VuCare runs as a not for profit organization that provides support with medical aids and has a target to train Assistance Dogs, Therapy Dogs and Companion Dogs to enhance the quality of life and raises the degree of freedom for those who have handicaps. VuCare Assistance Dogs offer their new owners greater autonomy increased freedom, enhanced trust, and higher self-esteem.
To find out more call us on 1300 830 166 or e-mail us at info@vucare.com.au. Visit our website at http://vucare.com.au.
Have you ever wondered assistance dogs move from lively pups to sensible and loyal companions?
What is an Assistance Dog?
Assistance Dog is a working dog that’s been highly trained to direct someone with impaired vision safely from one place to another.
Why is Assistance Dog significant?
Assistance Dog enables people with vision impairment to avoid independently and safely and to participate fully in their communities.
How many people have an Assistance Dog in Australia?
There are more than 800 working guide dogs in Australia.
How much does it cost to train an Assistance Dog?
The process of turning a lively puppy into a responsible, working dogs is quite incredible, taking nearly two decades and costing over $30,000– equal to the price of a vehicle. Guide dogs are supplied free of charge to individuals with impaired vision.
How is an Assistance Dog trained?
From eight months to 14 weeks, these special puppies live with volunteer puppy raisers, whose obligation it is to supply a loving home and basic obedience.
At 14 months, pups go back to the VuCare Assistance Dogs Centre in which they’re evaluated on health and temperament. Puppies that are chosen to become assistant dogs then experience five weeks of intensive training, learning the skills they will need to safely guide a vision impaired handler.
Coaching includes: how to ignore distractions like food and noises; browse obstacles; traveling on public transportation, and discover landmarks like bus stops and cross streets safely.
Some jobs, such as 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 an Assistance Dog?
Aspiring dogs are carefully chosen based on their assurance, responsiveness, and wellness. In Australia, Assistance Dogs is usually purebred Labradors and Golden Retrievers, since they’re calm, loyal and smart breeds with an established track record as assistant dogs.
Do all of the puppies become Assistance Dogs?
For a variety of reasons, from wellness to nature, not all dogs are appropriate to become Assistance Dogs — some are better suited to companion function, but some make good family pets. The criteria for selection are very stringent since the personal safety of prospective handlers is paramount.
Assistance Dogs facts and fibs
“Assistance Dogs is a bit like a car. We use a car to get around independently but the car does not make decisions about where to proceed. Assistance Dogs enables a person who’s blind or vision impaired to be independently mobile but it’s one better than a car as it stops and alerts its own handler to any threat or obstacles in their path,” says Dr. White.
“With growing numbers of Assistance Dogs working on our roads because of climbing vision loss, we think it is vital that the public fully understands the important role of Assistance Dogs in the area,” he adds.
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.
Disability Assistance Dogs are trained to undertake specialised tasks to meet the specific needs of the client, for example:
– Opening and closing doors
– Picking up dropped objects
– Assisting dressing and undressing
– Accompanying whilst shopping etc.
– Providing medication reminders
– Notification of approaching people
– Operating lift and control buttons
– Switching lights on and off
– Retrieving phones and other items
– Assisting with clothes washing
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.
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.
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.
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 Pets and their companions.
– Better Pet basic
– Social Interaction
– Assess for home assist
– General home assist
– Advance home assist
– One on One Training
– Private Assistance Dogs
– Security Guard Dogs (AFP check required)
– Dog Training Course 1 (beginner)
– Dog Training Course 2 (advance)
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/
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/
Someone who’s physically challenged knows the problem which could be found in everyday tasks that most of us tend to take for granted. For those coping with the daily challenges of life with a handicap, a habit trained by VuCare Assistance Dogs can be of tremendous help in helping them to achieve a greater level of mobility and independence.
Some of the benefits of a Service Dogs are:
Service dogs are with their partners constantly. It is basically like having a helper 24 hours every day!
SELF SUFFICIENCY
The disabled person has less demand for asking other people to assist with tasks. This is not only practical in many circumstances, it has the psychological advantage of beating the feelings of despair and imposition that a person can feel having to ask for help repeatedly.
LESSENED CAREGIVER COSTS
There is less need for a human caregiver to assist with chores around the house or to perform tasks such as shopping, etc.. These dogs are trained to help with many tasks and are adaptable to learn how to take care of unfamiliar duties their partner might need assistance with.
While Service Dogs are not trained for protection since they need to be well mannered and nonaggressive in public, they do discourage aggressive improvements from others and can act as guardians for their partners (especially in cases of seizure victims).
The day to day interaction needed to take care of a dog assists the individual to stay active and involved with staying healthy. Even the simple act of throwing a ball in a game of draw is an exercise which helps both canine and human to keep in shape.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
Dogs offer many opportunities for exercise: dressing them, throwing a ball or frisbee, playing tug games, etc.. All of these help keep their individual partner moving and staying limber. Many times a person will push themselves to strive harder for their dog than they would ever do just for themselves. In quite a few cases, these special canines are also trained to help with a structured physical therapy exercise, for example, lying across legs to give balance for sit-ups or supplying a brace for the spouse to use while walking or moving from a wheelchair.
PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS
No matter how rotten a day has been, these special dogs offer affection during these hard times and offer unconditional love and support. So often a person with a disability will put on a brave front but inside will be in pain, scared, depressed, frustrated, angry, or just plain exhausted with coping with the effects of their disability. Having their canine partner there, giving them both physical and emotional support can make the difference between a tolerable day and one where you only want to give up.
SOCIAL BENEFITS
Many times individuals with disabilities experience isolation and in some instances, outright shunning because others feel uncomfortable with how they need to act around them. Unknown conditions can be scary and people are notorious for avoiding situations where they do not know what to do or how to act. Having a Service Dog will help to bridge that uncomfortable barrier. Where someone would feel they couldn’t possibly ask how a person deals with their handicap, they are easily able to show an interest in the way the dog helps their spouse. This increased social interaction greatly lessens the isolation and feelings of being alone that the disabled individual must cope with everyday. As one spouse once said, “my dog makes my wheelchair disappear”.
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 Company 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
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.
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 Assistance Dogs 