FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Assistance Dogs are working and focused on supporting their handler, so touching or distracting them can interrupt their training or tasks. The best way to help is to let the dog do its job without interference. Always ask the handler before interacting, whether the dog is in training or with its recipient. Interaction includes petting, talking to, or making sounds at the dog. Giving them space helps them support their person safely and confidently. 

At Assistance Dogs Australia, the health and wellbeing of our dogs is our top priority. All puppies come from carefully selected, healthy parents within our breeding program. We follow strict welfare standards to ensure our dogs are happy, healthy, and well-cared for throughout their lives. 

This includes regular health checks, vaccinations, and socialisation, along with enrichment and training tailored to each dog’s needs. Our breeding program focuses on ethical practices, including screening for genetic health conditions and ensuring that our brood dogs live in safe, loving, and stimulating environments. 

Every dog in our program receives the care and attention they need to thrive, so they can grow into confident, reliable, and happy Assistance Dogs. 

Assistance Dogs usually work for around eight to ten years before retiring, often around the age of ten. When it’s time to retire, we make sure each dog finds a loving forever home. This might be with their handler, a family member, or a trusted friend. 

We also support handlers who still need assistance by providing them with a fully trained successor dog, so they continue to receive the help they need. 

To become an Assistance Dog trainer, you’ll need to complete a Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services or Dog Training and gain on-the-job experience with an organisation accredited by Assistance Dogs International. We’re not able to recommend specific training institutions, but completing these steps will give you the skills and experience needed to support dogs and their future handlers safely and confidently. 

Assistance Dogs Australia primarily works with puppies from our own breeding program. Occasionally, we may accept litters from a registered breeder within our network, but we do not take general enquiries about purchasing puppies. 

All puppies in our program come from carefully selected, healthy parents. We ensure that both the dam and sire have: 

• Certified pedigrees 

• Hip and elbow dysplasia evaluation reports 

• DNA/genetic analysis reports, including checks for Exercise Induced Collapse and Progressive Rod Cone Degeneration 

This careful selection helps us maintain the health, temperament, and suitability of our dogs for the important work they will do. We do not support puppy farming. 

Assistance Dogs Australia can assist only if the dog in question is one of our own. Our dogs wear a blue service jacket with Assistance Dogs Australia and Assistance Dogs International logos clearly displayed on the top and sides. 

If you need to report an incident involving one of our dogs, please email the following details to [email protected]: 

• Your name and phone number 

• Location of the incident 

• Breed of the dog (Labrador, Golden Retriever) 

• Colour of the dog (yellow, black, chocolate, or other) 

• Name of the dog or handler, if known 

If the dog is not from Assistance Dogs Australia, please contact the organisation responsible for accrediting the dog. For cases of mistreatment, you should also contact the RSPCA (or equivalent) in your State or Territory. 

At Assistance Dogs Australia, we currently use Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador-Golden Retriever crosses for our programs. These breeds are chosen for their friendly temperament, intelligence, and suitability for the specialised work our dogs do. 

All of our puppies come from carefully selected, healthy parents within our own breeding program. We cannot recommend specific breeders, but please note we prioritise ethical breeding and the wellbeing of both the puppies and their parents, in everything we do.