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K9 Assistance Australia

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24.01.2022 What a great start to 2021! K9 Zora (GSD) has been confirmed in whelp. To early to tell how many she will have, that will be confirmed closer to her due date in early Feb. This will be K9AA's inaugural breeding program litter with our beautiful Zora. Our national breeding partner of GSD's is Bluburra kennels. Di and Ian have experience breeding but also understand what is needed for a successful Assistance dog prospect. Quite different from that of a show dog. They have firs...t hand experience in co raising and training Assistance dogs with K9AA. A HUGE shoutout to #bendigoveterinaryclinic For all the love and care they have provided Zora (and us humans) over past couple of weeks, ensuring Zora is in safe and capable hands during this process. Best vets we have ever used! Onwards and upwards and cheers to 2021 and great beginnings.

23.01.2022 These are some of the current K9AA lockdown recruits! News just in, that as of 11:59pm tonight the entire state of Victoria is in Stage 4 restrictions. Just like last time, this pack will find a way to weather throughout the Covid crisis. Including to continue supporting those with disabilities as we have been. This team are definitely essential workers, now more than ever! #assistancedogs #assistancedogintraining #k9assistanceaustralia #behindbars #lockdown #stage4restrictions #germanshepherdpuppy #labrador #dogs #puppies #teamwork #disability #essentialworkers

23.01.2022 Working dogs are still dogs. They also require healthy work/life balance. Down time, off lead time, play time, interaction with other dogs and people. The ability to use their most important sense- smell is important enrichment and relaxation. ... A reminder that a partnership is give & take. Remember to let you K9 partner, have off time from public access manners (for some this means out of vest). Where there are other non-working dogs and an exciting environment, let them too be free and in the moment. Save the perfect manners for when they are in spaces that only other working dogs are permitted.

22.01.2022 Understanding Polyvagal Theory:

21.01.2022 K9Jojo loving the Saturday afternoon late Italian lunch vibes @ Borchelli Ristorante #goodvibes #goodboy #k9jojo #k9assistanceaustralia #assistancedogs #germanshepherd #servicedogs #gsd #workinglife

21.01.2022 Quote from one of our NDIS participants: "Since working with K9AA I’ve been able to remain calm inside crowded and social environments without breaking. Further more K9AA was the best thing that has happened to me." In these photo's the participant is accessing community in a meaningful way to achieve his daily goals of independent living. With the support of our K9 trainers and K9AA program dogs, shopping days are good days, these days. ... #assistancedogs #servicedogs #ndis #kindwords #insights #observations #feedback #k9aa #k9assistanceaustralia #k9remi #gsd #germanshepherd #teamworkmakesthedreamwork

21.01.2022 Reposted from @magic.assistancedogintraining So this little fella graduated puppy pre-school! He was really only there to make friends and the treats! He is now moving onto bigger challenges by also passing his Assistance Dog suitability test and is already showing signs of wanting to work and support Aspen. We can’t wait to be part of the @k9assistanceaustralia team! #magicboy #blacklabrador #futureassistancedog #aboyandhisdog #topoftheclass #keepthecalm #bestthingwehavedone #puppylove #k9partner

20.01.2022 Autism is a dynamic disability. What this means is capacity & functioning are not concrete & may fluctuate dependent on factors such as environment, cognition..., executive function, processing capacity, Interoception/exteroception, neuro-fatigue, anxiety, communication differences, burnout & sensory overwhelm. This means Autistics may be capable of a task one day, but unable to perform the task at another. See more

20.01.2022 Repost from @mydogpal.dog

20.01.2022 Happy 1st Birthday K9 Astra. You are a calm, chilled out long stock coat GSD. You are loyal and gentle to your humans and you enjoy working in partnership. Your intelligent eyes keep us accountable and your ability to track and find the littlest human is honourable. Here is to starting your advanced training. Big Shout out to Astra's litter mates. K9AA Dave (ADiT), Asta, and Kaiser (gone, but not forgotten). #birthday #firstbirthday #assistancedogintraining #gsd #germanshepherd #longstockcoatgsd #k9astra #k9assistanceaustralia

20.01.2022 Early humans moved from scavenging and small-game hunting to big-game hunting by living in larger, socially more-complex groups, learning to hunt in packs, and developing powers of cooperation and negotiation in complex situations. As these are characteristics of wolves, dogs and humans, it can be argued that these behaviors were enhanced once wolves and humans began to cohabit. Communal hunting led to communal defense. Wolves actively patrol and defend their scent-marked ter...ritory, and perhaps humans had their sense of territoriality enhanced by living with wolves.[120] One of the keys to recent human survival has been the forming of partnerships. Today, the most widespread form of inter-species bonding occurs between humans and dogs. The concept of friendship has ancient origins but it may have been enhanced through the inter-species relationship to give a survival advantage.[120][121] See more

20.01.2022 First leg complete. Bendigo to Syd, nice smooth landing, beautiful sunrise and ocean views. Next stop: Brisvagas! Qantas QantasLink Pilots #thankful #smoothlanding

20.01.2022 "Even the darkest nights will end, and the sun will raise." K9 Onyx pondering what the new day holds, after a long night. For now, his handler sleeps. ... #assistancedogs #servicedogs #gooddays #baddays #onduty #offduty #loyalty #commitment #growth #learning #sunrise #blacklab #labradors #beach

19.01.2022 Rise & Shine! K9AA recruit Rocky (12 weeks) ready to rumble. Today is his first day, out in the big wide world. Already linking the boots with work. #gsd #puppy #lscgsd #germanshepherdpuppy #germanshepherd #k9recruit #k9aa #k9rocky #assistancedogprospect

18.01.2022 Having gratitude for your team mates. Especially at this time of year when most people are having a break. Instead they offer compassion to others that may be struggling, triggered or lonely during this Xmas/new year period. K9AA is exceptionally lucky to have 2 new K9AA handler/support workers and (K9 partners) join the K9AA family. Diane and Jayne share the passion and skills in the unconditional canine-human connection and what it means to truely support others in accessi...ng the community. Welcome to the family and thank-you for all the passion, knowledge and love you are injecting into K9AA

17.01.2022 Huge shoutout to the lovely lady infront of us @skipsskateboardshop and coffee shop this morning. When we went to order, she had paid forward and already bought them for us. This kind gesture kept a smile on ours (and the K9's) all day. We will be certain to pay forward your kindness to keep it spreading! #thankyou #grateful #payitforward #kindness #generosity #madeourday #restoresfaithinhumanity #lockdown #silverlining #5km

17.01.2022 K9AA recruit Phoenix age 11weeks. #gsdpuppy #gsds #germanshepherds #germansheperd #germanshepherdsofinstagram #assistancedogintraining #assistancedogs #k9recruits #k9 #k9aa #k9assistanceaustralia #k9phoenix

17.01.2022 It's a hard life being a K9AA puppy! #k9assistanceaustralia #k9bingo #blacklab #labrador #lab #fatpuppy #puppy #naptime #assistancedogprospect

15.01.2022 NICABM [Infographic] -- HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE FREEZE AND SHUT-DOWN TRAUMA RESPONSES | The freeze and shutdown responses to trauma can resemble ea...ch other . . . . . . but they are very different in terms of what’s happening in your client’s brain, body, and nervous system. And that means they require different grounding strategies as well. In this infographic, we lay out some key cues to help you distinguish between these two defensive responses. (Source NICABM) https://www.nicabm.com/the-difference-between-freeze-and-s/

15.01.2022 K9 Pip and K9 Bolt both Assistance Dogs in Training getting ready for rest after a busy day of meeting new NDIS participants interested in animal assisted activities, to help access the community more effectively. #assistancedogsintraining #k9assistanceaustralia #workingdogs #teamwork #workandplay #friendship #kindness #yellowlab #labs #lab #labradors #labrador

14.01.2022 *needs sound to appreciate 'The nodding dogs'... After a big morning of training we come inside for an afternoon chill to some tunes. #workingdogs #quiettime#resttime #tunes #assistancedogs #assistancedogintraining #servicedogintraining #servicedog #lab #gsd #labradorretrievers #labrador #germanshepherds #music #dogs #dogsandmusic

14.01.2022 The singing dog: Some theorise that reasondogs singto certain sounds is that the particular pitch or tone reminds them of anotherdog's howl. Anything with the right pitch may trigger yourdog's howl, even things like cell phone ringtones. And manydogsare keen tosingalong. ... Some breeds ofdogsare more vocal than others. #singing #singingdog #howl #wolfdog #gsds #germanshepherds #germanshepard #assistancedogintraining #assistancedogs #servicedogintraining #servicedog #dogsandmusic #dogs

14.01.2022 There were 7 on the bed and the littlest one said.... Morning all- This is how some days start off! This pack love their snuggles and occasional sleep in the bed... Partly it's to push the human out and up for the day. And no, they don't all sleep here overnight! #family #workingdogs #friendship #alarmclock #onwardsandupwards #bedwars #labs #gsds #timetogetup #unconditional #k9pack #K9 #germanshepherds #puppies #puppy #labpuppy #germanshepherdpuppy #intrainimg #groupwork #longcoastgsd

13.01.2022 Sounds like this book belongs in our resource library. Lots spoken about in the interview relates and helps us inform the type of tasks the K9 can aid the human partner with who suffers from biological trauma responses. K9 partners are educators that offer that unconditional safety that allow the real work of reducing the impacts of toxic stress and the adrenaline and cortisol levels, providing the opportunity for healing and rewiring the brain over time. An important part of a holistic team for some.

12.01.2022 Tonight is recruit K9 Wolfgang's last night with us... We had a wonderful time training and he had huge potential as an Assistance Dog. Unfortunately a previous owner has decided to take possession again after a long seperation from him after seeing him on social media. Even though we acquired K9 Wolfgang legally and had all the paperwork, we just didn't have enough $$ to afford the legal bills to fight past today with a 3rd party. Sorry Wolf, apartment living in Covid stage 4 restrictions for you as a house pet is your destiny now. Such a waste of a great working dog! To say we are devastated is an understatement. #moneywins #noheart #workingdog #pet #moremoneythansense #legalintimadation #court #careerender #farewell #sorrywolfgang

11.01.2022 Up, up and away. Our founder Claire Turner is travelling frequently these days to visit K9AA teams all over Australia. Of all the airport experiences (Claire used to work at airports with her Explosive Detection K9 Annie). Bendigo Airport has by far provided the best service- from check-in, to coffee and crossiants. Such a great experience from a small regional airport- Well done!... K9AA will be a regular from now- providing they are able to accommodate Assistance Animals. *It is a small Dash 8. Claire didn't take her AD today as he has a sore leg atm. #bendigoairport #picallo #k9assistanceaustralia #upupaway #qantaslink #qantas #coffee #priority Qantas QantasLink

11.01.2022 I'm so lucky to have Claire from K9 Assistance Australia visit my home town. Onyx and I are learning new and valuable skills working as a team. My journey is ab...out self growth, recognising when self care is needed and pin pointing barriers during the reflection process and finally implementing strategies. My assistance dog journey isn't like most, it's a little more complexed. Summer See more

11.01.2022 Reposted from @casper_parti_therapydogs 'Most of us have been told angels have wings, some of us have learned they have paws' ... Follow my pawsome partners @violet_therapy_dog @chudley.therapy @billymylabradoodle @napoleon_therapydog @milothemutt.rescue.therapydog #weloveourpets #fortheloveofpets #fortheloveofanimals . . . . . . . . . . #nationalpetmemorialday #melbourne #dogs #quotes #dogquotes #doglovers #animallovers #furryfriends @dog_lover_quotes

10.01.2022 It's OK to ask anyone if they are OK any day. #suicideprevention #ruok #emergencyservices #mentalhealth #firstresponders

10.01.2022 K9 Onyx out and about doing NDIS community participation and Assistance Dog Training. Good work team #ndis #assistancedogintraining #assistancedogs #k9 #workingdogs #k9assistanceaustralia #ndis #support

09.01.2022 K9 Astra- winning heart's. #longstockcoatgsd #loyalty #unconditionallove #creativeexpression #gsd #handdrawn #puppypics #assistancedogintraining

09.01.2022 Teen trainer Ava and K9 recruit Pip, taking the spontaneous opportunity to practise trolley work and follow command as a team. #assistancedogs #assistancedogintraining #servicedogintraining #training #dogtraining #dogs #labs #yellowlab #healthymindhealthybody

08.01.2022 Warrior Goddess Training is a BOOK by HeatherAsh Amara. Foreword by don Miguel Ruiz. Read a FREE EXCERPT at www.warriorgoddesstrainingbook.com #themasteryofself #donmiguelruizjr #donmiguelruiz #toltec #selfmastery #hierophantpublishing #bestsellingbooks

08.01.2022 Summer, all we can say is you are an incredibly honest and insightful young lady. Your vunerability is also your strength- we are all in this together and we are so relieved we're here with you for the recovery.

07.01.2022 OMG how true is this, those days of not being able to function!!! Very helpful article by Annie Reneau "When I was at one of my lowest (mental) points in life, ...I couldn't get out of bed some days. I had no energy or motivation and was barely getting by. I had therapy once per week, and on this particular week I didn't have much to 'bring' to the session. He asked how my week was and I really had nothing to say. 'What are you struggling with?' he asked. I gestured around me and said 'I dunno man. Life.' Not satisfied with my answer, he said 'No, what exactly are you worried about right now? What feels overwhelming? When you go home after this session, what issue will be staring at you?' I knew the answer, but it was so ridiculous that I didn't want to say it. I wanted to have something more substantial. Something more profound. But I didn't. So I told him, 'Honestly? The dishes. It's stupid, I know, but the more I look at them the more I CAN'T do them because I'll have to scrub them before I put them in the dishwasher, because the dishwasher sucks, and I just can't stand and scrub the dishes.' I felt like an idiot even saying it. What kind of grown ass woman is undone by a stack of dishes? There are people out there with *actual* problems, and I'm whining to my therapist about dishes? But he nodded in understanding and then said: 'Run the dishwasher twice.' I began to tell him that you're not supposed to, but he stopped me. 'Why the hell aren't you supposed to? If you don't want to scrub the dishes and your dishwasher sucks, run it twice. Run it three times, who cares?! Rules do not exist.' It blew my mind in a way that I don't think I can properly express. That day, I went home and tossed my smelly dishes haphazardly into the dishwasher and ran it three times. I felt like I had conquered a dragon. The next day, I took a shower lying down. A few days later. I folded my laundry and put them wherever the fuck they fit. There were no longer arbitrary rules I had to follow, and it gave me the freedom to make accomplishments again. Now that I'm in a healthier place, I rinse off my dishes and put them in the dishwasher properly. I shower standing up. I sort my laundry. But at a time when living was a struggle instead of a blessing, I learned an incredibly important lesson: There are no rules. Run the dishwasher twice." Anyone who has been in a mental or emotional place where even just the most basic, mundane tasks seem overwhelming understands the wisdom in this lesson. Dishes might seem like such a minor detail of life, but those kinds of minor details can be the straw that breaks the camel's back mentally. If you've never stared at a basket of laundry that would take three minutes to fold and thought, "Nope, can't do it. Not now. Maybe not ever..." then you may not need this lesson, but there are millions of people who appreciate the express permission to let go of the rules in our heads about how things have to be done. Adjusting expectations and arbitrary ideas about how something works is incredibly freeing and can provide a seemingly temporary fix for a seemingly insurmountable problem. Oddly enough, though, that temporary fix can be the necessary bridge that gets someone from unable-to-cope-with-daily-life-things to functioning on a somewhat normal level. Mental health is such a tricky thing to manage, and many of the tools for managing it run counter to what we might expect. That's what therapists are forto help us step outside the box of our own brains, adjust our thoughts and behaviors to create greater possibilities for ourselves, and give us permission to reject the negative voices in our head try to keep us locked in unhelpful or unhealthy patterns. Even when that unhelpful pattern is as simple as letting the dishes pile up instead of running the dishwasher twice.

07.01.2022 A great list for all- not just kids!

06.01.2022 We welcomed a new recruit last night from Degel Labradors & Golden Retrievers. Little Aurora has been hand-picked by Amanda to join the K9AA program. She will be co-trained with a young man (Grade 3) with the ultimate goal together to be accredited as a K9AA Assistance Animal Team. K9 Aurora will start her journey off here with us at K9AA HQ before heading to live with her boy and continue training remotely and in-person during tt next 18mths to two years. ... Watch this space for updates! #k9aa #k9assistanceaustralia #puppy #blacklab #day1 #assistancedogs #assistancedogintraining #labs #labsofinstagram #labrador

06.01.2022 NDIS participants. Do you want to experience what having an Assistance dog may be like? Are you weighing up the pros and cons of an Assistance dog vs a pet. Do you want a suitability assessment, overseen by Internationally verified Assistance dog trainer? Or are you just after an opportunity to get away from the daily grind, supported with a support worker with an ability to integrate animal assisted activities? ... K9AA is now offering Family Building Retreats or Individual (or couple) recalibrate retreats with an Assistance dog handler- support worker/s. We get you (and/or family) away for up to 5nights utilising STA. To build life skills and experience a working dog and all that it entails. With K9AA support you can pick from multiple family building workshop options and locations, to best suit your requirements and focus on current or new NDIS goals/plans. #ndis #shorttermaccommodation #visionboards #getaway #lifeskills

06.01.2022 Some good info here and also generates ideas/context of how you might be able to train an Assistance Animal to aide you.

05.01.2022 Sheeba is being a positive role model to the class by demonstrating how important it is to wear a school uniform with pride! Well done to K9AA handler Joanna Reeve for being the AMAZIING teacher for these children and for incorporating Sheeba into the classroom environment, not just for your own benefit. Not only is she assisting you with your own disabilities but she also provides extra for those that you teach, even if its just a shot of oxytocin through a heartfelt smile.... Also shoutout to one of the best Lab breeders I know- Jude Tankard from Spiritrock Labradors for breeding many of the remarkable Assistance Dog puppies that are in the program. They have very important roles as working dogs and light up many peoples lives. K9 Assistance Australia couldn't be prouder of all the team- especially Jo & Sheeba! Sheeba you are definitely a good sport!!

04.01.2022 K9AA recruit Phoenix (5mths) with K9AA recruit Meg (7mths) in the background, have a walk and play. #gsdpuppy #assistancedogintraining #germanshepherd #recruits #playtime #dogs

04.01.2022 Good boy K9AA Onyx- you and Summer are on a steep learning curve of accountability within the team and finding balance in Summer's very busy and creative world. Seeing Summer post about her experience and new learnings with you by her side, makes the whole K9AA family proud. Well done Summer for laying down, bedroom or floor, I hope you recharge 100%. Self care and boundaries are important for present and future xx

04.01.2022 UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF SHAME IN COMPLEX POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS | ' It is more accurate to see depression and anxiety as symptoms than disorders. But it is... more accurate still to think of them as what they truly are: emotions or feelings. It has become something of a cliche in the mental health profession to say this, but it remains just as true: feeling depressed or anxious is not in itself a problem. It is only when these feelings become excessively strong and persistent that they should be considered a problem. Disordered emotional patterns are a manifestation of underlying concerns. Oftenmany would argue extremely oftenthey are manifestations of complex traumaor C-PTSD. Thinking about mental health in this way reminds us of the need to think about all negative emotions and feelings, not just about anxiety and depression. One of the most important of these emotions is shame. There is no such thing as generalized shame disorder. People seeking therapy are rarely given a psychological assessment for their levels of shame, though these assessments do exist. But shame often plays a central role in many mental health concerns, both in terms of the subjective experience of the person experiencing them and the mechanism that causes distress and prevents recovery. Complex posttraumatic stress (C-PTSD) in particular is characterized by the central role shame plays in its function and expression. C-PTSD happens when a person experiences repeated suffering or prolonged abuse at the hands of someone they have a personal relationship with. Most often this person is a parent or caregiver, and the abuse often occurs during childhood. .." READ MORE: https://www.goodtherapy.org//understanding-role-of-shame-i Reference: Article: GoodTherapy (blog/Understanding the Role of Shame in Complex Posttraumatic Stress from - Linked above)

04.01.2022 "K9 Bingo makes me feel good. It gives me a sense of purpose, gets me out of the house and a reason to smile" NDIS participant A.B 16/04/2021 #ndis #animalassistedactivities #assistancedogintraining #outdoors #blacklab #dogs #labradors #happiness #meaningfulinteractions #k9bingo

03.01.2022 K9 Astra...working hard! Inbetween stops. #livinglife #assistancedogs #assistancedogintraining #servicedogintraining #servicedog #gsds #gsdpuppy #germanshepherds #longstockcoatgsd #naps #dogs #puppylove #restingonthejob #workingdog

03.01.2022 K9AA offers Animal-assisted activities(AAA) for participants with disabilities. This kind of support provides opportunities for motivation, education, or recreation to enhance quality of life.Animal assisted activitiesare delivered in a variety of environments by specially trained professionals, paraprofessionals, or volunteers in association withanimalsthat meet specific criteria. Most of the animals used for K9AA Animal Assisted Activities are Assistance Dogs in Training, so not only will you (or your family member or client) be gaining valuable support and community participation, but also building experience and evidence required for NDIS application for a funded Assistance dog. To enquire how please get in touch or pass this information on to your NDIS coordinator.

02.01.2022 An exciting day today. New recruit Aurora meets her matched person for their first introduction in this 2yr journey. The hope is that they will graduate as an Assistance Dog team together in the future. It will take hardwork, determination, resilience and commitment to get through the program. But we have 100% confidence that together they can do this! #k9aa #k9assistanceaustralia #blacklab #lab #labrador #assistancedogs #assistancedogintraining #servicedog #servivedogintraining

02.01.2022 Some big feet to grow into miss!

01.01.2022 This picture says it all. This is why we LOVE co-training Assistance Dog Teams as well as just program dogs. As the bond, relationship and connection is for a life-time and the journey life-changing.