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 in Australia

 

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: About Us

VuCare Assistance Dogs: About Us

In 2004 VuCare and OzKind amalgamated and will continue to operate under the VuCare banner. The amalgamation has given us the ability to provide greater support for those in need of disability services and 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 increase 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 website at http://vucare.com.au.

VuCare Assistance Dogs: Our Mission

VuCare Assistance Dogs: Our Mission

The mission of VuCare Assistance Dogs is to help children and adults with disabilities achieve greater independence by training and placing service and therapy dogs to assist with the individual’s daily needs.

Read more: http://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

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.

What Are Service Dogs Supposed to Do?

It defines a service animal as “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, including a physical, neurological, psychiatric, intellectual or another mental handicap, to be able to mitigate the handicap.” A number of types of service dogs exist, and the tasks each kind is supposed to perform are determined by the disability of the individual he assists.

Guide Dogs

The guide dog aids a man who’s completely or largely visually impaired. The first type of service dog has been the guide dog, known to some as “seeing eye” dog. Although previously this animal had aided the blind; it was just after World War I that a formal training program was organized, in Germany to assist war veterans. The activities of a guide dog may consist of helping his bill in moving about and alerting them to dangerous conditions, like approaching vehicles. The dog has to have the ability to discover and follow a clear route, stop at curbs and safely avoid barriers. He works inside and outside the house and may retrieve dropped or lost objects.

Service, Therapy, Emotional Support, Companion

It’s important to differentiate between service animals and companion dogs / animals. Service animals are working animals, not pets. “Emotional support animals” is a legal term for common domestic animals who provide therapeutic support to handicapped or elderly owners through nonjudgmental companionship and affection. These animals aren’t trained to perform specific tasks but must be reasonably well-behaved. Such animals are usually dogs. The advantages of having a companion animal — a pet — include lower cholesterol, triglycerides and anxiety; increased physical activity; and more social interaction. However, a pet isn’t specially trained to mitigate a handicap.

Other Kinds of Service Dogs

A hearing dog aids a person with partial or complete hearing impairment by alerting the individual to sounds or to the existence of others, like when the operator’s name is called, the telephone or doorbell rings, or a smoke detector goes off. An alert/response dog alerts someone or others to a seizure or other severe medical condition. Another sort of service dog aids a person whose mobility is impaired and lacks balance, stability or the ability to move about under his own power, like getting in and out of a wheelchair or getting up after a fall. The tasks these dogs perform include retrieving items from the ground, manipulating light switches, helping to groom or remove clothes, providing support for walking, helping with rolling over in bed, and opening and closing drawers and doors. They retrieve things like drugs, including from a fridge, among other tasks. The medical assistant dog aids persons with cognitive, autism, psychiatric or neurological disabilities. Common owners have asthma, cancer or Alzheimer’s, or are subject to seizures — certain trained dogs may warn the owner before the seizure occurs. Sometimes, a dog is trained to move the individual to a secure place and recover his medication. A psychiatric service dog offers therapeutic companionship to a man suffering from depression, panic attacks, anxiety, PTSD or agoraphobia, among other things.

Rights and Duties of Owners and the General Public

A service dog must be allowed access to public places. He must act properly, without showing aggression, barking, whining or annoying the general public by asking for food or attention. The handler should control him, and he will typically be on a leash. The general public must permit the service dog to do his work, not divert him, pet him, speak to him or attempt to create eye contact. All service dogs have prerequisites that might include such things as having the ability to perform three or more tasks to aid with the disability; demonstrating basic obedience skills in response to voice or hand signals to sit, stay, lie down, walk beside the handler and come when called; walk calmly on tether; execute tasks in public; and lie quietly beside the handler without obstructing passageways.

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 increase 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 website at http://vucare.com.au.

 

Caring for Your Assistance Dogs Abroad

Find out tips for supplies to take along, climate preparations, and dog health when traveling internationally.

What will you bring?

• Food and Nutritional Supplements
• Figure out what you can bring along with you and purchase the rest of the food and supplies.
• Make certain that the food is manufacturer-sealed in its bundle.  Consult your pet food supply shop for sample packs for aviation.
• For short trips or dog food or other allergies, take what you may need (i.e. food, medication, shampoos) to travel.
• For longer excursions, order food and supplies online or direct from the manufacturer and get it sent to your destination.  Many nations also have pet shops locally too.
• Keep the medicine in original prescription bottles, sealed, and with a note describing what the medication is and its purpose.

Climate

• Think about the climate from which you’re coming since the dog will have their summer or winter coat.
• When traveling from a cold climate to a warm climate, acclimatize your assistance dogs by:
• Shaving the coat if possible
• Brushing the coat frequently
• Adding Pedialyte® to water bowls to prevent dehydration
• Placing freezer packs in the pockets of vests to cool the body down
• Purchasing a “cooler” collar to wear
• Purchasing booties to protect the dog’s pads, if applicable

When traveling from a warmer climate to cold weather, consider:

• Purchasing vests/coats with insulation
• Purchasing booties to protect the dog’s pads, if applicable
• Brushing the coat frequently.
• Some dogs will want to get used to some new equipment before being able to work without being distracted by it.

How do I maintain my guide dog healthy?

Carry a pet first aid kit with you, or supplement yours with what your assistance dog requirements.

Require a pet first aid class.  Even if you can not physically perform the needed action you might have the ability to instruct another individual and save your assistance dog’s life.

Identify veterinarians in the regions you intend to travel.  Keep their names and contact information in a convenient, safe location.

Set aside money for health certificates, vet visits, and penalties related to traveling with an animal.

Carry a head halter and/or muzzle.  Ensure that your assistance dog was introduced into these items before traveling.  Some areas may require a muzzle or muzzle as an instrument for dogs in public.

Care for yourself.  Your service dog depends upon you as much as you do them.  Ensure that you are in good health so that you can care for your assistance dog.

Have a backup plan to fulfill your needs in the event your assistance dog isn’t permitted to accompany you or becomes unable to operate.

If you’re searching for assistance dogs in Australia, check out VuCare Assistance Dogs.  VuCare functions as a not for profit organization that offers aid with medical aids and has a goal to train Assistance Dogs and Companion Dogs to enhance the quality of life and increases the level of independence for individuals with disabilities.  VuCare Assistance Dogs and Companion Dogs provide their new owners greater liberty increased mobility, improved confidence, and greater self-esteem.

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

VuCare Assistance Dogs, Therapy Dogs, and Companion Dogs Australia

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.

Vucare Assistance Dogs – Disability Assistance Dogs in Australia

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.

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.