Paws for Assistance Dog Training

16/12/2025

🎄 Christmas Thank You from Paws for Assistance 🎄

To all of our incredible Paws for Assistance dog teams, thank you.
Your commitment, resilience and training heart throughout 2025 has been nothing short of inspiring.

One of our core beliefs at PFA is that “Training is Forever” and boy, is this true!

We are so incredibly lucky to work alongside such dedicated handlers, many of whom continue to train their own assistance dogs while navigating significant and very real disability challenges. This path is not an easy one. Life throws curveballs, progress isn’t always linear, and yet you keep showing up for yourselves and for your dogs.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge those teams who have had to retire their dogs this year, and those who have had to say goodbye to their beautiful companions. I’ve lost many dogs in my own life, and it truly never gets any easier. Your grief is seen, and your dogs will always be part of the PFA story.

After a little rejuvenating downtime, I’m very much looking forward to what 2026 will bring, including welcoming new teams who will be onboarding with the PFA training program.

I'll be back training those woofers from 12th January 2026.

Wishing you all a very Merry festive season.
Please stay cool, kind to yourselves, and safe during those hot Melbourne summer days. ☀️🐾
Ciao for now,
Em
Paws for Assistance 💙

22/10/2025

🎥🐾 From “no interest in retrieving” to confidently bringing an item to her handler’s lap. What a journey! This clever miniature labradoodle has worked so hard to build this skill through structured play, consistency, and patience. 💪✨

Sometimes, an assistance dog may need to perform a task off-lead like retrieving an item that’s out of reach. But it’s important to remember that dogs should always remain on-lead while moving around with their handler and go back on-lead immediately after the task is complete.

Only dogs with a very strong recall and a solid bond with their handler in public settings should ever train tasks off-lead. Safety for both the handler and the dog always comes first. 💙

19/10/2025

Well done Frankston Beach. 👏👏👍

Australia’s Most Accessible Beach pilot program aims to make Frankston Beach the most accessible and inclusive beach in Australia.

27/09/2025

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPF0WQjEr3l/?igsh=MTduZjR0dW5pNGlkYw==

19/08/2025

Surprise surprise!
This popped up on my feed 😁

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19SLFrfm18/?mibextid=wwXIfr

11/08/2025

🐾 Paws for Assistance 🐾
Pet Dog Classes - 4 week block

Starts: 6th September

We’re back with another 4-week class block of fun and foundation training, running Saturday 6th – 27th Sep. in Glenroy, Melbourne.
Our small bespoke classes have been such a hit that many of our committed puppy handler teams are returning for more! 🐶👏
✨ ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT

Our classes focus on:
✅ Focus & engagement
✅ Confidence building
✅ Environmental exposure (socialisation)
✅ Settle & calmness
✅ Learning how to ‘drive’ your dog
✅ Most importantly, building a strong, positive rapport with your dog!

🕙 10am – Puppy Paws (10–20 weeks: 2nd Vacc required)
🕚 11am – Adolescent Paws (6–12 months)
📍 1st Oak Park Scouts Hall, Glenroy
📧 Email us directly or apply via our website
[email protected]
https://www.pawsforassistance.com.au/pet-dogs Spots fill fast—get in touch to book your place!

pet dogs Reward based training for happy Paws & people JOIN OUR GROUP TRAINING CLASSES Hi, I’m Emelia, a government-certified assistance dog trainer, and I’d love to help you and your Pet-Dog build a great relationship and training foundation together!The small group age-specific classes ensure ...

04/08/2025

Yep! It's International Assistance Dog Week 🐕‍🦺
I have one of the BEST jobs in the world!!
It takes so much dedication and hard work to train a dog to the Public Access Test (PAT).
Here's a shout out to all my fabulous assistance
dog teams that make working in this business such a joy 🥰