Guiding paws and people toward confident independence. 

Assistance Dog Training

At Empowered Paws, we offer personalised training programs to support you and your dog in developing the skills necessary for daily life and public access. Our approach is compassionate, client centered, and grounded in ethical training practices.

Our training programs include:

• Foundation skills and obedience

• Public access preparation

• Task specific training (e.g., alerting, mobility support, retrieval)

• Home based and community based sessions

• Handler coaching and documentation support

All training is tailored to individual needs 

Public Access Test (PAT)

As a registered Australian Government trainer and assessor, we are authorised to conduct the Public Access Test (PAT), a voluntary assessment that, upon successful completion, allows handlers to apply for an Accredited Assistance Animal ID card. While accreditation is not mandatory for public access rights, it can provide added confidence for handlers and the community.

The PAT process includes:

• Pre test guidance and checklist

• On site assessment in public settings

• Written assessment report for ACT Government submission

• Support with documentation and follow up as needed

Eligibility requirements:

• Evidence of disability from a medical practitioner

• Completed Veterinarian Declaration within six months prior to the PAT

• At least four weeks have passed since any previous PAT attempts

Grounds for automatic failure include:

• Aggressive behavior or signs of stress in the animal

• Handler non compliance with relevant laws

• Animal health issues that pose a risk to public safety