Meet Leanne Hoogwerf
Leanne Hoogwerf is a GHAD certified trainer with a passion for dogs and a desire to make a difference in the lives of both animals and people.
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The Super Canine FAQ Page is an informative page that answers commonly asked questions, concerns or doubts regarding our training. Here you will find information regarding what services we provide and what we do not.
GHAD Training FAQs are answered using information provided by the Queensland government regarding Guide and Hearing Dogs and their full range of information can be found here.
We hope that by reading the answers below we can address common questions and provide quick solutions to visitors’ issues, but if you do not find the answer to your query below please do not hesitate to contact us any time.
An assistance dog is a dog that is trained to assist a person with a disability, to alleviate the effects of that disability and to meet standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for an animal in a public place. For more information regarding Assistance Dogs go
to https://www.qld.gov.au/disability/out-and-about/ghad
You will need to provide proof that you have a disability and that you would benefit from having an assistance dog to alleviate the symptoms of your disability.
To enter the Super Canine Assistance dog program, you must have a suitable dog.
Yes, we can help you to train your own dog to be an assistance dog. Although it is important to note that not all dogs are suitable to be assistance dogs for their owners.
Your dog must be fully vaccinated, microchipped, registered with your local council and desexed (when of appropriate age). The dog will also be required to pass several health,
temperament and behaviour related assessments.
An assistance dog is required to stay focused on the job, in the face of many different distractions. This could include children running and playing, inappropriate adults, overexcited dogs, people eating, loud noises, crowds, machinery equipment, traffic or loud music along with other things.
They should also have the confidence to ride on travelators, escalators lifts, trains, buses and ferries. They must be able to navigate slippery floors, changing surfaces and be able to focus for long periods of time under any condition. The dog should also be happy to do all of this. For these reasons, not all dogs are suitable to be a certified assistance dog, no matter
how emotionally and financially invested you are and have been.
Your dog will be expected to achieve a high level of obedience skills including loose lead walking under distraction, sit, down, stand and a reliable stay and recall.
Your dog will also be required to perform a minimum of 3 tasks that assist you with your
disability. When entering the program, it is not expected that your dog knows any tasks as
these will be trained throughout the program.
No. We do not supply or sell fully trained Assistance Dogs.
We help you train your own dog to be an Assistance Dog. In saying that please note that not all dogs are suitable to be Assistance Dogs.
If you do not have a suitable dog, we can assist in selecting and obtaining the right dog for you. Please contact us directly for more information regarding this service.
Any breed that is not a restricted or dangerous dog can be trained as an assistance dog. It is very important to use common sense in regards to the suitability of the size and breed of your dog. The dog must be physically, mentally, and genetically suitable to perform tasks necessary to be able to alleviate the symptoms of your disability.
Assistance dogs that are certified by us must complete ALL the requirements of the Super Canine Assistance Dog Program. We will not certify dogs that are not in our training
program.
If you are already training with another organisation and wish to transfer into the Super Canine Assistance dog program, you will be required to complete a statutory declaration stating you are no longer a member of the other organisation. As a courtesy, you should contact your previous trainer and let them know how you intend to change trainers, it may be helpful to have a letter of handover from your previous trainer to assist in a smooth transition between training techniques for you and your dog.
If you are training with another Guide, Hearing and Assistance dog trainer you will need to
provide a letter of referral.
As an approved trainer with Guide, Hearing and Assistance dogs Queensland. We support and assist clients to raise and train their own dogs as assistance dogs. We do not train/certify therapy/emotional support dogs.
Assistance dogs are trained to perform a range of tasks and behaviours for people with a disability to access and participate in the community.
Assistance dogs are not to be confused with therapy/emotional support/companion dogs. Such dogs are not considered an assistance or service dog, as the dog has not been trained to undertake specific, identifiable tasks and behaviours to reduce the person’s need for
support. The dog is therefore not recognised under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009.
Super Canine only works with adult who are a minimum of 18 years old and above.
Currently we are not taking on child clients.
Super Canine is in Nowra, NSW. We generally service only local and surrounding suburbs. It is very important that we can provide consistent and ongoing support to you and your dog therefore we must be able to do regular face to face visits.
Please find out more about our location on our Contact Page
Not unless you and you dog meet all the requirements to commence the Super Canine Assistance dog program and pass the PAT. Simply wanting to fly with your dog is not an adequate reason to have an assistance dog.
The dog must be at least 10 months old to commence training in the Super Canine Assistance dog program. This does not mean that you should not be training your dog prior to this age. In fact, it is essential that you begin training as soon as you get your puppy. Local
dog clubs and groups and puppy preschools can be a good way to start with basic obedience and correct and appropriate socialisation.
We will not certify a dog that is under 12 months of age and strongly recommend that the dog is 18-24 months old for PAT eligibility. It is important to wait for the dog to be mentally and physically mature enough to take on the huge responsibilities and behaviours of
assistance dog work.
Regardless of where your dog has come from or your own personal dog training competence, every prospective client is required to fill out an “Assistance Dog Application form”.
Before commencing the journey to having an assistance dog please consider the many aspects of training and owning an assistance dog entails.
Having an assistance dog with you 24 hours, 7 days a week is a serious commitment and not to be taken lightly. Having an assistance dog by your side every day, can and will attract a lot of potentially unwanted attention. The dog will attract children, adults and other dogs and you will need to be prepared and able to cope with some inappropriate interactions from the general public.
An assistance dog openly acknowledges you, the handler, as someone with a disability. It’s important to have support and guidance from friends, family, carers or other supportive people in your life before you embark on this journey
An assistance dog attracts attention to both you and your dog whether you like it or not. Other people and children will want to talk to you and touch your dog. Even though your dog will wear a vest with ‘Do not touch’ badges, other people just don’t read or care. This can be very frustrating and annoying. You will need to practice an appropriate phrase you can verbally deliver to the public and the responses to the various questions the public will ask about you and your dog.
Can you explain or describe how a dog would do a better job of assisting with your symptoms than a carer, friend, family member or a traditional disability aid?
Think about what you would like your dog to do for you? Some of these things may be realistic and some may not. Your trainer will work through the list with you.
People with certain types and levels of anxieties may not be good candidates for raising their own assistance dogs. You create the environment your animals live in and dog’s model what they see in their environment. If you are anxious, the dog may become anxious, and it
is difficult to train the dog to respond to an anxiety attack if they have been normalized to them. Sadly, many people fail due to this fact alone.
If your disability prevents you from accessing public places to train your dog, you will need a friend, family member or employ your trainer for regular dog training.
The answer to this question will depend on your disability. If you are non-ambulant, wheelchair bound or similar, you may require training assistance from a friend, family member or support worker, especially in the early stages of training.
If you have physical limitations that may impact on training your own dog, you will need
regular and consistent support from someone else.
This equates to approximately 120 to 540 hours. Most people need 12 to 18 months and beyond. Majority of people don’t realise that training is an ongoing requirement throughout the dog’s life.
Learn more about Understanding Dogs and the Training Process here
Leanne Hoogwerf is a GHAD certified trainer with a passion for dogs and a desire to make a difference in the lives of both animals and people.
Through his 20 years in the Navy, Ash has witnessed firsthand the power that dogs can have in supporting individuals with PTSD
Training continues for the entire working life of the dog. It is up to you to stay in touch with your trainer and uphold the high standard of training your dog needs to display at all times.
Please budget for ongoing training costs over the dog’s lifetime.
Learn more about Super Canine Assistance Dog Training Methods. Every dog and handler team will vary with the amount of training they require.
Super Canine support and assist
clients to raise and train their
own dogs as assistance dogs.