Understanding Assistance Dogs

It is a journey that requires careful consideration, understanding, and commitment. In this book, you will find a valuable resource for anyone seeking the benefits of an assistance dog. Within the pages, you will learn the roadmap to empowerment, for you and your companion.

In this book, you will learn:

• Identify which trained skills an assistance dog could provide to mitigate the effects of your disability.
• Determine whether you can form a mutually beneficial relationship with an assistance dog.
• The many factors to consider, including considerations for your ability to care for the dog, your lifestyle, your support system, home, work, school, other personal factors, etc.
• Decide—if it turns out that an assistance dog can assist your disability and you can form a mutually beneficial relationship—what method of getting and working with an assistance dog is best for you.

This book is not your typical guide. It is a transformative and powerful tool that will help you to navigate your capacity to care and provide mutual support for your assistance dog. To learn more, get a copy now!

Jennifer Gravrok has been studying and working with assistance dog organizations, clients, and assistance dogs since 2016. She completed her PhD in December 2019 at La Trobe University, where she studied the benefits and challenges that first-time assistance dog handlers experience. She worked with people who received a variety of types of assistance dogs from different organizations around Australia and the world. Her doctoral thesis was awarded the Nancy Millis Award for exceptional merit, rated in the top 5 percent of theses examined.

During this time, she also did volunteer work, assisting in raising and training numerous dogs at different stages, from puppies to fully trained assistance dogs.