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Learning / An Australian perspective

Make practice part of your everyday.

Three training directions, shaped around different goals. Explore the focus, compare the published course details and ask the team about the next step for you and your dog.

Explore the training directions
Illustrative everyday practice with a dog beside an Australian outdoor café
Begin with a focus.Build from there.

The course collection

Three directions for your next step.

Compare the focus and timetable.
Prices are in Australian dollars.

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01 / A broad training focusComprehensive focus

Assistance Team Training

Build your approach to assistance work around everyday behaviour, consistent practice and the needs of the handler–dog team.

Consider this direction ifOwner-trainer teams looking for a comprehensive assistance dog training focus.

Training themes

  • 120 hours / 10 weeks
  • Assistance dog training
  • Public behaviour practice
  • Australian access information
02 / Purposeful assistance tasksTask-focused

Psychiatric Task Training

Explore training focused on psychiatric assistance tasks, including deep pressure work and support relevant to the handler’s needs.

Consider this direction ifTeams focusing on trained tasks that assist a handler with psychiatric disability.

Training themes

  • Psychiatric assistance tasks
  • Deep pressure task training
  • Handler-focused practice
  • Australian travel preparation
03 / The everyday essentialsEveryday foundations

Everyday Manners & Therapy Foundations

Give basic commands, recall and lead manners a clear place in your routine, with foundations for therapy dog preparation.

Consider this direction ifDogs developing everyday manners and a foundation for therapy dog work.

Training themes

  • 40 hours / 4 weeks
  • Sit, stay and recall
  • Lead walking skills
  • Therapy dog foundations

The catalogue outlines training themes and published course details. Ask the team about the current arrangements and suitability for your goals before committing to a course.

Choosing with care

Start with what
your team needs.

Assistance tasks and therapy dog foundations have different aims. Describe the skills you want to work on and the settings where you expect to practise when you contact the team.

Course participation and private record services do not themselves establish government accreditation or public access eligibility.

Talk through the options ↗
The training notebook

Something to practise between lessons.

Browse 15 free guides to reward timing, lead walking, settling, recall and everyday preparation for Australian assistance dog teams.

Read the training guides
Looking for the record application?

The handler details and portrait form has its own entry point.

Start an application