Foundation Assistance Dogs

23/12/2022

📌** CURRENTLY ON BREAK FROM BUSINESS **

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🎄Merry Christmas Clients & Followers.

💛We wish you all a safe and happy holiday time.

🎄We will be taking a break from Foundation Assistance Dogs. We appreciate all of your support, love and kindness. We are so proud of what F.A.D’s clients have achieved this year and we are so honoured to have played a part in all of your journeys.

🐕‍🦺For those members who still have lessons/walk and trains left in your 2022 package, we will contact you in January to arrange suitable times to resume these. (We are still not taking on new clients/packages).

🙏Thank you all SO much, it’s been such a wonderful year.

30/10/2022

👻Happy Howl-loween Followers 🐕‍🦺

18/10/2022

🐕‍🦺 Today Team Seb did their first airport training session to prepare for their first flight - they smashed it!✈️

💪So proud of this team and their organisation, dedication, and hard work!

🙏It’s been an absolute pleasure being apart of their journey and I’m looking forward to watching their future ⭐️

17/10/2022

“Scout” one of our weekly training dogs ⭐️

14/10/2022

Figs first time in a shopping centre 🏬

🧠Lots of great challenges for miss Fig today but she worked through and overcame them.

🐕For our first trip we started in a low distraction, low intensity environment 👇

🐕From here we will be doing lots of positive repeated exposures at low intensity 👇then building upwards 👆

Foundation Assistance Dogs shared a post on Instagram: "Figs first time in a shopping centre 🏬 🧠Lots of great challenges for miss Fig today but she worked through and overcame them. 🐕For our first trip we started in a low distraction, low intensity environment 👇 🐕From here we will be ...

14/10/2022

Hello everyone,

Just a reminder we are at CLIENT CAPACITY for 2022, unfortunately we are not able to accept new clients at this time.

Foundation Assistance Dogs is a small sole-trader business and runs at a capped capacity for clients. This is to ensure each client and dog is supported and receives the training they require.
Once a client finishes their package, there will be room for a new client, but if the existing client wants further packages they will be prioritised and supported first.

At this stage Foundation AD, is not an organisation for AD teams. It is a dog training business that specialises in assistance dog training (puppy development, foundation training, and trouble shooting).

If you need support please email us at [email protected] and we will be able to provide you with some alternative options, as there are some fantastic dog trainers around the Sunshine Coast, (and many that Foundation AD works with closely).

*Please note; if you have a puppy or are planning to get a puppy do not wait! Please ensure you have found a suitable trainer, this time is the most IMPORTANT for a prospect assistance dog *

Thank you everyone! We will continue to put out weekly content which we hope gives you ideas, and supports/inspires you virtually. 🌸

12/10/2022

Fig and Tillie ✨

11/10/2022

Halloween is coming up! Preparing your dog is a must (and fun!) 🎃

Foundation Assistance Dogs shared a post on Instagram: "It’s almost Halloween… preparing your dogs for unusual people is a must (and fun!) 🎃 . . ". Follo...

10/10/2022

📸Marley, one of our weekly training dogs!

How gorgeous is he ?!

05/10/2022

🪑 “Finding a chair” is a very important task for some Assistance Dogs and is certainly one of my favourite tasks to train.

Why you may ask ⁉️

🤯I am always blown away by the dogs ability to pick up on MANY different types of chairs and generalise this skill (and quickly!)

✨It’s incredible watching their brain work out what a “chair” actually is!

Foundation Assistance Dogs shared a post on Instagram: "🪑 “Finding a chair” is a very important task for some Assistance Dogs and is certainly one of my favourite tasks to train. Why you may ask ⁉️ 🤯I am always blown away by the dogs ability to pick up on MANY different types of chairs...

04/10/2022

Want to see some of the squad in action? 💪

🔥Inspiration from our good friends at “The Good Dog Project”

🐕Marley
🐕Scout
🐕Fig
🐕Reef

Foundation Assistance Dogs shared a post on Instagram: "Want to see some of the squad in action? 💪 🔥Inspiration from our good friends at 🐕Marley 🐕Scout 🐕Fig 🐕Reef . ...

20/09/2022

📸We initally taught Tillie a “cover” through using a “lure”, to which we faded off creating a hand signal. 👋

👉Today we worked on fading off the hand signal by giving her a verbal cue first, and waiting for her to connect the dots 🧩
But why you may ask?…. 🤔

👉At times different situations / environments may call for different cues.

👉For example:
☝️If you do not want your verbal cue to be heard by others - a hand signal may be more appropriate.
🗣If you have your hands full, a verbal cue may be more convenient!

We like having the option of both! 🙏

Foundation Assistance Dogs shared a post on Instagram: "📸We initally taught Tillie a “cover” through using a “lure”, to which we faded off creating a hand signal. 👋 👉Today we worked on fading off the hand signal by giving her a verbal cue first, and waiting for her to connect the do...

08/09/2022

💛 R U OK? 💛

🌼Thursday September 8th marks R U OK? Day, for an EVERY day reminder.

💛You do not need to be an expert to ask someone this question.

🌼This post from has some tips on how to get the conversation started.

1. Ask R U OK?
2. Listen
3. Encourage action
4. Check in

For more information and resources check out
https://www.ruok.org.au

05/09/2022

❓When should the dog STOP receiving rewards ? Is this when the dog is TRAINED?
Here’s my thoughts 💭

31/08/2022

📸We may be fully booked for 2022 but you can always follow us on Instagram for training content, questions & stories!

30/08/2022

Why should I teach my dog a “flip-in” heel? 🤨❓

Foundation Assistance Dogs shared a post on Instagram: "Why teach a flip in heel 🤨⁉️ . . ...

25/08/2022

A little video to explain where we are at for 2022 and for clients waiting 😃

Foundation Assistance Dogs shared a post on Instagram: "A little video to explain where we are at for 2022 and for clients waiting 😃". Follow their account to see 61 posts.

23/08/2022

📍Hi followers,

📚We are now booked up until the end of November 2022 with lesson/walk and train packages (and a couple of teams on the wait list to start with us in September).🎉

🎅 We will also be taking some holidays in December 2022.

🐕‍🦺We run our business on training plans and packages as opposed to single sessions. We prefer to do this for consistency, goal setting and making sure all our clients feel supported.

🐶At this stage in the business we need to cap our client numbers to maximise each clients experience and balance other commitments

🙏 Thank you for your on-going support, love and feedback on our business. We love working and sharing with you all.

* please note if you are an existing client or client on the wait list your spot has booked in for time in the schedule this year *

07/08/2022

🌻INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE DOG WEEK 🌻

🟡This week we celebrate and share the important role of Assistance dogs and the dedicated handlers, trainers, organisations, puppy raises, breeders, and volunteers that put in countless hours of dedication (and love💛!) towards these incredible dogs.

🟡The impact these dogs can have on someone with a disability is incredible. Where other “tools” may fail an Assistance Dog can prevail 💪 This is something that should truely be celebrated and shared.

🟡 We are honoured to be working with many Assistance Dogs and Assistance Dog teams, and today we are so grateful for these incredible dogs 🐕‍🦺

01/08/2022

🐕‍🦺 BLOCK / COVER 🐕‍🦺
Check out one way to start teaching your dog this task ✨

👉We like to use a lure and some type of frame to show the dog how to get success, then we fade off over time 💫

Foundation Assistance Dogs shared a post on Instagram: "🐕‍🦺 BLOCK / COVER 🐕‍🦺 Check out one way to start teaching your dog this task ✨ . . ...

30/07/2022

QUESTION 2: what are your thoughts on critical period of socialisation?

Here is my video on answering this question!

Please note: Socialisation does not just mean “dogs/people” .. it means: objects, machinery, weather, surfaces, obstacles, animals, noises, the unusual etc

Critical period is all about the dog solving problems and getting success, having new experiences, having POSITIVE experiences, and building a relationship and value with YOU 😁

This is the time you shape the “adult dog” you desire. Have a plan, set goals, and seek experienced and qualified trainers to guide and support your journey.

28/07/2022

AROUND THE WORLD CHALLENGE… can your ADiT do it ? 🕺💃

Follow us on Instagram for more 📸

Fig ADIT shared a post on Instagram: "Around the world challenge 🌎 🕺 . . ...

26/07/2022

Conditioned markers are so important in training! Check out our Instagram reel of teaching an “under” and how simple it is by using them.

Foundation Assistance Dogs shared a post on Instagram: "Having clear markers is everything in my books! 📚 . . ...

16/07/2022

📚 FULLY BOOKED 📚

Hi all, we are officially fully booked up for August into September as we have have hit our client capacity! 🎉 🐾

Please note if you are an existing client but have not yet booked another package, your spot will still be secure - we just can not take on any new teams at this point.

If you have applied recently with us, and booked your assessment you are now considered a client of ours 🙂

If you are not yet a client and are wanting help/lessons you can still apply (send us an email/message to find how how) but we will put you onto our wait list untill we have availability.

Thank you so much for your support 🦮🐕‍🦺

14/07/2022

Check out our snazzy new application form! That’s right, we have finally moved on from the dinosaur 🦕 ages to make it easier for you!

🔸When you are filling out this application please be honest. The application is designed to collect history of your team.
Once you have completed you application we will do an in person suitability assessment and be testing some of the areas on this form practically in person. (Except for ZOOM/online clients).

🔸We do this so we can get a baseline of behaviour / training so we truely understand how to help your team and create those goals!

🔸Please note that not all dogs are suited to be an assistance dog.
If your dog displays aggressive behaviour they will not be suitable.
🔸However - if your dog is nervous around the vacuum or not confident with walking over different surfaces - these aspects can be improved 👍

🔸We are here to help you build a rock solid foundation, improve your dogs resilience, improve your dogs obedience, and help you to meet those minimum standards of behaviour and hygiene 🎉

07/07/2022

🔵MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ASSISTANCE DOGS 🔵 - as requested from my story question (DDA) - question is in reference to DOGS, as this is my animal.

🔵Now, there is a lot I left out in this video such as vet clearance, aggression/avoidance, resource guarding and proof of disability. However, the video would have been too long to pack everything in.
This was the question I was asked to interpret in regards to DDA and I tried my best to stick to that.
I could expand on this for HOURS, and this is something I normally do in depth in person.
You will see I had to stop myself multiple times from going deeper!

🔵Two things I need to expand on rewatching this is:
I believe ADs should be “leashed” because:
1. To abide by the leash and license laws.
2. For safety and communication.
Secondly - 3 seconds or less recovery.
This has been adapted from the GHAD model, personally (again my interpretation) I believe it’s a great standard and I often assess dogs recovery based on this model.

🔵Lastly - my opinion is also informed by seeing MANY different working teams. (For example; when I speak about equipment/leashes and being safe/effective in public spaces).

🔵Any questions please drop them below, or privately - by no means do I have any law background, my background and strength is training and behaviour. It should be noted this interpretation is influenced by practical experience, GHAD, and ADI.

30/06/2022

🙏

27/06/2022

🌸PTSD AWARENESS DAY 🌸

Today is a day to raise awareness for Posttraumattic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

“The more we know about PTSD and how to treat it, the more those affected, and their loved ones will know they aren’t alone, and help is available” -

www.phoenixaustralia.org/ptsd-awareness-day

25/06/2022

🌸Deep Pressure Stimulation - is gentle pressure to the individuals body. This can be done through, patting, cuddling, wrapping, laying on, and chin rests.

🌸DPS tasks can provide peace and relaxation to the individual. If DPS is done correctly it results in a calming effect to the nervous system.