The Australian Assistance Animal Handbook: Part I: Terminology, Selection & Training

By C.L. Williams

A new and improved version of the 2018 original, this book will guide you through the selection and training of an Australian Assistance Animal. Unsure about the correct terminology? We help with that too! See parts 2 and 3 for information on Australian legislation and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Claire Williams
• Release date: Apr 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9780645156935

C.L. Williams

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The Australian Assistance Animal Handbook

The Australian Assistance Animal Handbook

The Australian Assistance Animal Handbook

Part I: Terminology, Selection & Training

C.L. Williams

CLW Consulting

Contents

Dedication

1 What is an Assistance Animal?

2 What is NOT an Assistance Animal?

3 Who can have an Assistance Animal?

4 Is an Assistance Animal right for you?

5 Choosing a Suitable Breed & Size of Dog

6 Choosing a Dog with a Suitable Temperament

7 Choosing a Suitable Age & Sex Dog

8 What is unacceptable in an Assistance Animal?

9 What does an Assistance Animal do?

10 Sourcing a Program (Pre-Trained) Assistance Animal

11 Sourcing your own Assistance Animal

12 How to choose a Trainer

13 Equipment for Training & Working

14 How to choose a Training Organisation

15 What is the process for training an Assistance Animal?

16 How much does an Assistance Animal cost to Train & Maintain?

17 The Lifecycle of an Assistance Animal

About The Author

For Panda my beloved Assistance Dog, who has saved my life more times than I care to admit. Thank you for always being by my side and keeping me sane throughout the last 5 years.

For Dr Jocelyn Harper who never gave up on me, who continuously went out of her way to help and support me, and who always challenged me to be the best self I could be, and for Billie and Connie who always made my day (and my life) worthwhile - I remember, and will be forever grateful.

For Dr Gina Parker for always supporting me and for giving me the idea for this book, long, long ago.  Although not my first published work, I finally did it! Thank you for your patience and ongoing persistence in helping me, and thank you for always being so supportive and trustworthy - I remember, and will forever be grateful.

For all of the cats, dogs, pocket pets, natives and exotic animals who I have ever rehabilitated, released, fostered (and occasionally foster failed) or lost. I think about you often, and remember you all fondly. Every single one of you - now numbering in the hundreds - has taught me something about myself. Thank you!

Copyright © 2021 by C.L. Williams

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

 The author, editor and publisher cannot take responsibility for information provided in this book. We make no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the results obtained from the use of the information provided. We shall have no liability for the accuracy of the information and cannot be held liable for any third-party claims or losses of any damages. 

First Printing, 2021

1

What is an Assistance Animal?

An Assistance Animal (AA) is task-trained to mitigate the effects of their handler’s disability. The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) identifies an Assistance Animal as a trained support designed to facilitate the participation of people with disability in accessing various aspects of personal and public life (AHRC n.d.). In most cases an Australian Assistance Animal is a dog, however, the AHRC states that a parrot has been recognised as an Assistance Animal in a single complaint, which accounted for 1 % of all complaints of discrimination against an Assistance Animal and its handler from 2014 – 2016 (AHRC 2016).

Although it is common overseas for monkeys, miniature horses and even snakes to be classed as Assistance Animals, Australian Assistance Animals are, almost 100 % of the time, trained canines (Hallenbeck & Silverman, 2010). Assistance Dogs can be any breed or mixed breed, not just the common Labradors and Retrievers. When considering other species for use as an Assistance Animal, it is key to note that it is illegal to own most native and exotic species within Australia without an appropriate license, and a large number of these cannot legally be worked as an Assistance Animal due to restrictions on their transport and/or use in society.

Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), Assistance Animals have public access