"Assistance Dog" is a term used worldwide to describe all sorts of dogs that assist people with a disability.  The term includes Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs, Service Dogs, Seizure Alert Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Medical Response Dogs and Facility Dogs.

Canine Helpers trains four of the above types of Assistance Dog, which are listed below. The purpose of each and every one of our dogs is to improve the quality of the lives of those with whom they work.  Each type of dog does this in different ways.  Each individual dog is trained differently and performs different tasks, but the net result is the same: increased independence, improved quality of life and alleviation of the handler's disability.

Assistance Dogs change lives.

The links below provide more information about the different types of dog provided by Canine Helpers. There is also a link for those who have already trained their own dog to assist them and wish to have it formally recognised by Canine Helpers as an Assistance Dog. Please feel free to investigate these links.

For more detailed information about the training standards of Canine Helpers dogs, please click here: Training standards

For answers to frequently asked questions about applications, please click here: Applications.

Service Dogs  Service Dogs provide physical assistance to people unable to perform certain tasks for themselves due to a physical disability. Amongst other things, they can carry and retrieve items, open and close doors, press switches and sometimes help propel a manual wheelchair.

Hearing Dogs  Hearing Dogs alert people with hearing difficulties to various sounds in their environment. They may be trained to alert to sounds like the phone, alarms, door knocking or a person's name, which increases the safety and independence of the hearing impaired.

Facility Dogs  Facility Dogs are trained to interact with the clients of a facility in ways that help achieve their educational, therapeutic or behavioural goals. They are handled by one or more staff members or volunteers at the facility. The facilities usually served include special schools, aged care facilities, and rehabilitation services.

Therapy Dogs  Therapy Dogs are placed in homes with people with disabilities who do not need physical assistance with daily tasks, but who will benefit from the help of a trained dog in other ways. In addition, children with physical disabilities who may be eligible for a Service Dog in the future will often be given a Therapy Dog as a first step towards this. Most recipients of Therapy Dogs have emotional or intellectual disabilities, or severe medical conditions.

Private Certification  In limited circumstances Canine Helpers may be able to certify a dog that has been trained (or is being trained) by its owner to assist them with their disability. There are strict conditions to when this applies. Please read this link carefully.