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Psychological Assistance Dogs

Guide Dogs Queensland goes above and beyond to provide the best support possible to clients with PTSD.
Image shows a PTSD assistance dog sitting on grass.

GDQ is currently developing a new service to support members of the community with a formal PTSD diagnosis. The service builds on our 65-year history of breeding, raising, and training as well as its commitment to co-design and client-centric care.

Image shows a black service dog laying in grass.

Skills to alleviate symptoms

PTSD Dogs can perform a large array of skills to address clients’ symptoms, enhancing our client’s independence and allowing them to navigate the world with confidence. These range from the preservation of personal space and grounding during flashbacks through touch, waking their handler from a nightmare to the interruption of distress.

GDQ goes above and beyond to provide the best support possible to clients with PTSD.

There are four specific advantages we offer:

Purpose-bred dogs

Our world-class dog breeding centre uses insights from our colony and the international working dog registry to maximise the likelihood of good health, behavioural suitability and a successful client match. This reduces long-term medical costs and provides a strong foundation on which to raise a wonderful, highly trained dog.

Early socialisation and education

Our dogs receive their own version of early years education through our puppy socialisation and education program. This ensures that our dogs remain calm and well-disciplined around distractions such as other dogs and crowds. Our dogs are a constant, not a variable.

World-class training and animal welfare

While many assistance animals are trained to complete 3 tasks, ours are trained to carry out 25-30 tasks. These range from high-level obedience and environmental soundness to symptom alleviation and life-skills support. Importantly, we work with psychologists to understand the best skillset for each client, enabling co-design during the training process.

Client support

Each dog has its own unique personality and physical attributes, so we take the client-dog matching process very seriously. Our aim isn’t just to place dogs but to ensure a successful long-term match by providing extensive, pre- and post-placement support.

We prioritise clients based on the best match to our qualified PTSD Dogs.

Please note, there are specific criteria that we need applicants to meet to be considered for placement of a PTSD Dog, which will increase the likelihood of successful outcomes:

  • A formal diagnosis of PTSD from a registered psychologist, who has provided ongoing support for more than 6 months.
  • Physical and mental capacity to handle and work with a large breed dog (Labrador).
  • A supportive home environment.
  • The ability and willingness to undertake a training program and learn new skills/tasks.

We are currently piloting our service. If you would like to express interest in our service, please do so through our feedback form.

Exclusions

GDQ provides a full-service PTSD Dog program but does not act as a contract dog trainer for 3rd parties. As such, we do not:

  • Accredit owner-trained dogs
  • Work with dogs/breeds outside our colony of Labradors

While GDQ does place facility dogs with institutions for various purposes, we do not currently provide dogs for conditions other than PTSD at this stage (e.g. autism, seizure alerts).

Image shows a yellow Labrador ptsd dog, laying on grass.

Resources

  • PTSD Dogs Brochure

    Find out more about our Psychological Assistance Dogs.

    Download
Sorry, there are no resources.
Name
Residential Address
Mailing Address
Do you have a formal diagnosis of PTSD from a Mental Health Professional?
Have you been seeing your Mental Health Professional for longer than 6 months?
Are you a Veteran or active member of the Australian Military?
Are you currently serving or have you previously served as a first responder?

To be considered for placement of a PTSD Dog, applicants will be required to provide the following information:

  • Detailed Assistance Dog application form
  • Medical report completed with your primary care physician
  • Mental health report completed by your mental health professional
  • Support person reference (completed by a family member, friend, etc.)

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