Graduates

Follow up lessons are carried out for as long as the new team needs or wants them or if circumstances change. ASDOG supports
its teams for the whole of its working life.


ASDOG has a structured training process. After a dog has attended his or her 6-9 month
intensive training to be an Assistance dog, he or she attends a 2 week course with their recipient.

Follow up lessons are carried out for as long as the new team needs or wants them
or if circumstances change. ASDOG supports its teams for the whole of its working life.

Our Accredited Trained Assistance Dog teams carry an ID card identifying them and the dog.
Whilst in public the dog is required to wear our distinctive orange ID cape which contains our
logo and identifies the dog as a Trained Assistance Dog.

Some ASDOG Graduates
The smiles you see on these people's and their dogs' faces are a testimony to the invaluable relationships which can be established.

Below are graduated teams Emma and Molly, Amanda and Lara and Sheree and Jade.

Emma and Molly

Emma was successfully working as a features editor for a
well-known magazine when she contracted multiple sclerosis
three years ago. She now has impaired strength and balance.

Molly, a calm and gentle Golden Retriever / Labrador mix was chosen to work with Emma. When Emma and Molly first met,
it was love at first cuddle!

Emma can climb the stairs during the day but finds it very hard in
the evening when she is tired. Then Molly follows her up the stairs, puts her muzzle under Emma’s lower foot and pushes it up to the next step. She does this with each step, enabling Emma to get upstairs in the evenings.

As Emma says: “My confidence at being at home have increased while having her around, I don’t feel by myself. My family is much happier to leave me at home as I am not home by myself. It has given me peace of mind.”

Amanda and Lara

Following a car accident when she was 18 years of age Amanda had irregular and unpredictable tonic clonic and absence seizures. Her life was very restricted and she had to have another adult with her when she went out. Now Lara "tells" Amanda when she is about to have a seizure and lies alongside her during the seizure, thus shortening the severity and frightening aspect of the seizure. Amanda now goes out without another adult and is working outside the home.

As Amanda says:
Lara has changed my life and the lives of my family. She is absolutely amazing. The peace of mind that Lara brings changes the way we look at everything. My children were always “waiting” for my next seizure. Now they see Lara relaxing next to me, figure it’s all OK and run out to play!

My epilepsy is not an everyday issue for them or my husband any more. He no longer goes to work worrying about “that” phone call, and both my children and I are relaxed and confident enough to head out on our own.

My parents travel internationally on a regular basis and have always felt helpless in regard to my epilepsy. However, they see the difference that Lara has made and have embraced her as a third grandchild!

I am often stopped in public and told how beautiful and special Lara is. I always smile, thank them and walk away thinking, “You have no idea just how special she really is”.

 

Sheree and Jade

Sheree sustained injuries from a motor vehicle accident which left her
a quadriplegic. Sometime after the loss of her companion collie Chloe, Jade was introduced to her life and it was the beginning of a wonderful bond.

After five months together they became a well-oiled team. Jade helping Sheree with many daily activities including retrieving the TV remote, removing clothing when she gets to warm and picking up any dropped items. In fact Jade is always looking for another command so that she can help.

As Sheree has said "It is indeed a pleasure and a privilege to be the
recipient of such and intelligent, faithful, happy and eagar dog. Jade's frequent assistance and constant companionship make each new day an easier and more meaningful one. I look forward to planning more goals on our journey through life.

"Princess Jade"

© 2005 ASDOG Assistance Dogs Pty Ltd