Assistant dogs and where they are legally allowed

Loyalty, love, and companionship; the joys of owning a dog. The notion of ‘man’s best friend’ means even more to those who use assistant dogs every day to live independently and help with everyday life.

Also known as service dogs, assistance dogs are unlike the regular household pet because they are specially trained to help people who have physical disabilities, disabling illnesses such as multi-sclerosis, autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, and dementia.

Each specially selected dog is taught more than 50 tasks over their two years of training from helping people to balance if they have walking difficulties, turning on light switches or pushing pedestrian buttons, moving the arms or legs of people who are paralysed, opening and closing doors, drawers and fridges, paying cashiers, barking to alert their owners to danger and much more.

For obvious reasons, the rules for assistant dogs are different to domestic pets. Sometimes it’s a grey area for business owners and employees who are not familiar with legislation. What’s more, members of the public also need to know what to do around these incredibly special animals.

Here’s what you should know about them.

Can owners take their assistance dogs into all public places?

Yes. In NSW, owners of assistance dogs have the right to take their animals into all public places including restaurants, shopping centres, hotels and onto public transport, including buses and trains which is detailed in the Companion Animals Act 1998 (Part 7). The Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Section 9) makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person with a disability who is using an assistance dog.

How to behave if you encounter an assistance dog?

Don't pat or call an assistance dog without permission from the owner. Touching is a distraction and can prevent an assistance dog from tending to their human partners. Be sensitive to the fact that assistance dogs are working and maybe in the middle of a command or direction. Please always ask the handler before interacting with them.

For businesses Download this handy information sheet and share it with your staff.  Assistance Dogs Australia also provides stickers which can be displayed in your establishment to show the public and recipients with assistance dogs they are welcome.

More information about assistance dogs

Assistance Dogs Australia FAQs — Call 1800 688 364

Vision Australia — Seeing eye dogs