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In honour of National Service Dog Month (September), we're celebrating the incredible work of assistance dogs and therapy dogs and the people who train them.
To help us understand their life-changing impact, we've turned to the experts at Flying Paws Dog Training in Tasmania, Pat and Molly. With over a decade of experience, they are dedicated to building powerful partnerships between humans and dogs. They specialise in training and supporting working dogs that provide crucial assistance and comfort, making them the perfect guides to explore how these remarkable animals are changing lives across Australia every single day.
They guide, comfort, alert, and sometimes save lives in ways most of us will never see. Behind every team is a dog whose training, loyalty, and heart to do their job makes the impossible possible. Let’s discover how these remarkable partnerships are changing lives.
As trainers, we’ve always been about more than just training dogs. We’re about building partnerships. The kind where the bond between humans and dogs is so strong, it changes everyday life for the better. Recently one area of our work has grown into something deeply special: helping train, assess, and support dogs who work alongside people in a range of life-changing roles.
Assistance Dogs vs. Therapy Dogs
When people hear "Service Dog," they often picture a single type of working dog. But there are many different roles, each with its own purpose, training, and impact. The main two are Assistance Dogs and Therapy Dogs.
The difference is: an Assistance Dog is trained for one person’s specific needs, while a Therapy Dog is trained to help many people feel joy, comfort, or support.
Both roles are powerful and needed in different ways, and both require the individual dog to have the right temperament, skills, and bond to ultimately succeed.
What Are Assistance Dogs?
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| Assistance Dogs Matte and Kitsune are all smiles! |
Assistance Dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that alleviate diagnosed disabilities to make their handler’s life easier and safer. Assistance Dogs are trained to help alleviate symptoms for people living with diagnosed physical or mental disabilities, or medical conditions.
We work closely with our clients throughout this process. Step-by-step we tailor each session to the human’s individual needs, their dog’s personality, and their goals. And the results are nothing short of life changing.
Meet Missy, the Toy Cavoodle
One of our proudest moments as Assistance Dog trainers has come through watching the journey of Missy, a toy Cavoodle with a huge heart and job that far outweighs her size! Her handler Traci shared their story:
“Missy is a toy Cavoodle who is my constant companion. We progressed through the Assistance Dog training with Flying Paws, and she now has full public access to accompany me regardless of where I am.
I have learned so much from Pat and Molly at Flying Paws during our sessions together, and I have a better understanding of Missy and her cues and needs.
They perform specific tasks to help their handler’s daily needs like retrieving dropped items, providing confidence and reassurance in difficult situations, or even alerting to medical changes like low blood sugar or seizures.
Assistance Dogs provide practical, medical, and emotional support for their handlers in public. Their work might include:
Unlike emotional support animals or pets, Assistance Dogs, whether in training or fully qualified, have full public access rights under Australian law, meaning they can accompany their handler almost anywhere the public is allowed, from supermarkets to public transport to workplaces.
Training an Assistance Dog is a long-term commitment and often takes 12–24 months or more depending on the individual team. It involves:
Assistance Dogs provide practical, medical, and emotional support for their handlers in public. Their work might include:
- Picking up dropped items.
- Providing deep pressure therapy to reduce anxiety.
- Alerting to medical conditions.
- Navigating environments safely.
- Giving handlers confidence in otherwise challenging situations.
Unlike emotional support animals or pets, Assistance Dogs, whether in training or fully qualified, have full public access rights under Australian law, meaning they can accompany their handler almost anywhere the public is allowed, from supermarkets to public transport to workplaces.
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| Assistance Dog Bear during her Public Access Training |
- Initial evaluation for the dog’s suitability to be an Assistance Dog.
- Public Access Training to ensure the dog can remain calm, focused, and well-mannered in all public situations.
- Task training to teach a dog the specific skills that directly help the handler.
Meet Missy, the Toy Cavoodle
One of our proudest moments as Assistance Dog trainers has come through watching the journey of Missy, a toy Cavoodle with a huge heart and job that far outweighs her size! Her handler Traci shared their story:
“Missy is a toy Cavoodle who is my constant companion. We progressed through the Assistance Dog training with Flying Paws, and she now has full public access to accompany me regardless of where I am.
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| Toy Cavoodle Missy before her PAT (Public Access Test) assessment |
Having Missy with me has changed my life in too many ways to express. She is a help to me every day, and I rely on her so much. I can’t imagine how I would do life without her!”
Missy’s journey, like so many Assistance Dog journeys', wasn’t just about learning to behave in a public space. It was about building the confidence, skills, and trust that both she and Traci needed to face the world together.
Don’t…
Why it matters
Every time an assistance dog gets distracted, their handler’s safety and independence can be affected. Whether that means missing a medical alert or the person or dog losing confidence in public, it can have real-world consequences and set back months if not years of work. Respecting their space helps these teams work together effectively and ensures assistance dogs can keep changing lives.
What Are Therapy Dogs?
The Impact of Therapy Dogs
Therapy Dogs aren’t meant to be a replacement for trained medical or mental health professionals, but they are becoming an increasingly powerful bridge between connection and emotional well-being. Studies are increasingly showing how they can lower blood pressure, reduce feelings of isolation, and improve mood.
As Nadine, Yogi’s handler and a teacher at the school, explains:
“Yogi has a way of grounding students. Students who might otherwise struggle to engage are more open and relaxed when he’s around.”
Missy’s journey, like so many Assistance Dog journeys', wasn’t just about learning to behave in a public space. It was about building the confidence, skills, and trust that both she and Traci needed to face the world together.
Today, Missy is more than a pet, she’s a lifeline and a testament that breed and size aren’t a limitation to this type of work. It all depends on the individual dog and their unique temperament.
The Do’s and Do Not’s When You See an Assistance Dog in Public
Seeing an Assistance Dog out and about can be exciting but it’s important to understand that these dogs are working and doing an important job, even if they might not look like they’re “on duty” in the traditional sense.
Here’s how you can make life easier and safer for both the dog and their handler:
Do…
The Do’s and Do Not’s When You See an Assistance Dog in Public
Seeing an Assistance Dog out and about can be exciting but it’s important to understand that these dogs are working and doing an important job, even if they might not look like they’re “on duty” in the traditional sense.
Here’s how you can make life easier and safer for both the dog and their handler:
Do…
- Give the handler and dog space: Think of their jacket like an invisible “do not disturb” sign. Most jackets will say do not distract or do not pat!
- Admire from a distance: Handlers often rely on having their dog’s full attention, intruding on this can cause stress for the person and distraction for the dog.
- Teach your Children: Early education about respecting assistance dogs helps build understanding for the future.
- Pat or call the dog: Even the most experienced dog can get distracted from their important job.
- Ask intrusive questions: If someone wants to share about their disability or why they have an assistance dog, they will. Asking directly is confrontational and puts people in uncomfortable situations.
- Let your own dog run up: Always keep your dog on lead and under control in public.
Every time an assistance dog gets distracted, their handler’s safety and independence can be affected. Whether that means missing a medical alert or the person or dog losing confidence in public, it can have real-world consequences and set back months if not years of work. Respecting their space helps these teams work together effectively and ensures assistance dogs can keep changing lives.
What Are Therapy Dogs?
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| Maremma Murphy and Border Collie Zani |
Therapy Dogs provide comfort, companionship, and emotional support in various community environments like hospitals, aged care homes, schools, and even a psychologist's office or courts.
Unlike Assistance Dogs that are trained for one person's specific needs, Therapy Dogs work with multiple people in structured environments to bring calm, joy, and connection. They are not granted public access rights like assistance dogs, but they work alongside their handlers to create positive, uplifting experiences for the people they visit.
Whether it’s supporting a nervous child before they read or simply bringing comfort to others, these dogs are essential partners in their community.
Whether it’s supporting a nervous child before they read or simply bringing comfort to others, these dogs are essential partners in their community.
Studies are increasingly showing how they can lower blood pressure, reduce feelings of isolation, and improve mood. While they aren't a replacement for medical or mental health professionals, they are becoming a powerful tool for promoting emotional well-being.
The Impact of Therapy Dogs
Therapy Dogs aren’t meant to be a replacement for trained medical or mental health professionals, but they are becoming an increasingly powerful bridge between connection and emotional well-being. Studies are increasingly showing how they can lower blood pressure, reduce feelings of isolation, and improve mood.
Meet Yogi the Border Collie
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| Yogi's handler and teacher Nadine with Yogi |
A great example of this work is Yogi, the newly appointed support dog at Latrobe High School.
Since his arrival, Yogi has quickly become a beloved figure, bringing comfort, connection, and calm to students and staff.
With his gentle nature and intuitive presence, he has been a steady source of emotional support for students navigating the challenges of adolescence, academic pressure, and personal struggles.
With his gentle nature and intuitive presence, he has been a steady source of emotional support for students navigating the challenges of adolescence, academic pressure, and personal struggles.
His presence is a reminder that kindness and empathy can be felt in the simplest gestures, whether it’s a quiet moment of companionship during a tough day or a joyful wag of the tail in the schoolyard.
“Yogi has a way of grounding students. Students who might otherwise struggle to engage are more open and relaxed when he’s around.”
Yogi’s role is part of Latrobe High School’s wellbeing initiatives, demonstrating how animal-assisted therapy can enrich educational environments and improve mental health outcomes for young people.
So Why Do These Programs Matter?
Whether talking about Assistance Dogs or Therapy Dogs, they all have something in common: these dogs are changing human lives in profound ways.
For individuals with some form of physical or mental disabilities, an Assistance Dog can mean experiencing independence, increasing safety, and allowing confidence in public.
For patients and staff in hospital or residents in aged care, a Therapy Dog visit can bring joy, create comfort, and a sense of connection.
For children learning to read, a dog can transform reading from a stressful task into an activity they look forward to.
And at the centre of all of it? A strong bond between humans and dogs. A bond that is built on trust, understanding, and mutual respect. For us, that’s exactly what we’ve always believed living and working with dogs should be about at its core.
Even Working Dogs Need Downtime
No matter what their role, working dogs can give so much of themselves to their role and the people they support. But the most important thing for any working dog? Time to just be a dog.
That means time off “work”, to sniff the grass or nap in the sun, and be able to enjoy life without the pressure of being “on duty.” Downtime is essential for a dog's mental and emotional wellbeing and it’s also what helps them stay sharp and enjoy their job when they return to work. These incredible animals aren’t just workers, but they’re also companions and loved family members.
Looking Ahead
This National Service Dog Month, we invite you to learn more about what goes into raising and training these life changing dogs and the support they offer the people they work with.
We are committed to building dogs that don’t just follow cues, but who understand, support, and truly partner with their human, no matter what their job is. It’s the most rewarding work we could imagine and we’re proud to be part of every step in that journey.
Whether talking about Assistance Dogs or Therapy Dogs, they all have something in common: these dogs are changing human lives in profound ways.
For individuals with some form of physical or mental disabilities, an Assistance Dog can mean experiencing independence, increasing safety, and allowing confidence in public.
For patients and staff in hospital or residents in aged care, a Therapy Dog visit can bring joy, create comfort, and a sense of connection.
For children learning to read, a dog can transform reading from a stressful task into an activity they look forward to.
And at the centre of all of it? A strong bond between humans and dogs. A bond that is built on trust, understanding, and mutual respect. For us, that’s exactly what we’ve always believed living and working with dogs should be about at its core.
Even Working Dogs Need Downtime
No matter what their role, working dogs can give so much of themselves to their role and the people they support. But the most important thing for any working dog? Time to just be a dog.
That means time off “work”, to sniff the grass or nap in the sun, and be able to enjoy life without the pressure of being “on duty.” Downtime is essential for a dog's mental and emotional wellbeing and it’s also what helps them stay sharp and enjoy their job when they return to work. These incredible animals aren’t just workers, but they’re also companions and loved family members.
Looking Ahead
This National Service Dog Month, we invite you to learn more about what goes into raising and training these life changing dogs and the support they offer the people they work with.
We are committed to building dogs that don’t just follow cues, but who understand, support, and truly partner with their human, no matter what their job is. It’s the most rewarding work we could imagine and we’re proud to be part of every step in that journey.
Whether you’re curious about the process, thinking about whether your dog might be suited to service work, or simply want to celebrate these incredible animals, we’d love to connect with you.
Learn more at www.flyingpaws.com.au
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Learn more at www.flyingpaws.com.au
written by Pat and Molly, Flying Paws Dog Training, August 2025 for Australian Dog Lover.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flyingpawsdogtraining
Instagram: @flyingpawsdogtraining
Pat and Molly are dog trainers and the founders of Flying Paws Dog Training in Tasmania, and are the 2025 Australian Small Business Champion Awards winners in the Pet Training Services category.
Image Credit: lead photo (Pat & Molly with their dogs Zani, Murphy & Foxby -Puppy Tales Photography, all others by Flying Paws Dog Training
About our writers
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| Pat & Molly with therapy dog Yogi |
With a combined experience of nearly 30 years, they are certified Family Dog Mediators® and use positive, force-free training methods grounded in scientific principles.
Pat, the owner, trainer, and behaviourist, has over 17 years of experience. Her passion for training began with her first Border Collies, Rily and Tana, and she founded Flying Paws in 2014.
Molly, a trainer, behaviourist, and brand manager, has over eight years of experience. Her journey began with her Maremma, Murphy, and she started assisting with classes in 2018.
Both are dedicated to building a strong bond between dogs and their families, ensuring training is effective, fun, and tailored to real-life situations.
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