YoPaws | Assistance Dog Coach

06/11/2026

Big dreams. Small business. One very tired Golden Retriever. 🐾

Building YoPaws has taken me to places I never imagined.

Today, we spent some time at the University of Canberra's Social Enterprise Hub, talking about ideas, opportunities and how we can make assistance dog education more accessible.

There's a lot happening behind the scenes as I work towards growing YoPaws beyond one-on-one training.

Yoshi, meanwhile, continues to take her role as Chief Morale Officer very seriously.

As you can see from the last photo, she clearly believes she's worked harder than everyone else today. 😂

One step at a time. 🐾

05/11/2026

Sometimes, the smallest steps mean the most. 💜🐾

Meet Molly!

When I first met Molly, she was so frightened that even getting her into the car was a challenge. It took us five minutes of patience and encouragement before she finally got in.

Fast forward to our third meeting, and what a difference!

Molly was happy to come along, willingly engaging with me, accepting treats, enjoying her walks and taking time to sniff and explore the world around her.

Molly is currently in the Dogs Canberra foster care program following a temporary surrender.

Watching her slowly build trust and confidence is a beautiful reminder that progress doesn't always come in leaps and bounds.

Through YoPaws, volunteering with Dogs Canberra and BDOC, working with clients and assistance dog teams, or simply meeting people and their dogs in the community, I get to share in so many different journeys.

Some we're part of for years, others just briefly. But every connection matters.

And whether we're involved or simply cheering from the sidelines, we celebrate every win.

Because sometimes, the biggest achievement isn't what a dog can do, but that they feel safe enough to try.

And as for this photo? Molly might look like she's peacefully enjoying the scenery, but she's actually keeping a very close eye on the ducks! 🦆😂

A little more confidence, a little more curiosity and a whole lot of personality coming through.

It's moments like these that remind me why I love what I do. Seeing dogs and humans flourish together. 💜🐾

04/11/2026

An assistance dog can make an incredible difference to someone's independence, confidence and quality of life. But there is another side to the partnership that deserves just as much attention.

As both an assistance dog handler and trainer, I see how much responsibility comes with this journey. The emotional, physical and financial demands are real, and the dog's wellbeing must never become secondary to the handler's needs.

This research reinforces something I strongly believe in at YoPaws: successful assistance dog partnerships aren't just about trained tasks or passing a Public Access Test.

They're about informed decisions, realistic expectations, ongoing support and recognising that both ends of the leash have needs.

Sometimes, supporting someone means helping them understand that an assistance dog may not be the right option, or that the timing isn't right.

The goal isn't simply to train more assistance dogs. It's to build healthier, sustainable partnerships where both humans and dogs can thrive.

Thank you Animal Therapies Ltd for highlighting this important research.

Feeling safer, managing everyday activities and engaging with mental health treatment—these were some of the benefits reported in a University of Queensland study exploring life with a psychiatric assistance dog.

Researchers collected 85 valid responses through an online survey of people with a range of mental health conditions. Participants described support that extended beyond their dogs’ specific trained tasks. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov⁠)

However, participants also reported challenges, including stigma, misunderstanding of public access rights and financial costs. Many described relying heavily on their dog, raising questions about how to protect the wellbeing of both members of the partnership. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov⁠)

For ATL, the research reinforces the importance of supporting the whole partnership. Alongside recognising the assistance a dog provides, we must consider the dog’s needs, opportunities to rest and ongoing wellbeing, and ensure handlers have access to wider support.

The wellbeing of the person and the animal both matter.

Read the research by Zhang, Salmon and Pachana (2026):
Psychiatric Assistance Dogs for Adults with Mental Health Conditions: Use, Perceived Effectiveness and Challenges⁠

30/10/2026

I'm grateful to have been recognised as a finalist in the 2026 Lifeline Canberra Spirit of Hope Awards.

Sometimes we're so busy trying to get through each day, working, volunteering and figuring out what comes next, that we forget to look at how far we've come.

It was wonderful to hear about the people making a difference in Canberra, often quietly and without expecting recognition.

Thank you to Lifeline Canberra for the recognition and congratulations to all the finalists and winners.

And of course, Yoshi has already claimed the certificate as her own. Apparently, she did all the hard work. 🐾

21/10/2026

🐾 THE CEO HAS FOUR PAWS! 😂💜

Well, our four-legged CEO, Yoshi, has officially made the news! Apparently, the rest of us are just here to do the paperwork!

A huge thank you to Naziya Alvi Rahman and Region Canberra for sharing the story behind YoPaws.

At YoPaws, we believe dog training is about more than teaching behaviours. It's about understanding and supporting the humans at the other end of the lead, building confidence, and helping dogs and their people grow together.

We're incredibly grateful for this opportunity to share our journey and shine a light on disability, mental health and assistance dog partnerships.

💜 Where Dogs and Humans Grow Together.

🐾 Read the full story:
https://region.com.au/the-ceo-has-four-paws-meet-the-dog-behind-a-canberra-mental-health-success-story/1008710/

20/10/2026

🐾 Team Ruby | Training Tools for Humans Too! 💜

Something as simple as a long shoehorn or ladle can help us deliver rewards to small dogs and puppies without constantly bending down.

For people with disabilities, chronic pain, back injuries or mobility limitations, little adaptations like these can make a big difference.

Not everyone can bend safely or comfortably, and that's okay!

Good training isn't about pushing ourselves beyond our physical limits. It's about finding practical ways to be consistent while keeping both human and dog comfortable.

There's nothing wrong with recognising our limitations, getting creative and asking, "Is there another way to do this?"

💜 At YoPaws, we believe training should adapt to BOTH ends of the lead.

Because sometimes, the best training tool is the one that helps the human succeed too! 🐾

16/10/2026

🐾 We love businesses that genuinely welcome assistance dog handlers and their dogs! 💜

A big shoutout to Discount Hut Jamison for being so welcoming to Vienna and her human!

What made this visit extra special wasn't just the friendly smiles or yummy treats. It was the respect shown towards the dog and handler team. ❤️

The staff asked before interacting with Vienna, checked whether they could offer treats, and even asked permission before taking photos.🥰

These little gestures make such a difference!

At YoPaws, we encourage businesses to be welcoming and inclusive while respecting the boundaries of assistance dog teams. After all, even the friendliest dog may be working, and it's always best to ask first.

Thank you, Discount Hut Jamison, for setting such a lovely example of how businesses can make dog and handler teams feel welcome, respected and included.

And Vienna? Well, she certainly enjoyed her visit! 🐶💕

Inclusion doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes, it starts with simply asking.💜

16/10/2026

🐾 Two dogs, two different journeys, one shared training session! 💜

Vienna and Indi teamed up for a training session today, each working on something a little different.

🐕 Vienna is already a pro at hanging out and taking the world in her stride. Her next lesson? Learning to trust that her human has her back, so she doesn't have to manage everything herself.

🐾 Indi is working on impulse control, learning that she doesn't need to respond to everything happening around her. Sometimes, the best choice is simply to chill, check in and choose her human over all the exciting distractions!

💜 Different dogs. Different needs. Different goals.

Training isn't always about teaching dogs to do more. Sometimes, it's about helping them feel safe enough to do less.

And that's where trust, connection and teamwork grow. 🐾

YoPaws | Where Dogs and Humans Grow Together.

16/10/2026

🐾 Cooperative Care: Built on Trust, Rewards and Love. 💜

Cooperative care isn't just about getting your dog to accept grooming, handling or medical procedures.

It's about building a bond where your dog feels safe, loved and understood.

💜 Trust instead of force.
💛 Rewards instead of pressure.
🐾 Patience, choice and lots of love.

Every positive experience builds confidence. Every reward reinforces cooperation. And every gentle interaction strengthens the bond between you and your dog.

Because cooperative care isn't about making your dog comply. It's about helping them choose to participate because they trust you.

At YoPaws, we believe training is something we do with our dogs, not to them.

🐾 Where Dogs and Humans Grow Together.

13/10/2026

🐾 Big milestone for Team Indy! 💜

First time training in a public access environment, and Team Indy did amazingly well!

They've come such a long way, and it's wonderful to see their progress, confidence and teamwork growing.

Training an assistance dog is never easy, and living with a disability can bring additional challenges. Some days, even the simplest training exercises can take a lot of effort.

But having the right support, being open to learning different approaches and finding ways to adapt training to your own abilities can make a real difference.

It's not about doing everything perfectly. It's about finding what works for you and your dog.

Every team is different. Every disability is different. And not every journey will lead to the same outcome.

But with patience, flexibility, support and a willingness to keep learning, sometimes things that once seemed out of reach become possible.

Well done, Team Indy! You've worked hard to get here, and this is a milestone worth celebrating! 🐕‍🦺👏

💜 YoPaws | Where Dogs and Humans Grow Together.