Please note: Canine Helpers is currently only able to place assistance dogs in Queensland.

What type of Assistance Dog should I apply for?

The type of dog you should apply for depends on your individual requirements. You need to read the Assistance Dogs overview page and each individual type of Assistance Dog page very carefully, then you should know what sort of dog to apply for.

Basically, if your primary requirement is physical assistance, you should apply for a Service Dog.  If your primary disability is hearing impairment, for a hearing dog.  If you wish to use your dog at a facility you work in, a Facility Dog.   Primarily emotional/psychological support or anything else not listed above usually falls under the Therapy Dog category.

Combinations of two different types of assistance dog are also possible.

How do I apply for an Assistance Dog?

You need to download the appropriate application package, and return the completed application to the Canine Helpers office.  Make sure you include everything that is required, so that your application can be processed straight away.

If you are unable to download an application form, please contact the office and a form can be emailed or posted to you.

How much will it cost me?

Canine Helpers provides hearing, therapy and service dogs free of charge, however, due to limited funding, we are currently required to charge for the compulsory training course for the recipient.  There is a $35 application fee and the recipient pays an additional $350 for the education course before placement. 

Facility Dogs are funded by the facility in which they will be working, or their own sponsor organisation. The cost of a Facility Dog is $1450, including the team training course. This is only approximately 10% of the value of everything that has been invested in the dog before placement.

Estimated Costs of an Assistance Dog

What if I can't afford the cost?

If you genuinely can't afford the cost of team training at $350, then we attempt to find a sponsor organisation to cover this cost for you. However, if you are unable to save $350 during the time you are on the waiting list this will give us some concerns about your ability to provide for the dog once he is in your care. We may need some evidence of a stable income and your ability to save for the dog's needs. If you are unable to afford the $35 application fee then you will be unlikely to be able to afford to care for your dog, and you should not apply for an Assistance Dog until your financial situation changes. If you are applying for a Facility Dog, your facility can either hold a fundraising event to raise the money or can obtain your own sponsor such as a local service club to cover your costs.

Some disability support agencies may be able to assist you with the cost of your application.

How long will I have to wait for my dog?

There is a waiting list for assistance dogs, but the length of it varies dramatically depending on your needs.  If you have high or unusual needs, you are likely to be waiting longer than someone with more basic needs who can be matched with a wider range of dogs.  Some clients apply at a time when there are dogs soon to be available and are matched much earlier.  Unfortunately there is no way for us to predict when you are likely to receive your dog.  You will however be kept informed as to the progress of your application.

I don't want to wait that long, can I:

• Buy my own dog and give it to you for training?

    No, we will not train your own dog for you.  However, we can give you a recommendation for a private trainer to assist you.

• Pay the full cost of the dog to you to get the next one?

    It would be unfair to allocate someone else's dog to you just because you can afford to pay a large sum of money and they cannot.

• Go on the waiting list for another organisation at the same time?

    No, you may not be on a Canine Helpers wait list if you are also on another organisation's list. This is to ensure that we do not commit resources training a dog that you may receive from another organisation.

•  Be put at the top of the waiting list because I have a special case?

   Almost everybody feels that they have a special case, and for this reason, we cannot give you special consideration. The exception is a past Canine Helpers graduate whose previous assistance dog has retired or passed away. These past graduates are automatically placed at the top of the waiting list.

Once I have the dog, who pays for everything it needs? How much will this cost me?

You are responsible for all costs associated with your dog after it is placed with you.  You will be supplied with a free food bowl, collar, lead, clicker (training tool) and 3-6 months worth of preventative medication for your dog when you graduate. Your dog will already be desexed, microchipped and vaccinated up to current requirements. From this point on, you are responsible for vet care and food costs etc. For an approximation of how much this will cost, check your application package; there is an estimate sheet within it.

Some costs associated with your Assistance Dog may be able to be claimed as medical costs on your tax return; consult your accountant for more information.

Do you train all breeds of dogs? Can I pick which breed I want?

We train a wide variety of breeds; for information on the sorts of dogs we use, please see our Donating Dogs page. We will match you with the dog that best suits your requirements, taking into consideration its size, abilities, temperament, needs etc.  It is not necessary or advisable for you to request a specific breed as this may compromise the matching process which is based on more relevant attributes, and further increase your wait time.  If you are committed to having a certain breed, we may not be able to help you.

Can I pick the colour/size/sex/coat type of my dog?

If you have a genuine need for a particular size or coat type of dog, and you can provide us as to the reason for it, we will always accommodate those needs.  However, preferences based on likes and dislikes alone are not always able to be considered. If you have had a previous bad experience with a particular breed of dog, please feel free to discuss it with your Canine Helpers contact once accepted onto the wait list.  If for any reason we wish to match you with a dog with attributes that you dislike, we will make sure that your concerns are put to rest before matching you with a dog.  You will never be required to take a dog that you do not like or are not comfortable with.  You always have the opportunity to say that you do not want to accept a dog that is offered to you, however, if you repeatedly reject dogs without good reason you may be removed from the waiting list.

I don't like the breeds you have available. Can I buy my own puppy and give it to you for training?

No, we are not able to train your own dog for you.

Will my dog be tested for health problems before I get it?

Your dog will have been screened for health problems from the moment it is acquired by Canine Helpers. A dog with an obvious defect will receive complete veterinary diagnostics including x-rays, blood tests etc and will be removed from the program if there is any incurable condition. Unfortunately we are not in a financial position to x-ray each dog that comes through our program, however veterinary examination and visual observation of the dog over long periods will indicate if there is a problem before placement. Puppies are only taken from parents that are rigorously health screened to help avoid genetic health problems. Despite our efforts, we are unable to guarantee that a dog placed by Canine Helpers may not develop health problems later on. If a health problem does develop which renders the dog incapable of working he will be retired and you will receive a new dog as first priority.

What will happen to my dog if I pass away or can't care for the dog anymore?

Your dog will automatically be returned to Canine Helpers, and from there he will be rehomed.  If possible he will remain a working dog for another client.  If he is ageing or unable to be placed again he will be offered as a pet to a lovely home.  Your family may express interest in having him as a pet if you pass; if it is an appropriate home they will be given priority.

Why is the application package so complicated?

We require lots of information from you so that we can give you the very best matched dog to suit your requirements and maximise the benefits of having an assistance dog.  All of your information will be kept confidential and shared only with the Canine Helpers staff involved in processing your application or providing you with services.

Why do I need medical forms? I know all about my own disability better than a doctor!

While we are sure that you know lots about your disability, it is important that we get honest, accurate and unbiased information from medical professionals; for this reason, we need your medical reports.  They not only tell us what we need to know if you need medical attention while you are with us, they also act as references for your suitability for an assistance dog.

Who can complete the medical reference forms?

If your application package contains only one medical reference form, it must be completed by either a general practitioner or a specialist doctor. If your application contains two forms, BOTH must be completed by different people. One must be completed by a medical doctor, the other can be completed by an allied health professional such as a physiotherapist, case worker, psychologist, occupational therapist or registered nurse. The forms must have been filled out recently, within the last month. A general medical evaluation or form for another purpose is not acceptable; you must use a current Canine Helpers form.

The following people are not acceptable medical referees:

• Family members or close friends, regardless of their profession;
• Pharmacists;
• Your personal carers or attendants;
• People who have never examined you in person.

What if I don't want to give you my medical details? What if I just don't complete part of the application?

Applications submitted without all questions answered or with pages missing/incomplete will not be processed. You will be sent a letter requesting the remaining items. If these items are not received within one month of the date of the letter your application will automatically be rejected. We are unable to give you an assistance dog unless all information is complete and honest.

My doctor completed the form but I don't like his answers / I disagree.

If you disagree with your doctor's answers on the medical form, please discuss this with him/her.  If he stands by his answers, then send the form as it is. Any attempt to falsify or change a medical report, or to go "doctor shopping" until you like the answers will be considered a deliberate attempt to deceive Canine Helpers and your application will be rejected.  If you disagree with your doctor's answers, please attach a sheet of paper to the medical form outlining where you believe the doctor is incorrect and why. This will certainly be taken into account.