Assistance Dogs
The value - and challenge - of Assistance Dogs
Assistance dogs can change lives in extraordinary ways. They bring independence, stability, and confidence to people navigating physical, neurological and psychological challenges - offering not just practical help, but emotional grounding and companionship. It’s no surprise that interest in assistance dogs has grown in popularity of recent years, as more people experience how powerful the right partnership can be.
But the Journey to a successful assistance dog team isn’t easy. Finding the right dog, understanding the requirements, and committing to the training process all take patience, honesty and dedication. Most dogs are not cut out for this work, and for some people, an assistance dog (especially self trained) is not right for their situation - the key is finding what truly fits your needs and lifestyle.
At APEX canine, we’re here to help you do exactly that. We guide you through every stage of the process - from assessing whether an assistance dog is the right path for you, to selecting a suitable dog, developing a tailored training plan and offering ongoing support every step of the way.
We support you, every step of the way.
-
Puppy selection & development.
Finding the right dog for the job is the first step on the road to training an assistance dog. We can help you select the right breed, find a suitable breeder and set you up to build the best foundations for your AD. We can also assess whether a current dog you have will be suitable for the role.
-
Training & assessment.
We can support you in training your assistance dog to a high level of obedience, help you with environmental confidence and remain focused on you in any situation, and how to teach them to perform specific tasks to assist your specific requirements. We can also provide Public Access Testing (PAT).
-
Support.
Throughout your training journey and into your life living with an assistance dog, we offer support for any hurdles you may encounter. We provide you with documentation and advocate for your rights, and we keep up to date with state legislation and any changes that may affect you.