ASSISTANCE DOG TRAINING IN BUNDABERG WITH DOG MATTERS
Assistance Dog Training In Bundaberg With Dog Matters
Supportive, Ethical, and Realistic Training for Mental Health Assistance Dogs
At Dog Matters, I help people with disabilities train their own assistance dogs with compassion, structure, and honesty. If you're looking to train a dog to support mental health or psychiatric needs, here’s what you need to know before getting started.
You might also be interested in our School Support Dog Program or our Animal Assisted Learning Programs.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Dog
Not every dog is born to be an assistance dog. Let’s get this right from the start.
Already have a dog? Please read this carefully.
Unfortunately, most dogs that people bring to me for assistance work aren’t suitable. Reactivity, anxiety, and fearfulness are common issues - and these traits are not compatible with the pressures of public access and assistance work.
Sometimes, certain behavioural traits may not become evident until a dog reaches maturity, even with consistent training from puppyhood. This is because both genetics and life experiences, which can sometimes be unpredictable, play a crucial role in a dog's development.
✅ If you haven’t chosen a dog yet:
You're in the best position to succeed. I offer guidance and assessments to help you select a suitable puppy from the right breeder with a history of success in assistance or therapy work.
⚠️ If you already have a dog:
We’ll need to begin with a formal suitability assessment. Only dogs who demonstrate the right temperament, stability, and trainability will be accepted into the assistance dog program.
If your dog isn’t suitable for full public access training, I can still offer training support and enrichment as a companion or emotional support dog where appropriate.
Embarking on the journey of training your own dog to become a certified assistance dog for public access is both rewarding and challenging. It’s important to understand that this process can be extensive and demanding, requiring a significant commitment of time and effort.
Step 2: Foundational Training
All dogs begin with basic obedience and manners. They’ll learn to behave calmly in a range of environments, around people, dogs, noises, and distractions. Training is tailored to your needs and paced appropriately.
Step 3: Task Training
We teach your dog to perform specific tasks that directly assist you. These may include:
Deep pressure therapy
Interrupting repetitive behaviours
Alerting or guiding in specific situations
Creating space in public
Step 4: Public Access Preparation
This stage involves structured training in public settings to prepare your dog for legal access under federal law. We’ll focus on safe, calm, and unobtrusive behaviour in places like shopping centres, medical offices, and public transport.
Important Legal Info
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, a dog can be recognised as an assistance animal if it is trained to assist a person with a disability and meets behaviour and hygiene standards in public.
There is no national certification body in Australia, but you must be able to demonstrate that your dog is:
Trained for your specific needs
Under effective control
Safe and non-disruptive in public
Your Role as the Handler
Training a dog for assistance work is a long-term commitment. It requires consistency, patience, and a willingness to follow through. I provide guidance every step of the way, but your involvement is key.
NDIS Support
If you have an NDIS plan, training may be covered depending on your goals and funding category. I can provide invoices for self-managed or plan-managed participants.
How to Begin
Not sure where to start? Book a Suitability Assessment or Selection Consultation.
Already working with a dog? Let’s check their fit first.
Want to understand pricing or process? Submit an enquiry and I’ll send you more info before booking.
How Long Does It Take to Train an Assistance Dog?
Training an assistance dog isn’t a quick process. On average, it takes 18 to 24 months to fully train a dog for public access and task work — and that’s with a suitable dog and consistent effort from the handler.
Here’s a general timeline for owner-trained dogs:
Puppy stage (0–6 months): Early socialisation and foundation skills
Adolescence (6–18 months): Obedience training, impulse control, basic public access
Advanced (12+ months): Task training, complex environments, handler proofing
Public Access Ready (18–24+ months): Reliable, calm, safe behaviour in all public settings
Some dogs may be ready a bit sooner, and others may take longer depending on their individual maturity, temperament, and your consistency with training.
It’s a big commitment — but it’s worth it when done right.
If you're hoping to fast-track the process or need an immediate solution, it’s important to understand that assistance dog training takes time — usually 1.5 to 2 years for a fully trained dog.
Understanding Assistance Dog Training Under Federal Law
At Dog Matters, our assistance dog training program is designed to align with the definitions set forth in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 - Sect 9(2). This act defines an assistance animal as a dog or other animal that is either:
- Accredited under State or Territory Law: Accredited under a law of a State or Territory that provides for the accreditation of animals trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of the disability; or
- Accredited by a Prescribed Animal Training Organization: Accredited by an animal training organization prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph; or
- Specifically Trained for Assistance and Behaviour Standards: Trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of the disability and trained to meet standards of hygiene and behaviour that are appropriate for an animal in a public place.
Dog Matters operates under this comprehensive federal law, rather than state laws, ensuring a uniform and high standard of training across Australia. This means:
- Federal Compliance: Our training program adheres to the stringent requirements set by federal legislation, guaranteeing the highest level of support and public access readiness for our assistance dogs.
- Specialized Support: Each dog is trained to assist individuals with disabilities, focusing on alleviating the effects of the disability and enhancing the handler's independence and quality of life.
- Hygiene and Public Behaviour: In addition to their specialised training, our dogs are prepared for hygiene and public behaviour standards. This ensures they can accompany their handlers in various settings, behaving impeccably and maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness.
Through adherence to these federal guidelines, Dog Matters ensures that each assistance dog is not only a profound source of support for their handlers but also a well-prepared and respectful companion in all public spaces.
Join Us at Dog Matters
Ready to start this fulfilling journey? Whether you’re aiming for a certified assistance dog or looking to engage in animal-assisted learning, at Dog Matters, you’re in caring and capable hands. Let’s embark on this rewarding adventure together. For more information or to start your journey, contact us today using the button below.
Dog Matters. All Rights Reserved © 2025
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this website are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I may earn a small commission. We only recommend products and services we endorse and using our links does not affect the purchase price for you, in fact it may save you money. Thank you for your support.
Follow Dog Matters:
