What is a Canine Helpers Facility Dog?

A Facility Dog has been trained by Canine Helpers to work with professional caregivers to improve the health and well-being of those in their care. Facility Dogs work in a variety of environments and organisations, including visitation programs, rehabilitation programs, and educational programs.  We currently have facility dogs working in several special schools and The Prince Charles Hospital.

Canine Helpers Facility Dogs are specifically selected for the correct temperament. They are extensively trained in obedience, interactive and working commands, to ensure that they are manageable and enjoyable working partners.

What benefits do Facility Dogs provide?

The work that Facility Dogs do depends on the environment into which they are placed. The acceptance and unconditional love of a dog can provide great relief from feelings of social isolation and depression. In addition, the dog can be taught and directed to interact with individuals with a variety of disabilities and medical conditions. Many studies have shown that companion animals help reduce feelings of isolation, focus attention away from oneself, lower stress and blood pressure etc. Facility Dogs also provide a talking point for better communication.

Facility Dogs are also skilled in commands that, when utilised in conjunction with structured activities or therapies, can enhance and promote various rehabilitation or educational goals and objectives. Some examples of these are to shake hands and play tug-of-war.

Do Facility Dogs have public access?

Facility Dogs do not have public access. They are still issued with an assistance dog identification coat, to be worn within the facility, but they are not allowed anywhere that a pet dog is not permitted.

What is a Facilitator?

In order to obtain the maximum benefit that a Facility Dog can provide, Canine Helpers also extensively trains Facility Dog handlers, called facilitators. Facilitators direct the Facility Dog’s interactions and activities with the individuals that they work with and provide services for.

The primary facilitator is also responsible for the Facility Dog’s care and management at all times, and the facility dog will live with the primary facilitator and their family.

A secondary facilitator(s) can be trained to handle the facility dog within the facility only.

Who can become a Facilitator?

Anyone who works in programs providing rehabilitation, special education, visitation services or extended care services are welcome to apply for training to become a Facility Dog facilitator. This includes professionals in these fields, or volunteers who work in these programs. Canine Helpers requires that the facility or program where the Facility Dog is intended to work participates in the application process.

What is required of a Facilitator in a Facility Team placement?

Facilitators are required to participate in the application process and, if the applicant is accepted as a candidate for the Canine Helpers program, participate in the team training placement class. The facilitator will learn the concepts and skills required to gain canine co-operation, and will be guided in the facilitation techniques that promote the dog interacting with facility clientèle.

Facilitators are also required to assume the responsibility for the Facility Dog’s overall health and well-being at all times. Facility Dogs will reside with the facilitator, who will ensure that the dog’s individual and health care needs are taken care of.

What kind of education and training does Canine Helpers provide for Facilitators?

The team training placement class is a five-day course held in Brisbane. There is a course registration fee due prior to attending a team training class. Canine Helpers provides hands-on handling instruction as well as extensive education about the nature of dogs and the relationship of their working responsiveness to the facilitator’s efforts and expectations. Students will also go on occasional field trips during the class to ensure that they can handle the dogs safely in a variety of environments.

The information covered in the team training placement class includes:

•       The basic nature of the dog and leadership skills required by a handler to gain co-operation;
•       Canine handling approaches and equipment;
•       Canine behaviour and psychology;
•       Canine learning concepts affecting handling, training and behaviour;
•       Canine health and well-being management;
•       Canine nutrition;
•       Facility programs and techniques.

At the conclusion of the placement class, the facilitator must demonstrate the ability to safely and effectively handle the Facility Dog and manage its behaviour in order to graduate with the Facility Dog. Canine Helpers reserves the right NOT to make a placement with any student that cannot demonstrate safe and effective Facility Dog handling or maintenance. In the event that a student attends a class but fails to graduate, the team training course registration fee is NOT refundable; however, the dog training fees are.

The first few weeks and months following the placement class are a critical period of time for the new graduate Facility Dog team. Making the transition from the placement class to the graduate’s home and work environments and lifestyle require just as much effort and attention as was required to successfully complete the training course. This is due to the dog’s need for consistent handling to maintain and “routine-ise” working responsiveness and behaviours. For this reason, Canine Helpers requires that the new graduate team make themselves available for a follow-up visit at the facility as the final part of the placement process. This will occur within the first three months of graduation, and, if the placement is made more than two hours drive from Brisbane, the graduate will be required to finance a Canine Helpers representative traveling to them, as well as accommodation, as required. This follow-up evaluation allows us to assess how the transition is progressing and to provide ongoing guidance and instruction to the new graduate facility team.

What type of support services does Canine Helpers provide for facility team graduates?

Canine Helpers provides ongoing support to our graduate teams for the duration of the placement. For the first six months after graduation, graduates are asked to submit reports concerning their progress and the transition of their handling to the facility and home environments. Canine Helpers also conducts a personal follow-up evaluation with all graduates within the first three months of placement. Graduates are required to fund the travel of a Canine Helpers representative to the facility for this follow up, if it is located more than two hours drive from Brisbane.

Canine Helpers asks graduates to complete annual progress reports to indicate how the placement is going, and to note any concerns they may have or areas where they need additional assistance. Canine Helpers’ staff review these follow-up reports and make phone or personal contacts based on need.

How to Apply

Download the application information pack: Facility Dog Application Pack

If you need more information, please contact us.