Importance of Owning an Assistance Dogs

A Guide Dog is a working dog that’s been highly trained to direct someone with impaired vision safely from one place to another.

What’s the function of an assistance dog?

Assistance Dogs assist people with disabilities and give them freedom and independence.  They help their clients with things like picking up dropped items, opening, and closing doors, pressing the button at the traffic lights and alert barking when their customer is in trouble.

Why are they so important?

Assistance Dogs give their customers the confidence to get out and about and increase their self-esteem.  Assistance Dogs also offer emotional support in addition to a physical support to their ‘teammate’. They bring independence, freedom, confidence, happiness, and trust.

Can any dog become an assistance dog?  Otherwise, what does it take?

VuCare Assistance Dogs raise and train Labradors and Golden Retrievers to be Assistance Dogs.  These dogs enjoy learning new things and love being around people.

What’s involved when training assistance dogs?

Every dog takes two years to train.  To train an Assistance Dog over a two year period costs $27,000, and this also covers things like vet visits, bedding, food, toys, travel costs etc..

From eight months to 14 months, these special dogs reside with volunteer puppy raisers, whose obligation it is to give a loving home and basic obedience.

Puppies that are chosen to become Guide Dogs then experience five weeks of intensive training, learning the skills they will need to safely guide a vision impaired handler. Training includes: how to ignore distractions like noises and food; navigate obstacles; traveling on public transportation, and find landmarks like bus stops and cross streets safely.

Some jobs, like stopping at all curbs and staircases, are taught through repetition.  Other jobs require intensive training, like negotiating a busy train platform to discover the train doors.  As training progresses, Guide Dogs learn to travel through crowded and confusing places, such as shopping centers and busy city streets.

What breeds of dogs make great Guide Dogs?

Aspiring puppies are carefully chosen based on their assurance, responsiveness, and wellness.  In Australia, Guide Dogs are usually purebred Labradors and Golden Retrievers, since they’re calm, loyal and smart breeds with an established track record as Guide Dogs.

Do all of the puppies in the app become Guide Dogs?  For a variety of reasons, from wellness to nature, not all dogs are appropriate to getting Guide Dogs — some are better suited to companion function, but some make good family pets.  The criteria for selection are very stringent as the personal security of future handlers is paramount.

About VuCare Assistance Dogs

VuCare runs as a not for profit organization that provides support with medical aids and has a target to train Assistance Dogs and Company Dogs to enhance the quality of life and raises the degree of freedom for those who have handicaps. VuCare Assistance Dogs and Company Dogs offer their new owners greater autonomy increased freedom, enhanced trust, and higher self-esteem.

To find out more phone us on 1300 830 166 or e-mail us at info@vucare.com.au. See VuCare Assistance Dogs Australia website at http://vucare.com.au.

VuCare Assistance Dogs Training Programs

Ensuring Excellence, Changing Lives Through the Training of Assistance, Therapy and Companion Dogs

Our specialty trained dogs assist and support their owners with everyday tasks that are made difficult due to their disability. Each dog is taught tasks tailored to each individual clients needs, enabling that person to lead a fuller and more independent life.

VuCare is committed to reaching out to the public introducing them to the benefits of assistance dogs for their clients/owners for the good of all parties involved.

For more information call us on 1300 830 166 or email us at info@vucare.com.au. Visit VuCare Assistance Dogs website at http://vucare.com.au.

VuCare Assistance Dogs and Trainers

VuCare in conjunction with our registered trainers preselect our dogs from a small group of trusted breeders so as to assure temperament and avoid potential genetic issues.

An applicant’s own dog may be used for this program after both the applicant and dog undergo a full assessment before being accepted into any VuCare program. There is a small fee to cover our trainers time.

For more information call us on 1300 830 166 or email us at info@vucare.com.au. Visit VuCare Assistance Dogs website at http://vucare.com.au.

VuCare Assistance Dogs Helping People with Disabilities in Australia

VuCare was founded in 2006 and first commenced training dogs in 2008. Our goal is to train 6 new dogs each year. These dogs will then go on helping people with varying disabilities throughout Australia.

The dogs themselves vary both in size and breed from little Fox Terrier to large St. Bernards! From pedigree dogs to cross breeds from rescue centres. They also donated by a group of caring breeders, VuCare members and loving members of the public.

For more information call us on 1300 830 166 or email us at info@vucare.com.au. Visit VuCare Assistance Dogs website at http://vucare.com.au.

Feeling Depressed? There is a Dog for It

Occasionally when you are down, all it requires is a lick on the face along with a furry friend cuddle to lift your own spirits.  However, what if your anxiety runs deep, in case you are anxious and anxious to leave the home, and wind up depressed or even suicidal–may a puppy nevertheless help bring you again?

There are lots of tales about how puppies have helped people with melancholy; Julie Barton’s poignant memoir Dog Medicine is one of the best-known.  What is fascinating is that formal study also demonstrates that companion and service animals are good at treating depression and stress, in addition to enhancing general wellness.

It is possible to train a puppy for support certificate without going through a company, even though it requires a whole lot of work.  A well-reviewed manual similar to this one is a great starting place.  Additionally, certain strains are more commonly used for support work, but a lot of distinct strains can make fantastic therapy animals.  Not confident of a puppy’s breed faces?  Dog DNA tests can provide invaluable insight.  This evaluation receives high marks for accuracy.

The Way Service Dogs Help Individuals with Stress and Depression

Often times, people that have anxiety or depression avoid contact with the external world, either from fear or anxiety of what may occur.

“Stress and depression involve psychological turmoil and negative inner ‘self-talk,'” Dr. Katie Kangas, co-founder of this Pet Wellness Academy, clarifies.  “These ideas typically spiral to unrealistic negativity and this proceeds at a vicious cycle.”

Dogs help break this cycle by giving soothing companionship and a sense of purpose for their owners.

Dr. Kangas and Accredited Behaviorist Colleen Demling weigh in on some of the additional ways dogs can assist those suffering from depression:

Duty for their well-being.  “A puppy has to be fed up, has to be walked, and should be pet, so sometimes when someone feels least inspired, a thump of a happy tail motivates an individual to contact alive,” Demling states.

Unconditional love.  “This 100% approval without ruling when a man has been depressed, stressed, lonely, wearing the very same clothes as yesterday and can not get out of bed helps individuals feel as though they have a genuine friend during their issues,” Demling states.

Recognize indications of a panic attack.  “The mere existence or non-reaction into a stimulation of a trustworthy companion frequently calms an assault,” Demling describes.  “Dogs may also be trained to utilize passive techniques to prevent strangers from coming to their handler unexpectedly.”

Remaining connected.  “In the modern society, together with the progress of technology and internet link, we’re losing actual social connection, and that’s leading to more psychological problems and disorders,” Dr. Kangas clarifies.  “Love and link will not exist in the Earth, and creatures are a wonderful source to obtain this inside one’s life.”

In reality, dogs are proven so good at helping fight anxiety, anxiety, and depression.

About VuCare Assistance Dogs

VuCare runs as a not for profit organization that offers support with medical aids and has a goal to train Assistance Dogs and Companion Dogs to enhance the quality of life and increases the degree of freedom for people who have handicaps.  VuCare Assistance Dogs and Company Dogs provide their new owners greater autonomy increased freedom, enhanced trust, and greater self-esteem.

To learn more phone us on 1300 830 166 or email us at info@vucare.com.au.  Visit VuCare Assistance Dogs Australia site at http://vucare.com.au.

VuCare Assistance Dogs

If dogs could speak, they might be able to explain that special bond and its benefits that exist between humans and dogs. Our success stories and studies speak for them. Studies show again and again that dogs can provide tremendous benefits to individuals by offering companionship and performing everyday “human” tasks. Not only can dogs reduce the physical obstacles facing people with disabilities, but also the social barriers. A dog helps bridge gaps of ignorance by stimulating common interests, like sharing dog stories.

For more information call us on 1300 830 166 or email us at info@vucare.com.au. Visit VuCare Assistance Dogs website at http://vucare.com.au/

VuCare Assistance Dogs Volunteer Puppy Parents – Australia

VuCare has a team of Volunteer Puppy Parents who work tirelessly and they all have one thing in common, a genuine love of animals and a desire to see them safe, happy and healthy.

Our Volunteer Puppy Parents walk the dogs, spend time with the dogs, help with administration and fundraising. Puppy Parent Volunteers need to be 18 years of age or older.

We also have occasional Puppy Friend volunteers for specific work experience programs. Puppy Friend Volunteers need to be at least 14 years of age.

All you need to be a Puppy Parent or Friend is a genuine love of animals, a genuine desire to work with dogs, be physically fit, enjoy walking and be the appropriate age. You will also need to make a commitment of 2 hours or more per visit either fortnightly or monthly.

If you have, or know of, a puppy/young dog, which you think might be suitable for training, please contact our pooch support team by calling our Head Office on 1300 363 700 or by email at poochteam@vucare.com.au.

For more information call us on 1300 830 166 or email us at info@vucare.com.au. Visit VuCare Assistance Dogs website at http://vucare.com.au/

VuCare Assistance Dogs – Training Programs for Dogs and Dog Owners

VuCare Assistance Dogs
VuCare is committed to providing the highest level of training for our dogs in order to improve the lives of our clients and the dogs who care for them.

We aim to introduce new and innovative training programmes to meet the growing demand for assistance dogs. We also will strive to understand the needs of our clients and train the dogs in order to meet those needs.

For more information call us on 1300 830 166 or email us at info@vucare.com.au. Visit VuCare Assistance Dogs website at http://vucare.com.au.

Considering a Therapy or Service Assistance Dog for Your Special Needs Child? Pros and Cons

To begin with, let’s differentiate between ‘assistance dog or service dog’, ‘companion dog’ and ‘therapy dog’.  Terms are not always used consistently but, these are the definitions:

Assistance or Service Dog

An Assistance or Service Dog is trained to perform specific physical activities to help someone with a disability, like opening doors, turning on lights, retrieving dropped items, carrying things, and alerting to sounds.  These dogs are typically trained and certified by assistance dog organizations and have full public access rights under the ADA law.  (NOTE: there have been some instances where the public access rights of assistance dogs for children are challenged.

Therapy Dog

A Therapy Dog is trained in basic obedience that offers companionship but does no particular tasking.  These dogs are often graduates of assistance dog organizations and especially suited for this work because of temperament.  They normally don’t have public access rights and work mostly in the home.  However, they are often invited to accompany the child into public places.

Companion Dog

A Companion Dog is a family pet with no particular training or certification.  They don’t have public access rights.

All three of these sorts of dogs will, if partnered correctly with children, provide the main service of all: love, affection, acceptance, and companionship to children too often disenfranchised and lonely.  In reality, often times, obtaining a four-legged furry ‘best pal’ will function as a social magnet, attracting other children, and for that reason promoting positive relationships which may otherwise be tricky to attain.  Children with disabilities are ‘different’ and those ‘differences’ are sometimes seen by peers as ‘negatives’… something to be frightened of or uncertain about.  But a child with a canine partner, while also seen as ‘different’ is seen as ‘different’ in a nice and appealing way.  So not only does the child have the comfort, security, and benefits of a loyal best friend in their dog, but they frequently acquire more human friends due to the dog.

Whilst adding a furry friend to the family can mean added expenses at the end of the month, it may also be a possible benefit from a tax perspective also.  Naturally, completely free taxes would be wonderful: but as most of us know, taxes are a simple fact of life.  That means that the intial purchase of the dog, any costs to train, and expenses related to the maintenance of said animal are completely tax deductible provided that the creature is employed to assist somebody who’s physically disabled.

For children with specific physical disabilities, an assistance dog can offer specified help past the companionship.  A child who must rely on others for everything (retrieval of a dropped toy, opening a door whilst negotiating a wheelchair or crutches) cannot develop independence in a natural progression.  At these times, self-esteem suffers and often there’s an accompanying fear of being alone that inhibits natural curiosity and exploration.  A child who’s afraid of falling is less likely to feel comfortable alone in a room, out in the yard, or even going to the bathroom by themselves, but a partnership with a dog tends to lessen fear.  Moreover, an assistance dog can ‘alert’ if there’s a problem (barking for help or actually going to have a parent or other adult).  Additionally, these dogs have the ability to provide actual physical help to a fallen child (the dog stands close and braces while the kid pulls him/herself up by grasping the dog).

Assistance dogs and therapy dogs can offer great help during various medical procedures also, especially when physical or speech therapy is necessary.  Imagine how much more motivated a child would be to walk across a room, regardless of pain, if their very best friend is waiting with a wagging tail and smiling face.  Even in hospitals, assistance/service and therapy dogs can offer great comfort and distraction from unpleasant medical procedures and are allowed into facilities in several instances.  For speech therapy, reading to a dog has been demonstrated over and over to offer great benefit.  A child sitting beside a dog, petting the fur, while reading aloud literally lowers blood pressure and other stress factors.  When this occurs the reading experience is much more pleasant for the child, which means more time is spent practicing leading to improved performance.

If you are looking for assistance dogs in Australia, check out VuCare Assistance Dogs. VuCare operates as a not for profit organization that provides support with medical aids and has a goal to train Assistance Dogs and Companion Dogs to improve the quality of life and increases the level of independence for people with disabilities. VuCare Assistance Dogs and Companion Dogs offer their new owners greater independence increased mobility, enhanced confidence, and higher self-esteem.

For more information call us on 1300 830 166 or email us at info@vucare.com.au. Visit VuCare Assistance Dogs Australia website at http://vucare.com.au.

VuCare Pooch Support Team

If you have, or know of, a puppy/young dog, which you think might be suitable for training, please contact our pooch support team by calling our Head Office on 1300 363 700 or by email at poochteam@vucare.com.au.

 

For more information call us on 1300 830 166 or email us at info@vucare.com.au. Visit VuCare Assistance Dogs website at http://vucare.com.au.