Therapy Dog Services
DISCOVER THE POWER OF THERAPY DOG VISITS AND THEIR IMPACT ON PEOPLE
Brisbane’s Largest Therapy Dog Services Provider
We offer professional therapy dog services (visits) with handler/dog teams that are trained, certified and insured.
Aim & intended outcomes
Therapy dogs have a profound ability to positively impact people’s emotional well-being. At our organisation, we take pride in providing professional therapy dog services, exclusively employing paid and insured handlers who have undergone rigorous training and certification with us.
Our handlers are also currently working, accomplished professionals in various fields, including medicine, education, law enforcement, corporate management and mental health services.
Unlike other therapy dog providers, we ensure that our dog/handler teams are fully prepared to deliver the best therapy dog experience. The in-person nature of our training, conducted both at our training facility and in real-world settings, sets us apart from online alternatives.
These well-trained and certified teams work tirelessly to create a comforting and uplifting environment for individuals in need. Interacting with therapy dogs has been scientifically shown to release feel-good hormones, reduce stress and anxiety, and boost overall mood and well-being. This transformative impact makes therapy dog visits an invaluable asset to any organisation or workplace seeking to enhance the emotional health of its people.
❤️ Important: Assistance Dogs vs Therapy Dogs
Although assistance dogs and therapy dogs are both specially trained and provide incredible support, they have very different roles, legal rights, and training requirements.
>>> Learn more here: ASSISTANCE vs THERAPY DOGS
Where can therapy dogs make a difference?
Therapy dogs are the heartwarming companions that can uplift any workplace or organisation. From corporate offices seeking to foster a more relaxed and collaborative atmosphere, to hospitals aiming to comfort patients and staff and schools wishing to create a nurturing learning environment, therapy dogs work wonders.
To date our therapy dog services have enhanced the overall well-being of residents, patients, and clients. in;
• senior care facilities
• funeral homes
• rehabilitation centres
• government agencies
• counselling practices
We have even arranged for therapy dog services to visit;
• NDIS participants
• end of life / palliative patients
• domestic abuse survivor shelters
• teen care providers
• airports
• universities, and
• private homes
No matter the setting, therapy dogs create a warm and inviting space, offering the priceless gift of emotional support and positivity.
Suited to
Any group or situation needing a positive experience
Duration
1-4 hour sessions
From
$220 incl GST
Therapy dog services
• $220 per hour for professional therapy dog services (visits) with handler/dog teams that are trained, certified and insured.
(all prices are including GST)
Assistance Dogs vs Therapy Dogs
Although assistance dogs and therapy dogs are both specially trained and provide incredible support, they have very different roles, legal rights, and training requirements.
🐕 Assistance Dogs
An assistance dog is trained to support one person with a disability or medical condition. These dogs perform specific tasks that help their handler live more independently and safely.
This may include guiding a person with vision impairment, alerting to medical episodes, assisting with mobility, interrupting anxiety or PTSD symptoms, or responding to seizures.
Assistance dogs are considered working dogs — not pets — and are legally permitted to accompany their handler into public places under Australian disability legislation.
Examples of assistance dog tasks include:
- Guiding someone with low vision or blindness
- Alerting to seizures or blood sugar changes
- Providing mobility support and retrieval assistance
- Assisting with autism, PTSD, or psychiatric disabilities
- Interrupting panic attacks or self-harming behaviours
📘 Public Access Test (PAT)
In Queensland, guide, hearing, and assistance dogs are required to complete a Public Access Test (PAT) as part of the certification process.
The PAT is a vital assessment designed to ensure dogs can behave safely and effectively in public environments, including public transport, accommodation venues, shopping centres, and other community spaces.
The PAT is conducted annually and assesses:
- Calm, safe, and controlled behaviour in busy public environments
- Reliable obedience and responsiveness
- Confidence when using lifts, doors, escalators, and public transport
- The dog’s ability to safely support the handler’s individual needs where applicable
To maintain certification, assistance dogs must undergo annual reassessment and regular skill updating.
Certified dogs are also required to wear an official guide, hearing, or assistance dog badge on their harness or coat, and handlers must carry identification cards when accessing public places.
For more information about the Public Access Test and certification requirements in Queensland, please refer to the Attorney-General’s Department or the Australian Human Rights Commission.
❤️ Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort, emotional support, and companionship to many people rather than one specific handler.
They commonly visit hospitals, schools, aged care facilities, counselling centres, and community programs to help reduce stress and improve wellbeing.
Unlike assistance dogs, therapy dogs do not have public access rights and are not trained to perform disability-specific tasks for an individual.
Therapy dogs may assist by:
- Providing emotional comfort in hospitals or aged care
- Supporting children in reading or learning programs
- Helping reduce stress and anxiety in clinical or workplace settings
- Offering calm companionship during therapy sessions
⚖️ The Key Difference
The main difference is that an assistance dog is individually trained to support a person with a disability and has legal public access rights, while a therapy dog provides emotional support and comfort to groups of people in approved settings.
Both roles are incredibly valuable, but they serve different purposes within the community.
🧠 Our Training Approach at TASAA
At TASAA, all of our training methodologies are built around rewarding and reinforcing calm, balanced, and clear-headed behaviours in every dog we work with.
We focus on developing reliable responses, emotional regulation, confidence, and strong handler engagement through positive, structured training methods.
We can certainly assist you in preparing your dog for public environments and help build the skills required for successful public access work.
However, TASAA does not conduct or perform the official Public Access Test (PAT) assessment.
Handlers seeking PAT certification will need to complete their formal assessment through an approved assessor or authorised organisation.
PLEASE NOTE
At our core, we deeply value the positive impact of animal-assisted therapy, placing a strong emphasis on the importance of well-behaved dogs and skilled handlers.
Recent news has highlighted a few instances of therapy dog services not meeting expectations – it is our understanding that these dog/handler teams were unpaid and uninsured volunteers. They had received their training and certification via an online course where they self-report – having never been properly tested or proofed in-person by a professional.
When selecting a therapy dog provider, we strongly advise considering the following criteria:
1. Ensure they employ professional teams with extensive in-person training.
2. Confirm they carry insurance specifically covering therapy dog services.
3. Verify that they are subject to ongoing evaluation and review by their training and placement provider to maintain the highest standards.
OPTIONAL INTERACTION
Although we at Therapy and Support Animals love all dogs, we understand that not everyone does and certain religious beliefs, allergies and/or cultural beliefs may preclude interaction.
For that reason, our Team will typically remain stationary in an open area so those who wish to pat / love and cuddle our dogs can do so while the choice is also there not to be involved.
You may also be interested in:
One on One Training
Private hourly lessons by appointment
Private training accommodates time-constrained owners unable to commit to group courses or dogs that struggle in group settings or show extreme reactivity.
One-on-One sessions cater to all dogs, from puppies to the unruly to those aspiring to be therapy/support dogs, seeking behavior refinement, proofing, and real-world location training.
Great for addressing specific issues or as a refresher dog training course.
Intensive Obedience Course
4-day program
This essential course establishes the foundation for a strong bond between dog and owner. Our objective is to educate dog owners, providing them with effective training methods and problem-solving abilities.
The outcome is a well-balanced family dog, comfortable both at home and in the community.
Yes! This is THE course that you’ve heard about.
Trick Training for Dogs
12 hours over 2 days (Saturday & Sunday)
Elevate your dog’s well-being with our Trick Training course, designed to enhance mental stimulation and strengthen your bond.
Addressing boredom-related behavior problems, this course fosters patience, boosts confidence, improves focus amidst distractions, and releases excess energy.
Our comprehensive 2 day trick training course is open to all breeds, sizes, and ages, it’s a rewarding experience for both dog and human.