Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust

17/03/2025

Four of our lovely trainees—Paige, Nikau, Ken, and Olive—are embarking on exciting futures as pets.

Not every dog is suited to working, and their well-being always comes first. At ADNZT, every decision is made with the dog's best interests at heart.

🦮 Ken is a confident, smart, affectionate guy with a big personality. He loves being the center of attention and thrives when he’s busy. Ken has a playful side too, especially when he turns grabbing tea towels into a game of 'catch me if you can'! Ken's excitable nature and some health concerns led to his withdrawal. He'll thrive in his new home with people who can keep up with his wonderful energy.

🦮 Olive is a beautiful, well-mannered girl who enjoyed training, always greeting her trainer with a wagging tail and boundless energy. Sadly, Olive has faced some health challenges, which can be managed with medication, but mean she can't continue as an Assistance Dog. She will make her new family very happy.

🦮 Nikau is a sweet, sensitive dog who prefers to take things slow. He's a little unsure in new situations but becomes affectionate and playful once he feels safe—his favorite game is tug! Nikau will thrive in his new home with a family who can help him build confidence with a calm, steady approach.

🦮 Paige had a challenging start with her health, resulting in several moves, but she developed into a confident, loving, well-behaved dog with an amazing temperament. She spent lots of time working with children in schools alongside her Puppy Raisers and was loved by all who met her. Unfortunately, Paige recently started becoming suspicious of some people and would randomly bark at them without an obvious reason. Paige will be happy living with her wonderful Puppy Raisers who are adopting her.

We thank these special dogs for their service in our training program and wish them all the best for their futures with their new families 🥰

Thank you to everyone involved in these dogs' journeys—our puppy raisers, boarders, and staff. We couldn't do our work without you and your contributions are so appreciated 💙

16/03/2025

We're pleased to introduce you to our newest recruits by name... STANLEY AND SCARLET 😍

These precious pups are proudly named by our supporters Stanley St. and Scarlet Trust 💙

These fluff balls have an important journey ahead, and we can't wait to share updates with you along the way.

Could they be any cuter?!?! 😭

13/03/2025

We featured in The Press this week! 💙📖

Check out this video of one of our client families, and team member Hannah talking about the impact of our dogs 🥰

The charity had expected to keep applications for new assistance dogs open for two weeks, but had met demand within two hours.

09/03/2025

We're so proud of Rufio, one of our 19 puppies in development 🦮💙

This clever boy recently attended a Crusaders game. As many of you will know, this can be an extremely busy and loud environment (and for a wee pup, potentially quite overwhelming!)

Rufio's puppy raiser says he was an absolute champ and sat through the whole game without a worry. He was also calm when maneuvering through the crowds at the end of the game. Quite impressive for an 11-month-old puppy!

This was a great training opportunity, as Assistance Dogs must be comfortable in busy environments so that they can accompany their client wherever they need to go.

Rufio will be due to start formal training later this year, and we can't wait to see him continue to progress 🥰

06/03/2025

Look at these CUTIES!!! 😍😍😍

We’re so excited to introduce you to the newest additions to Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust and Mobility Dogs! 💙🦮💚

2 siblings from this adorable litter are joining ADNZT, while 3 are starting their journeys with Mobility Dogs - talk about high-achieving siblings! 👀💪

We look forward to seeing them progress in the early stages of their training, and we can't wait to share more updates with you soon (including their sweet names) 🥰

05/03/2025

Congratulations, Gavin! 💙🥳🏆

This sweet boy has officially graduated and begun his working life.

Gavin is a sensitive chap and is incredibly gentle and patient with the young children in his new family.

Gavin is trained to assist his young client with deep pressure therapy, providing a calming, gentle weight across his client’s legs. When his client is in a wheelchair, Gavin can apply gentle pressure by resting his chin in their lap to help soothe them following seizures. The goal is for Gavin to recognise his client’s body cues during seizures and perform this task without needing a verbal command. He can also retrieve items to support his client’s daily needs.

The entire ADNZT team would like to thank everyone who has been part of Gavin’s journey — from his dedicated puppy raisers and boarders to our wonderful donors, sponsors, and supporters. It truly takes a village to raise an Assistance Dog, and we couldn't be prouder of everyone involved.

We wish Gavin and his family all the best for their exciting future together! 🥰

Photo taken by

04/03/2025

Happy belated 2nd birthday to Jasmine, one of our lovely dogs in formal training 🦮🎂

Look how far she's come! 🥹

We're also thinking of her sister Jay Jay who's now living her best life as a family pet 🥰

02/03/2025

Due to overwhelming demand, we have reached capacity and are unable to accept further applications at this time.

We know how long many families have been waiting for this opportunity, highlighting the urgent need for more support to Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust.

As a not-for-profit organisation that receives no government funding, we rely entirely on the generosity of our donors, sponsors, volunteers and supporters to continue this life-changing work. Each dog Assistance Dog costs $75,000 to raise, train and support throughout its working life. While our resources are limited, our commitment to helping New Zealanders living with disabilities remains unwavering.

If you missed out this time, we encourage you to keep an eye on our page, website, and newsletter for future reopening announcements. We have undertaken a review of our staffing and strategy, with the goal of reopening applications more frequently in the future.

If you did manage to apply, we are carefully assessing applications to determine eligibility and suitability. This process may take up to 6 weeks and we will contact you as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience.

If you have any questions regarding applications, please contact us at [email protected]

To our incredible supporters, thank you - your generosity makes our work possible, and with your continued support, we can reach even more New Zealanders who need our help 💙

28/02/2025

Assistance Dog Applications are open! 💙🦮

We encourage you to take action quickly, as applications will close as soon as capacity is reached.

Apply and see our eligibility criteria here: www.assistancedogstrust.org.nz/apply-for-an-assistance-dog

This is a huge milestone for ADNZT, after our waitlist being closed since 2022. Thank you to our donors, volunteers, sponsors, staff and the wider community for making this possible.

We look forward to supporting more young New Zealanders in need of an Assistance Dog 🐾

27/02/2025

🌟 February Employee of the Month 🌟

This month, Assistance Dog Jojo went above and beyond to keep her handler, Kat, safe in a dangerous situation. This story is a powerful reminder of just how life-changing these dogs can be. Here’s Kat’s firsthand account of what happened:

"Jojo truly saved my life yesterday and kept me safe during a really scary situation. An Uber Assist driver kept moving his pickup location, forcing me to walk further than I physically could.

He took so long to find me that I had to sit on the side of the road in the sun and wait. Jojo alerted me that I was in the danger zone and wouldn’t let me stand up because I likely would have passed out. The driver eventually found me but expected me to cross a busy main road to get to him."

I'm so grateful Jojo was firm and kept me sitting because if I had tried to stand, I likely would have collapsed in the middle of the road. The Uber driver eventually cancelled my ride, leaving me on the side of the road, in and out of consciousness, unable to stand or move.

Jojo stayed calm the entire time, helped me get my phone so I could call for help, and made sure I was never truly alone. Because Jojo was with me, a stranger and her family noticed us, recognised Jojo was a service dog, and stopped to check if I needed help. They moved me to the shade and stayed with me until my emergency contact arrived.

Through it all, Jojo was incredibly professional and never left my side. She licked my face when I started losing consciousness or shutting down from the stress. Once I was home, her deep pressure helped stop a full-blown meltdown. She always knows how to cheer me up with her playful, silly side, and it worked like a charm.

It was an exhausting and terrifying experience, but Jojo took it all in stride. She did her job perfectly and handled everything like a champ, which meant no hospital, no ambulance, and no bad outcomes.

And I’m not left so traumatised that I can’t leave the house again—because this proved that I can, as long as she’s with me. She’s always there to keep me safe and help me get through the hard things." — Kat (Jojo's handler)

Incredible work, Jojo! We are so proud of you. You can read more about Jojo and Kat here: https://www.assistancedogstrust.org.nz/post/kat-and-jojo 💙

Does your Assistance Dog or puppy in training deserve a shout-out? Nominate them to be our next 'Employee of the Month'! Send their name and why they deserve next month's award to [email protected]. We’re excited to celebrate the achievements of our hardworking puppies and dogs! 🥰🦮

22/02/2025

Are you interested in applying for an Assistance Dog? Please take a moment to read the important information in this post.

We have made some changes to our application eligibility criteria to improve access for those we can support most effectively. The aim of these adjustments is to consolidate our point of difference within the New Zealand service dog sector and to better align our services with an early intervention approach.

ADNZT is the only internationally accredited service dog organisation in New Zealand that provides disability assist dogs to children under the age of 16. We know from academic research and experience that early intervention results in greater long-term health outcomes. Our vision is to provide the most effective assistance possible for individuals living with disabilities and their families, creating a ripple effect to better serve our communities.

Applicants Must:
☑️ Apply on or before their 18th birthday.
☑️ Have a diagnosis of at least one of the following primary disabilities:
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Cerebral Palsy
• Brain Injury
• Down syndrome
• Or another neurological or physical disability

We will consider applications where the applicant has:
☑️ Epilepsy, ADHD, or Sensory Processing Disorder as a secondary diagnosis, provided they have at least one of the primary disabilities listed above.

Please note, to be accredited as a disability assist dog, each dog must perform at least three tasks that directly benefit their client, as per Assistance Dogs International (ADI) standards.

We understand that these updates may affect individuals who have been hoping to apply for an Assistance Dog, and we sincerely acknowledge any disappointment this may cause. We appreciate your understanding as we move forward with these changes and focus on providing the best possible outcomes for the New Zealanders we serve.

📅 Applications Open: Midday, Saturday 1st March 2025
📅 Applications Close: Friday 14th March (or earlier if capacity is reached)

💙 The application form will be available on our website from midday Saturday, 1st March 2025.
💙 The online form will take approximately 30–60 minutes to complete. The form asks general questions about the applicant, their diagnosis, capability and living situation.
💙 No supporting documentation is required at this stage.

https://www.assistancedogstrust.org.nz/apply-for-an-assistance-dog

The ADNZT Client Services Team will carefully assess applications to determine eligibility and suitability. This process may take up to 6 weeks.

Please note, submitting an expression of interest application form does not guarantee that the applicant will be accepted to join our official waiting list to receive an Assistance Dog.

Thank you so much to the generous support of our sponsors, donors, volunteers, and the wider community who have made it possible for us to take this step in re-opening Assistance Dog applications.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at [email protected] 🐾

17/02/2025

Last week, our Puppy Development Coordinator, Naida, hosted a fantastic puppy class in Hamilton with Rose, Ruby, Robbie, Queenie and their puppy raisers.

The pups worked on important skills like food refusal—learning to ignore food unless given by their handler—settling in their bed, lead work, and general obedience.

A big thanks to our wonderful puppy raisers for making it such a great session 💛🥰🦮

13/02/2025

Happy Valentine’s Day from Mr. Ronnie and the whole ADNZT team! 💕🥰🐶

Today is about celebrating love in all its forms—friendship, family, and of course the special bond we share with our pets.

Ronnie sends you his best puppy cuddles and hopes you feel the love today ❤️

12/02/2025

Queenie and Uncle frank - Oh how times have changed! 🤭

11/02/2025

Sooo, what do you think of Uni in his new training jacket? 🤔😍

VERY cute in our opinion!

09/02/2025

Obi’s ready to take on another week of Formal Training with Hannah in Christchurch! 💪🥳

Right now, we’ve got 13 dogs in Formal Training—the most we’ve EVER had!—plus 18 puppies in development. That’s 31 dogs in our programmes, which is amazing… but it also means our costs are high.

To everyone who donates regularly—thank you! Your support makes this possible 💙

If you haven’t donated before or can give a little extra, now is a great time to help. Every donation, big or small, goes directly toward training these incredible dogs so they can change the lives of New Zealanders living with disabilities.

Please consider donating today: https://www.assistancedogstrust.org.nz/make-a-donation 🦮

05/02/2025

Here’s a wee update on our handsome boy, Rufio! 😍

Rufio recently stayed with some wonderful boarders and had quite an eventful week! He visited the pool, library, hospital, a mountain bike race, watched planes, and even went shopping.

His boarders said he was a sweet, gentle boy who was very well-behaved and easy to look after (good boy, Rufio!!! 🥰).

He’s making great progress in our Puppy Development Programme, along with his 10 siblings, and is on track to start Formal Training later this year 🙌

We're so proud of all our 'R' litter pups and incredibly grateful to all puppy raisers and boarders involved 💙💙💙

03/02/2025

Happy 2nd birthday to Izzak and Izzy!!! Look how far they've come 🥹

Izzak’s working hard in Formal Training to become an Assistance Dog, and sister Izzy is helping create the next generation of Assistance Dogs, recently having her first puppy, Uni 🥰

Thank you to everyone who’s been a part of Izzak and Izzy’s journeys so far - they wouldn’t be where they are without you!🦮🤍