28/03/2025
This month, we put one of our Assistance Dog Trainers, Aaron, in the hot seat, asking him some fascinating questions about his work.
Aaron grew up immersed in the world of service dogs, with his mother founding and leading a service dog agency in the United States. Aaron's childhood home was often full of litters of puppies. Aaron eventually joined the training department where he worked for several years. Aaron also has experience working with reactive pet dogs and sport/competition dogs.
We were lucky to gain Aaron as a staff member in November 2023, and he's since been working with our Formal Training Dogs based in Christchurch. One of Aaron's most recent achievements was training Assistance Dog Gavin, who recently graduated.
💙 What was the most memorable part of your training journey with Gavin?
The most memorable part of my training journey was day one with Gav. I travelled to Auckland to collect him and brought him back to Christchurch to start his Formal Training journey. He settled so quickly in the motel (a brand-new environment with a complete stranger...me)
The first night, I could already tell how quickly he would be able to bond with his future partner. Not knowing what he might do, I was nervous for the first night sleeping in the motel with him. Once I got into bed, Gav immediately curled up in a ball on the floor between the bed and the wall to be as close to me as possible.
Seeing his adaptability and the affection he was already showing (thanks to his puppy raiser and his time on the Puppy Development Programme) - all factors that helped him graduate and be placed with his family a year later!
💙 What is something people may not know about training an Assistance Dog?
I think something people might not realise is how many resources are put into training a single Assistance Dog, and how many people are involved in the process.
It starts with funding. ADNZT doesn’t receive any government funding, so everything comes from fundraising and the support of the community. After funding, we have dedicated volunteers raising and socialising the puppies, and then they move on to Formal Training, sometimes even between traveling islands depending on resources.
The dogs go through an intensive process, and it is not just the Formal Training team working with the dogs; there’s a breeding department, a Puppy Development team, and of course our volunteers who are integral to the dogs’ development.
By the time these dogs are placed with their new family, multiple hands have shaped their journey. It takes a village!
💙 What aspect of assistance dog training interests you the most and why?
Many aspects of Assistance Dog training interest me, but the most rewarding is task training - training the dogs to perform skills that directly improve someone's quality of life, whether it’s retrieving items, providing stability when going up and down stairs, or providing deep pressure -it’s incredibly fulfilling.
When the dogs enter Formal Training, they already have some basic obedience and exposure to many environments, which makes it easier to focus on specific task training. It’s fascinating to evaluate each dog’s strengths and weaknesses over several months of intensive training - some tasks they excel at, and others they may struggle with, but it’s a rewarding challenge to help them grow in these areas.
💙 What is the most interesting thing you have learned about dogs and humans through your work?
The most interesting thing I‘ve learned is how much patience is involved, both with the dogs and the humans. Working with Assistance Dogs is a long-term commitment and there are many factors that influence a dog's success - including their bond with the handler and how they adapt to new environments.
When working with handlers, I’ve seen how important it is for the dog to respond to cues in a way that aligns with the handler's individual communication style, which is sometimes affected by their accent or specific phrasing.
Patience is key, especially when a dog is transitioning to a new handler or environment. Dogs are incredibly perceptive, and sometimes they will pause before acting, making sure they understand what is being asked of them.
💙 Which dogs are you training at the moment?
I’m currently working with Jasmine and Nina - both are progressing well. In the coming month, I’ll also start working with some new dogs who are entering our Formal Training Programme.
Currently, I am focusing on retrieval tasks with both Jasmine and Nina. The goal is to assess their ability to pick up objects and return them when asked. I’m also evaluating their potential for tethering work – this is where the dog is attached to a child, and the dog is handled by the parents. The idea is that if the child were to suddenly take off, the dog would respond appropriately, giving the parents time to engage and ensure the child’s safety.
With all specialty task training, we always asses not only the dogs’ ability but also their enjoyment of the tasks. Since we can't verbally communicate with the dogs and explain why tasks are crucial, much of the training is game-based. We want the dogs to have fun while performing their tasks repeatedly. Though they may not understand the seriousness of the situation, they grasp cause and effect: if they do their job well, there's a reward - lots of treats, pets, and sometimes even a game of fetch with their favourite ball.
💙 Anything else you would like to share?
One thing I would love to share is that once our dogs are placed with a family, they truly become undercover superheroes. People often ask, "Do they get time to just be a dog?" and the answer is absolutely! While our dogs are always on call, ready to work when needed, they also enjoy a well-balanced life. They get to have fun and be dogs - whether it’s playing on the beach, going on playdates with other dogs, running through the forest, or having walks around the neighbourhood.
Part of our assessment process is ensuring that our dogs are adaptable and eager to accompany their families to a variety of places. It is not unusual to see an Assistance Dog hanging out at a café and soaking up the sun while their family enjoys a coffee. But don’t be fooled - these dogs are always ready to work.
Providing purpose-trained Assistance Dogs to enrich the lives of Kiwis living with a disability 🐾
