Have you ever wondered what an assistance dog does when they are off duty? Solo is happy to fill you in! As we arrive home and walk in the door, Solo follows me into my office to take off his uniform. He heels, we take off his harness and then collar is removed—oh sweet bliss after a big day at work! Now, ‘dog mode’ kicks in: firstly, food. Thirty seconds later, now it’s playtime as he races around and says g’day to my wife and son with a trusty Kong stick in his mouth. Later, it’s cuddle time. As I recline in my chair, he curls up between my legs for some good one-on-one time before bed. Solo’s favourite thing to do when I’m not working is to simply snuggle, he’s such a softy and I love that about him so much. Weekends and daytime at home, he loves to play and follow people around—he’s such a sticky beak, always needing to know what everyone’s up to! But he always makes sure to keep a watchful eye on me. So much more than a Guide Dog or mobility tool, Solo is a true family member.” – Tony, Guide Dog Handler  We all know the amazing work that the team at Guide Dogs Australia do. Want to know more or how you can help? Support for groups such as Guide Dogs Australia is not just limited to donations. You can be involved in being a puppy raiser or even volunteer your time. You can find out more ways you can get involved HERE! 
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 Meet Jade, an Australia Support Dog who has been a companion for Sheree for over 6 years. Jade shares her story below. Editor: Jade, you must be a great help for Sheree. What sorts of things do you do for her? Jade: I do heaps; I’m very clever you know! I open and shut the doors, drawers and the fridge, I put things away and retrieve things, I take Mum’s jackets and shoes off, pick things up that she drops, put the toilet seat up and down, open and close the blinds, turn lights and the water fountain on and off, take the phone to Mum… Editor: Wow! You are clever. What about house work, do you help with that? Jade: Oh yes, I forgot that. I take the washing off the airer, put Mum’s things away where she tells me, tidy my toys up, pick up my old bones in the backyard, put things in the bin, take my dinner bowl to the sink… Editor: And when you go out? Jade: Yep, I’m helpful everywhere. I help with doors, I take the queue ticket out of the machine at the bank, I pass Mum things from shop shelves and pass Mum’s credit card from the counter back to her… Editor: Which job do you think is the most important to Sheree? Jade: Mum says that when I pick things up that she drops like the door key or mobile phone it makes her feel safe. Editor: That’s fantastic. You must get a bit tired of working sometimes though. Jade: Are you kidding? I’m given a treat every time I help out. I could work all day; in fact if you have a dog biscuit I could help you now. Would you like your jacket taken off? No, what about your shoes? Perhaps you’d like me to put your mobile phone on the table…? Editor: Ah… I’m okay for now. Did you have to learn anything new after you moved in with Sheree? Jade: Yes, funny you should ask that, I thought I had passed graduation! Mum needed a few things that weren’t on the curriculum yet. It wasn’t a problem for a special dog like me, though. I quickly learned and passed the blinds, toilet seat and ticket machine tests. Editor: How do you know when Sheree needs your help? Jade: She either tells me with a known cue, points to something like a drawer handle or positions herself in a familiar spot like next to the fridge door. Editor: Can you tell me about where you and Sheree go in an average week? Jade: Well, we go to work five days a week to the office and two hospitals. On the weekends we have lunch with Mum’s friends and go to the lake, the beach and different parks. The lake is my favourite place; I loooove swimming. We also go shopping every week or so. Mum lets me pick a new toy sometimes. I only buy the ones that squeak, they’re the most fun! Editor: What a busy week. What happens on a typical workday? Jade: After breakfast we have a run and a sniff in the park. I don’t have my jacket on then so I get to play with my friends. I like Baxter, Lilly and Monty the best because they’re big like me. I get dressed in my jacket and we catch a taxi to work. I sleep on my bed next to Mum’s desk or go out to the lawn if I need a break and then we go for a run at lunchtime. Another taxi takes us to the hospital sometimes so Mum can see some clients or attend a meeting and we go home at about 5 p.m. Our friend Paul drives the taxi home and he plays with me after I get changed out of my jacket. Editor: What jobs are you required to do at work? Jade: I retrieve printed pages from the photocopier, fetch the air conditioner remote from the wall bracket, put things in the bin, open and shut doors, pick up anything that Mum drops, take her jacket off if she gets hot. Occasionally I have to demonstrate my skills for Mum’s clients who have a spinal cord injury. They say I’m more intelligent than their children sometimes! Editor: You’re so busy! Are you given plenty of play times? Jade: Play times are cool! I only wear my jacket when I’m in a public place where pet dogs wouldn’t be allowed to go. Every day I get to run free in off leash areas and play, sniff, swim… it’s a great life you know! Editor: It Certainly sounds like It! Who looks after your feeding, brushing and washing? Jade: Mum gets my food ready and I gently take the bowl off her lap. I get brushed by Mum with the special brush that she straps to her hand. And washing… aghhh… Mum’s carer washes me in the shower. They think I run around excitedly after a shower because I feel fresh. What a myth; I’m just so ecstatic that the chore is finally over! Editor: Where do you sleep at home? Jade: My white leather chaise is near Mum’s bed. I sleep on my back with my head on my cushion and snuggle against my cosy purple blanket. Mum’s friends laugh and they’ve all taken photos of me. I don’t know why. Editor: Laugh? How odd! Have you ever been on holidays? Jade: That’s when you don’t come home at night time, right? Well, er… I don’t like to boast but I have frequent flyer points you know. I’ve been on planes to the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Bundaberg Adelaide, Coffs Harbour and Melbourne. I get to ride in the plane with Mum; I sit on the floor next to her. Every couple of months Mum and I catch the train to the Blue Mountains and spend the weekend at Nanna and Grandad’s place. That’s the best fun. They live on a big bush property and I get to run and swim in the dams to my heart’s delight! Editor: You are well travelled. Have you been everywhere with Sheree? Jade: No, I had to stay at home once when Mum and her niece went to the zoo. It’s a designated quarantine area and no animals are allowed to go there, not even Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs. It’s okay though because I got to chew a huge bone at home. Editor: It must be hard to do the right thing all the time. Have you ever done anything wrong? Jade: Ha ha ha… listen to this. I ate a whole sponge cake once… as quick as I could… at Nanna’s house! Everybody laughed at how silly they were for putting it on the footstool and then racing out onto the back deck when something caught their attention. Phew!! Editor: What are your favourite things? Jade: Umm… breakfast, working for food, dinner, bones, swimming, my friends, rolling on my back, exploring, did I say food?, Nanna and Grandad, playing, taxi rides, carers, running and just going out anywhere. Oh did I say food, because I think that’s my very favourite thing. Editor: I know how you feel! Finally, do you think Sheree realises just how special you are? Jade: Oh definitely, she tells me how beautiful and clever I am all the time.  Want to know how you can help support the amazing work that Australian Support Dogs do? Donations are not the only way you can support, find out more about how you can volunteer and help out HERE!
 We share with you another beautiful story that we know will bring a smile to your face of the amazing impact an Assistance Dog makes to the life of the family they join. Luis and Piper....Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Assistance Dogs are sometimes referred to as Psychiatric Assistance Dogs. Luis has come a long way. He is an ex-policeman and was diagnosed with PTSD in 2017. He was medically retired from policing a year later. With the life-saving help of Piper, the PTSD Assistance Dog, Luis can look back on his journey and be proud of how far he has progressed. At Luis’ lowest point, there would be days where his wife, Paige, was not able to go to work. She was too worried about leaving him alone for the whole day, fearing the worst. PTSD took control of Luis’ life, especially in quiet night-time moments. Luis said, “I used to have really graphic and horrible night terrors 3-4 times a week. I would sweat through my sheets and wake up choking and struggling to breathe.” Luis tried for so long to feel better. He did the PTSD therapy and treatments the doctors and specialists told him to do. But he needed something extraordinary to have the breakthrough he desperately needed. In July 2019, Luis received his highly-trained PTSD Assistance Dog, a loveable chocolate Labrador named Piper. The main skill Piper does is “Visit”, which is where Piper lays her head in Luis’ lap and releases the weight of her head, which helps ground and relax Luis when he becomes overwhelmed. Luis said, “I use ‘Visit’ a lot, both at home and in public, as it helps me to relax and feel more secure because I can focus on Piper and not get overwhelmed by all of the thoughts that start swirling around in my head when I get stressed or anxious.” Having Piper by his side has been a huge help to Luis when his PTSD has caused him to feel extremely distressed when he is out in public. Luis said, “Sometimes when I run errands in town I can get really panicky all of a sudden out in the open. I focus on Piper and pet her and look at her for five minutes and then I don’t have to go home straight away and can usually finish my errands.” At the end of the day, it is Piper’s unconditional love that has been a life-saver so many times for Luis, he said. Luis calls Piper his “offsider”, which is what police call the officer who backs up another. She has brought so much joy and peace to their lives, and enabled Luis to feel safer, less anxious and much happier on a daily basis. With Piper in their lives, Luis and his wife Paige can get their lives back on track and feel better about the present – and future. Want to know how you can support Assistance Dogs Australia? There are more options then just giving a donation. Check our their website HERE for the many ways you help support the amazing work that they do. You never know how much of a difference you could be making in someone's life!
 Along with all the other amazing groups and organizations who provide dogs around to Australia to those requiring support, the team at Smart Pups offer a life changing addition to any child with special needs. Smart Pups provide specially trained service dogs to children with special needs, with the goal to have these amazing dogs assist these children every day to help improve their quality of life. These incredible Labradors and Golden Retrievers are selected at 8 weeks old and begin training within their foster family. They are exposed to all different daily experiences and household routines. Between the ages of 6 – 8 months old they enter the Smart Pups program of General Training Modules before entering the Advanced Training Program. At this stage of training they learn task specific modules, this way, when they time comes and they are matched with their child to assist, they will meet the exact needs of that child. How amazing is that?!| The amazing team at Smart Pups train their dogs in 5 areas of assistance. - Autism Assistance - Diabetic and Medical Alert - Seizure Response - Mobility Assistance - Vision Assistance Read below, from Cody's Mum, how Smart Pup Lulu changed Cody's life from the day she joined his family!  So, a little about Miss Lulu and Cody. Before Lulu, Cody was a 14 year old boy who would rarely engage with anyone in or out of the home, he was like a shell of a boy with not many words or emotions. Since Lulu, Cody has changed in so many ways… he laughs, he smiles, he plays, he goes to school, hospital appointments and all his therapies with a smile on his face. He asks every day if Lulu is his best friend and if she loves him. It makes all our hearts smile, everyone who knows Cody comments on the changes in him and that the smile he has on his face each day is because of Lulu. We never knew a dog could love the way Lulu does, unconditionally. Lulu hasn’t only changed Cody’s life, she has changed all our lives, in more ways than we could ever have imagined! Cody’s two younger brothers suffer from severe anxiety (which has stemmed from seeing Cody in emergency situations and watching paramedics saving him more times than they should have ever seen). When they are worked up or they just need a cuddle and kiss Lulu is more than happy to oblige, she has an endless supply of love to give. As for Scott and I, well she has definitely brightened our lives for different reasons. What she has done for Cody gives us relief, simple things like laying with him on the couch, sleeping on his bed and watching him overnight. Lulu does what we can’t, stays by his side overnight, being near him while he sleeps. Not only does Lulu alert to Cody’s seizures, she is so perfectly in tune with him, she has stepped into action when Cody has been upset, unwell or even just a little bit off, checking him, comforting him and making sure we know exactly what is going on. It’s truly amazing how a dog can make you feel calm, when Scott and I are feeling a little overwhelmed or down she brightens our day too. We have never seen a dog that loves as much as Lulu does, she has so much love to give! She gets very excited at the simple, “Hi Lulu!” Her whole body wiggles but nothing more than her wiggly bottom and waggly tail (we get a lot comments on her excited tail wag when we are at appointments). Kisses, kisses and more kisses is definitely one of Lulu’s quirks. First thing in the morning Lulu runs out of Cody’s room to our room and runs straight to me and kisses me until I give Lulu her morning back scratch. Then she goes to Scott waiting for him to take her to the toilet and then she comes in and lays with Cody until breakfast, it’s a daily routine and Lulu loves routine (maybe not as much as a back scratch though!) When Victoria continued to go in and out of lockdown, Cody and Lulu have had PLENTY of time to fall in love! Again thank you to all for their help and support in training Lulu to be the perfect match for Cody. Best friends for life. Want to help support the amazing work that Smart Pups does?! There are many ways you can help, including tax deductible donations, fundraising, donating your time or even fostering a puppy! Find out more about how you can help support a Smart Pup at their website here! Your help and support will make a huge difference in a child's life!
Meet Barnaby, the beautiful assistance dog for Daniel. After my long stay in hospital, after my accident, I wondered what could be out there to get me through my days where I wouldn’t be bored or have nothing to do. I soon caught the eye of a peer support worker who had an assistance dog!! I was soon introduced to Barnaby, and we clicked very soon on. It started with him coming out with Ann for some home visits and getting him used to me, then a couple of park visits where we could throw a ball and Barnaby would come back to me and bench on the side of my chair to return the ball. Barnaby helps me by assisting with pushing doors closed or tugs them open with some rope we have placed on the handles. Also when I drop things off my lap he’s first on the scene to retrieve them for me. Barnaby can assist in tugging off of clothes such as my jumper – that’s really handy as I’m always getting stuck. Since receiving Barnaby we have been shopping together, a couple of restaurants, other outings. We are going camping on the long weekend down the south coast to Lake Conjola and that we are looking forward to. My famous quote “I would be very wealthy if I received a dollar for every time we are out and someone comments on how beautiful Barnaby is.” Daniel Want to know more about Australian Support Dogs and the amazing work they do? Visit their website here! Want to know how you can help? There are several ways you can help and support ASDOG. Did you know that the average assistance dog costs approximately $20 000 to complete its programs? With no government funding, they solely rely on donations to make it possible to continue to raise Assistance Dogs. To find out how you can help with donations to ASDOG, visit here! Donations over $2 are tax deductible. ASDOG is endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient. You can also become a member of ASDOG – for more information on membership, visit HERE. You can volunteer for ASDOG. Your donated time can be offered in many ways, including raising a pup to offering your expertise or services including graphic design, book keeping, photography and more. If you would like to volunteer – visit HERE.
Throughout Australia, there are many wonderful groups that work tirelessly to train and raise dog's to assist those in need. A fantastic group we are excited to share with you is 'Australian Lions Hearing Dogs' who are also branching into raising, training and pairing Medical Alert Dogs too for people living with complex and chronic illnesses. Meet Airlie. Airlie is the first Interstate Diabetic Alert Dog to be placed in their home by ALHD. Her new home is now in Melbourne where she has settled in straight away. Airlie does amazing work, she is trained detect naturally occurring low and high blood glucose level events in her human. She is scent and saliva trained on her human too. How incredible is that?! Airlie is also trained to retrieve a medical kit to help treat a low or high blood glucose event, get assistance from another member in the household if needed or pressing an emergency button to alert emergency contacts in case her human falls when home alone and becomes unresponsive. Along with the other amazing medical alert dogs, Airlie could not only save the life of her owner but will also drastically improve their quality of life. Want to learn more? Visit the Australian Lions Hearing Dogs website HERE for more information?
How can you help? The training and placement cost of ALHD is just under $40,000. There is no cost to their human for this, so donations are greatly appreciated. All donations of $2.00 or more are tax-deductible and will receive a receipt in return for your donation. Click here if you would like to make a life changing donation. So all of us know the basic premise of a guide dog. This is a dog that we see with a visually impaired or blind person that helps them to get around. We see signs on store windows that say only guide dogs are accepted on the premises and we should all understand and know that when a guide dog is working (in their harness and / or with their jacket on) they are not to be patted (you send your love vibrationally) But what do you know about Guide Dogs Victoria? In this Therapy Dog Thursday we share with you a little about the main organisation in Victoria that train Guide Dogs and also share with you about their Therapy Dog Program (not necessarily for the vision impaired) and how you can get involved. Guide Dogs Victoria Sine 1957 Guide Dogs Victoria has provided a vital service for Victorians with low vision or blindness. But today they offer so many more community initiatives outside of training and supplying Guide Dogs, including training and education programs for the humans they support. The team at Guide Dogs Victoria work to ensure people with low vision or blindness are active and involved members of the community. But back to what we are all really interested in – the Dogs!!!! Did you know that not all puppies that start off training to be guide dogs will be placed with a vision impaired / blind person? The requirements for a Guide Dog are high and exacting and not all the beautiful puppies that start the training process will be suitable for the role and responsibilities of a guide dog. What is great about this is that they maybe suitable to be a Therapy or Companion Dog – providing much needed BUT different assistance to someone whose life would not be the same without them. So when you see a Therapy Dog or meet a Companion Dog you might be meeting a doggo that started their training as a Guide Dog. The team at Guide Dogs Victoria have 3 types of reclassified dogs – Therapy Dogs (including PTSD dogs), Ambassador Dogs and Companion Dogs. To be clear these dogs will be required to do different tasks to a Guide Dog and as such are not afforded the same benefits as Guide Dogs. And for dogs that are not suitable for any of these programs they then find a forever home with a loving family as a pet – which we all know the immense value of!!! Want to Get Involved? So there are a heap of ways that you and your family can help with raising a Guide Dog. Being a part of raising these special dogs cannot be under estimated and we encourage you to visit the Guide Dogs Victoria website HERE! Here you can find out about:
Thanks for reading Therapy Dog Thursday – we hope you love all the wonderful things dogs do to make so many people’s lives better! Keep up to date with Guide Dogs Victoria at their Facebook page HERE!   Colin and Phoenix's Story.This Therapy Dog Thursday we want to share another wonder filled story from the Assistance Dogs Australia Team.
Having trained Frankie for Abi and her family we know that the team at Assistance Dogs Australia are amazing people. Today we want to share with you another wonderful story from the team at Assistance Dogs Australia. Colin (now 13) from Western Australia is doing his best. He is living with autism, and five years ago he received an Assistance Dog named Phoenix to help him reach his full potential. Colin used to be homeschooled due to the severity of his anxiety, which prevented him from exploring the outside world. With Phoenix by his side, Colin now attends year 8 secondary college in Western Australia, everyday. His mum, Kaye, is so proud of how far he’s come. She said, “Phoenix is amazing. He is relaxed, calm, always willing to work, and devoted to Colin. Phoenix has helped to reduce Colin’s anxiety by giving him the confidence to take on the daily challenges he faces and by being the one ‘friend’ he can always rely on to be there for him.” For Colin now, the world is his oyster. Colin is a member of a local swimming club, chess club, football club and has a personal trainer at the local gym. To Assistance Dogs Australia supporters, Kaye says: “I can’t thank you enough for the amazing gift of Phoenix. Phoenix has taught us so much and I am so very grateful that he is by our side every day.” Now Colin’s future is even brighter with Phoenix to help him navigate through his teenage years.
It has been a little while since we gave you an update on Abi and her therapy dog Frankie. Lots of exciting things have happened since our last report so we felt it was time to give you all an update. As many of you know Frankie, a beautiful female golden retriever, was provided to Abi and her family after her training with Assistance Dogs Australia. Since joining the family, Frankie has been not only a wonderful and calming support to Abi but has also provided no end of benefits (and unconditional love) to all of Abi’s family. Her parents, Sarah and Michael, and her siblings, Finn, Sage and Lachlan all have a really special relationship with Frankie. We have shared some images with you so you can see some of the things that Abi and Frankie get up to together. Frankie goes with Abi to her therapy sessions. Abi practices her dog handling skills walking Frankie daily and when it comes to bed times, Frankie is there it help settle Abi. And just a couple of months ago, Frankie was best dog at Sarah and Michael’s wedding. She was a important part of the wedding party and was a very good girl at the wedding. Such an event was very exciting and stimulating for Abi and for her to have Frankie there to help her regulate her emotions before, during and after the ceremony was just one of the many valuable reasons why dogs like Frankie are so very important to young people like Abi (and their families). Again thanks to all those people who helped us to provide the funds for Assistance Dogs Australia to train and place Frankie with Abi and her family. It truly is a gift that gives every single day.
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