Certified Assistance Dogs Australia

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Certified Assistance Dogs Australia

Assistance Dog Industry Specialist - helping people live more independent lives with their assistance dog My name is Diane Petersen.

I am an assistance animal industry specialist. I have worked training assistance dog and handler teams within my previously founded organisation Both Ends of the Leash; until ownership was transferred to head trainer Briahne Kelly. My passion for the disability sector, assistance dogs and people living better, more independent lives alongside their certified assistance dogs has led me to many oppo

rtunities. Most recently I have created and delivered content for Australia's only assistance dog training qualification (ACM40322). Evidence is the fuel that ignites my passion. I have a deep interest in research and evidenced based methodologies and practices. I have developed a proven assistance dog and handler training program called Puppy to Public Access(TM) which as the name suggests is a comprehensive program that guides the handler and assistance dog from the earliest possible age, through to them becoming a reliable human-dog partnership equipped with all of the skills and knowledge needed to negotiate all public places and forms of public transport safely and without stress. Positive reinforcement is the only method of training I endorse and use. I will not use punishments or aversive methods in my training program. The wellbeing of the handler and the welfare of the assistance dog are my highest priority in every interaction along the training journey. The breed of dog, and their breeder's protocols are the greatest influence you have control over. I can guide you through the process of breed selection and together we can approach breeders who are known for their successful litters. Appropriate, calm and safe socialisation is the next most important influence you have with your prospective assistance dog. Many people are not well enough at the time they seek to obtain a prospective assistance dog puppy. For these people we recommend consideration of a protocol such as our P-2-P pre-loaded, fully-loaded or, hybrid assistance dog training programs. Certified Assistance Dogs Australia will continue to educate and support within the assistance dog space toward the goal of a nationally consistent standard for assistance dogs, trainers and handlers in Australia.

06/08/2026

One of our amazing Assistance Dog Teams are finalists. Juliette McAleer and her extremely handsome boy, Benzo.

In addition to offering his mum important medical alerts, he gives back to the community in his role as “Ambassadog” for the RBWH Foundation raising money for important research.

Please, if you can access this competition please vote for Juliette & Benzo.

Afterall, it is International Assistance Dog Week.
🙏

🤩Now is the time to vote for the Fraser Coast's cutest dog!

🐶We have chosen 100 pooches for the finalist's list including Franko, Ralph, Poppie and Luna.

VOTE HERE➡️: https://bit.ly/4q3gyIg

05/08/2026

Our assistance dog teams are welcomed on buses, trains & city cats. The airlines, other than Virgin Australia are a work in progress.

For me, Assistance Dog Week is an opportunity to be grateful for how far we’ve come.

Every assistance animal and their handler has the right to travel together. 🐕‍🦺❤️

During Assistance Dog Week, we are proud to support Safe Transport Victoria's Drive with Heart campaign, promoting awareness of the rights of people who rely on assistance animals when travelling.

Whether catching a taxi, rideshare, bus, ferry or train in Queensland, assistance animals are part of the journey too.

Learn more about assistance animal rights and responsibilities 👉
https://brnw.ch/21x4CVL

Safe Transport Vic - CPV & Bus

04/08/2026

It’s International Assistance Dog Week!

Seems appropriate to share Kona demonstrating how his nose works better and quicker than CGM for his T1 diabetic girl, Kennedy.

Diabetes can ravage the organs over time. Kennedy’s family invested in a suitably bred dog and had him attend specific training to be familiarised with high and low blood glucose levels.

Will we ever know the true value of how Kona is protecting his beautiful little girl’s organs and life.

Please follow on Facebook and Instagram

24/07/2026

Did you know? Tasking trumps obedience. Sometimes called intelligent disobedience.

03/06/2026

Showing our puppies the positives about car travel should start long before the car moves.

29/05/2026

Xylitol warning. ⚠️

Tonight I ended up trying to help a friend whose puppy ate a kid's vitamin containing xylitol. Simple accident: kid dropped vitamin, puppy scarfed it down. (Note: this household is knowledgeable and is xylitol free, but a relative bought the vitamins, unaware of the risk to the dogs.)

The puppy only ate *one* vitamin. Which turned out to contain 1500 mg of xylitol.

100 mg/kg is the threshold for hypoglycemia which can be fatal. At 500 mg/kg, hepatic necrosis occurs -- destruction of liver tissue.

So just ONE chewable vitamin ended up creating a serious problem for a 30 pound pup (which is not quite 14 kg).

The emergency vet induced vomiting. Thankfully, the puppy had had a meal and so there was food in her stomach. In the vomit was the orange tablet, identifiable though dissolved.

Quick thinking on the owner's part (including grabbing the bottle of vitamins) and fortunately a nearby 24/7 emergency vet hospital meant that this pup received prompt treatment, and should make a full recovery.

Check your medications, vitamins, gum, candy, toothpaste, mouthwash, peanut butter and more for xylitol, also known as birch sugar.

This is useful information to have on hand:
https://www.calculatorsfordogs.com/health-nutrition-calculators/xylitol-toxicity-calculator

ALWAYS contact vet and ASPCA Animal Poison Control center immediately!

As for everyone (the non-vets) recommending the use of hydrogen peroxide, please update your understanding:
https://www.gsvs.org/woodbridge-nj/blog/hydrogen-peroxide-for-dogs-emergency/

Pass this along. I hope you never have to use it.

25/04/2026

07/04/2026

I’m often asked what it takes to train your own assistance dog. This. Patience and sufficient love not to throw your dog in the deep end. are public access certified - they still spend time together in public settings (like this shopping centre) without pressure. That means the handler is not asking anything of her dog, except to enjoy feeling calm in an environment that is often anything except calm. If you also allow your assistance dog the opportunity to ‘watch the world go by’ like this, feel welcome to add your own photo.

05/04/2026

Address

Brisbane
Brisbane

Website

http://assistancedog.com.au/

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