ASSISTANCE DOG TRAINING & CERTIFICATION

Assistance Dog Training & Certification

Kirsten’s Pup 2 Dog Training offers specialised assistance dog training and certification, supporting a limited intake of five to six assistance dog teams per year to ensure each team receives the highest level of individualised support.

With over 10 years’ experience in the dog training industry, Kirsten is a qualified Guide Dog Trainer who has worked under the International Guide Dog Training Federation (IGDF). Throughout her career, she has successfully trained and placed over 62 qualified guide dogs and supported more than 20 assistance dog teams, working across multiple organisations as well as with self-training owners. Kirsten has experience working with a wide range of breeds—not just Labradors—including Cavaliers, Cattle Dog crosses, Schnauzers and more.

Kirsten specialises in assistance dog suitability assessments, task training, and public access training and testing, with a strong focus on ensuring dogs are ethically, behaviourally, and temperamentally appropriate for assistance work. She continues to work for Guide Dogs NSW in a Therapy Dog Specialist role, where she is actively and continuously practising her skill set in her full-time position, while also offering this specialised knowledge and experience through Kirsten’s Pup 2 Dog Training to her private clients.

For new clients enquiring about assistance dog certification, we strongly recommend beginning with a home consultation and assessment. This allows us to evaluate your dog’s suitability, discuss your specific needs, and develop a clear training pathway before committing to an organisation or formal certification process. If you are already working with, or have been referred by, an organisation, we can still begin with an assessment to ensure training plans are aligned and realistic.

In addition to assistance dog training, Kirsten has extensive experience working with dogs in schools, facilities, nursing homes, visiting dog programs, and therapy settings. All required Working With Children Checks and Police Checks are held.

Kirsten’s Pup 2 Dog Training is able to assess and accredit assistance dogs through PAT Dogs Australia and also maintains professional working relationships with other recognised organisations.

Initial Assistance Dog Assessment & Consultation 

Price: $450 (including GST)
Duration:  2–2.5 hours

This initial Assistance Dog Assessment and Consultation is designed for new clients who have not previously worked with us and are enquiring about assistance dog training.

The session includes:

  • A professional recommendation letter

  • A formal, individualised training plan

The assessment is conducted first in the home, followed by time spent in a local public environment, where foot traffic and real-life scenarios allow for a comprehensive evaluation of your dog’s behaviour, temperament, and suitability for assistance dog work.

This process ensures a clear and realistic training pathway before progressing to formal training or certification.

Getting Started

To get started, whether you are working independently or through an organisation, please complete our assistance dog enquiry form, and we will be in touch to discuss next steps.