mitigate the effects of your disability. Can you describe how a doDo you have support from a licensed health care professional regarding training an Assistance Dog? Have you already talked to them about how you feel an assistance dog could help support you as part of your health management program? Also, are they happy to communicate with the trainer to discuss your training needs during your journey together?

Do you fully understand what the expectations and commitments are regarding training and owning an Assistance Dog? Your dog will be by your side most of the time in its role as your support. It is important to talk with family members to make sure everyone is on board. Also, are you prepared to have the public know you have a disability? Assistance Dogs attract attention and you will often be approached by members of the public wanting to ask you questions about your dog and how it supports you. Are you prepared to talk to members of the public about Assistance Dogs and their role in the community?

Will you be able to meet the dogs’ exercise, enrichment, grooming, feeding, veterinary and play needs? It is important that you are able to provide for the 5 Domains of Animal Welfare – 1. Nutrition 2. Environment 3. Health 4. Behavioural interactions 5. Mental state.

What is your support system? Do you have backup help with training and caring for your dog if needed? Do you have someone who can look after your dog if you are sick or need to stay in hospital? Your dog will not be ready to go into all public places when starting out, so you need to consider where your dog will be during these times.

Do you have a disability that will negatively impact the raising and training of your dog? Environmental factors play a big role in puppy development. People with certain levels of anxieties may not be good candidates for raising a puppy of their own for Assistance Dog work. Some pups may become anxious themselves and can be difficult to train to respond to anxiety attacks. Also, are you physically able to train your own assistance dog? The level of communication between handler and dog is important for their overall success as a team. Sometimes the purchase of an already fully trained Assistance Dog is more suitable.

Will you have the time to train your dog every day? Whilst training will fit into your daily routine and lifestyle, it is still something you will need to engage with each day. Most people will need around 12-24 months of consistent training to get to a level needed to pass the Public Access Test (PAT), so you can start to appreciate the amount of time that goes into training an assistance dog. Are you ready for that level of long term commitment?

Do you have access to transport to train your dog in different locations? This may be your own car, a friend or relative who can drive you around, or perhaps a support worker who engages in support with you regularly each week. You will initially start the training process in your own home, where we can teach your dog, the foundations needed in an optimal learning environment. However, as we progress through the different levels of training, you will need to be able to access places like parks and shopping centres to participate in the public access training component.

Your Dog, MUST LOVE DOGS!

Be prepared for the life stages your dog will go through. From puppyhood, through adolescence and then your aging dog and it’s needs. You will need to navigate fear periods and behaviour challenges and continue with maintenance training throughout their working life. You will also need to consider their changing needs as they age and prepare for retirement. Then finally, looking at the idea of purchasing and training a new Assistance Dog candidate. Not all decisions will be easy, but they are all important parts of the journey.

Training Your Dog

Training your dog is a lifelong job. You never stop training (or learning). However, you put in a lot of hard work in the first few years. Dogs are generally not mature enough, physically, or emotionally, to cope with all the stress of Assistance Dog work until they are at least 2 years of age. You need to be able to train your dog within your daily routine to progress through the different levels of training. Basic Skills – Advanced Skills – Task Training – Public Access – PAT – Maintenance Training.

It is a journey, not a race. Enjoy the ride. Don’t be in a rush to get to the finish line. Throughout the journey you are going to give your dog the necessary skills and experience needed to handle different situations and the ability to work in many different environments. Increasing distractions, working on generalising behaviours and teaching your dog how to relax and settle are all key points to cover. All of this can be trained in pet friendly places like pet shops, bunnings, parks and cafes. There is no need to rush the dog into public access training until they are ready.

Handling the pressure

Can you handle the pressure of owner training? The training process is difficult and time consuming. You will be constantly educating the public about Assistance Dog laws as they attract a lot of attention. You will also be required to maintain training logs and records. Training can be expensive and is ongoing. An important consideration is that the dog may not end up being suitable for Assistance Dog work. Even after you have put in a lot of time and money training it. If this happens, will you keep it as a pet?

AND NO… You can’t take your dog out EVERYWHERE STRAIGHT AWAY!

Final Thoughts…

Choose your breed carefully (BEFORE purchasing). See our ‘Thinking of getting a puppy’ page.

Research the breed of dog you choose including common health issues and breed characteristics

Be realistic with the expectations you have of your dog – they are not humans!

Choose an appropriate breed for your requirements: a chihuahua is NOT suitable for mobility support

The first 12 months of your dogs’ life are for letting them be a dog. Learning social skills, experiencing different environments, interacting with friends and family and learning good foundation skills

You need to learn to speak dog! Learn the early signs of stress and understand your dogs’ body language