Introduction
In April 2022, Paws4life Training Academy joined our "Accessible Cities South Africa" platform to help promote accessibility and inclusivity for persons with disabilities in South Africa by not only providing easy access to affordable Assistance Dog Training but also creating awareness for the needs for these types of Assistance Dogs and why they are allowed into public areas such as shopping centers and on public transport.
DiSA would like to congratulate and thank Paws4life Training Academy for joining our "Accessible Cities South Africa" platform and for becoming an "Access Warrior" to assist us to create this much needed awareness and for then renewing their Membership in 2023.
The Paws4life Dog-training academy was started in 2015 by Calika Morries and is a specialised K9 training facility based in Cape Town. Over the years, we at DiSA have not only noticed an urgent need for affordable Assistance Dog Training Facilities throughout South Africa, but also the need for education about these Assistance Dogs.
In May 2023, The Paws4life Training Academy renewed their Membership with DiSA and been an active member, by not only assisting us with various queries that come via our website regarding the training of Assistance Dogs, but also by supporting us financially through their membership over the last 2 years. By Joining our Accessible Cities platform, Paws4life has also become an "Access Warrior" helping us to create awareness for the needs of these Assistance Dogs and the laws regulating them.
Paws4life & DiSA Partnership
Disability info South Africa (DiSA) was started in 2015 by Alan Downey when he realised that there was still an urgent need for a free information service to assist and support persons with disabilities and their families. Through the support over the years from companies and clubs such as the Paws4life Training Academy, we have been able to create a link between persons with disabilities and the companies, clubs and organizations that are available to assist them.
Academy provides training for various types of Assistance Dogs to assist persons with disabilities. By listing there service below and promoting them through our DNN Videos along with other Access Warriors, we aim to ensure that all the pieces of the puzzle are in place and we work together to provide a complete accessible solution to enable all persons with disabilities to participate equally in society.
Paws4life Training Academy
The Paws4life Training Academy is a specialised K9 training facility based in Cape Town which was started in 2015. We live by the motto: “Your dog is not just a dog”. We not only train puppies and dogs but we create an everlasting bond between human and dog.
Our founder has specialised knowledge in various areas of dog training and is also a qualified behaviourist. Paws4life has a few trainers who are qualified in their areas and specialities.
Through education, we strive to improve the lives of animals and in turn improve the lives of their people – cementing the bond between humans and canines. We also strive to provide affordable dog training that provides for the needs of all dog owners. At the same time Paws4life training academy has a social responsibility to ensure that the dogs we train are safe around children, not a danger or a nuisance to their owners or the public and that their animals rights are upheld and considered at all times.
We are committed to:
- Consistent, reliable and the optimal educational quality
- An atmosphere of understanding, learning and fun
- Friendly and caring staff and management
- Meeting the needs and exceeding the expectations of all our stakeholders, suppliers and clients
- Creating a better life for dogs and their people through usability of our training in the home environment and reflecting our philosophies of trust, honesty, honour, virtue and integrity in all contacts with Paws4life.
What is our business philosophy?
- Delivery of quality in all encounters
- Trust through long-term relationship development
- Nurturing a learning environment
- Fun for person and pooch alike
Paws4life Courses
The Paws4life Training Academy specialise in providing training for both puppies and dogs that include but are not limited to: Puppy classes; Adult dog classes; One on one training; Behaviour modification programs; Therapy Dogs and Service Dogs.
Persons with Intellectual Impairments
Service Dogs can be trained to assist persons with various Intellectual Impairments in a variety of different ways, including:
- Persons with Autism: Autism Support Dogs.
- Persons with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Psychiatric Service Dogs or PTSD Dogs
- Persons with Epilepsy or Seizures: Epilepsy Alert Dogs
- Persons with Psychiatric Conditions: Psychiatric Service Dog
Seizure Alert Dogs: Seizure Alert Dogs are trained to bark when a seizure is coming on or if a seizure is starting, they are trained to go and get help, they offer tactile stimulation such as licking and provide comfort after a seizure. Most importantly they will protect the individuals body and head during a seizure.
Psychiatric Service Dogs: Psychiatric Service Dogs are trained to help individuals who have been diagnosed with mental health disabilities. Individuals who would qualify for a dog would be individuals who have been diagnosed with PTSD, Bipolar disorder, anxiety and panic attacks, OCD, dementia, phobia and paranoia. These individuals require a letter from a psychologist or psychiatrist indicating that they are able to look after, train and care for a Service Dog.
Persons with Mobility Impairments or Diabetes
Service Dogs can be trained to assist with persons with Diabetes or Mobility Impairments in a variety of different ways, including:
- Persons who have Cerebral Palsy: Multipurpose Service Dogs
- Persons who are Medically Frail: Multipurpose Service Dogs
- Persons who use Wheelchairs: Mobility Assistance Service Dogs
- Persons who are Unstable on their Feet: Mobility Assistance Service Dog or Balance Dogs
- Persons with Diabetes: Diabetic Alert Dogs
Multipurpose Service Dogs: Multipurpose Service Dogs are trained to perform various tasks such as fetching a person’s shoes, picking
something up that has fallen and so forth. These dogs can help individuals with: Adult Asperger, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Individuals who are medically frail.
Mobility Assistance Service Dogs: Mobility Assistance Service Dogs are trained to help individuals who use wheelchairs or struggle with balance. These Service Dogs give the handler some stability to move around and regain some of their freedom.
Diabetic Alert Dogs: Diabetic Alert Dogs are trained to alert an individual who has been diagnosed with Diabetes, when their blood sugar levels drop and also when the blood sugar levels are too high. They are trained to get help, or to go and fetch a glucose meter, juice box or even any medication that is needed.
Persons who are Deaf or have Hearing Impairments
Assistance Dogs can be trained to assist persons who are Deaf or those who have Hearing Impairments in a variety of different ways, including:
- Hearing Dogs at Home: Hearing Dogs are trained to alert persons who are Deaf to household sounds that are necessary for everyday safety and independence. They are trained to make physical contact and lead the person to the source of the sound or away from danger. Through sound awareness and companionship, these dogs provide increased freedom and safety.
- Hearing Dogs in Public: A Hearing Dog provides a person in public an increased awareness of his or her environment. Hearing Dogs are trained to alert to sounds, such as sirens or honking horn, in public, when a person who is deaf or hard of hearing takes a Hearing Dog out into public spaces. The Handler will gain an awareness of the environment by paying attention to whatever the Hearing Dog is reacting to, when the dog hears something and looks, the person will notice and turn to see what's happening as well.
Therapy Dogs/Pets
A Therapy Dog or Therapy Pet is trained to provide affection, comfort and support to various people in settings such as hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, libraries, hospices, or disaster areas. In contrast to Assistance Dogs, which are trained to assist specific persons with their day-to-day physical needs. Therapy Dogs are required to be certified and are trained to interact with all kinds of people, not just their handlers.
Therapy Dogs and their handlers go through various types of training provided by companies and organisations such as the Paws4life Training Academy. Once the Therapy Dog and their handler pass all the testing and assessments, they will be able to qualify to take part in Therapy Visits.
If you require any further information or are interested in Therapy Dog Training, becoming a handler, or require Therapy Visits to hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, libraries, hospices, or disaster areas, please feel free to contact Calika Morries from Paws4life Training Academy on the details below.
Contact Paws4life
All Assistance Dogs will go through assessments to qualify for all the various training levels. They need to go through a KUSA Good Citizen testing Bronze Level and will only be able to qualify when they pass all the testing and assessments.
If you require any further information or are interested in Service Dog Training, please feel free to contact Calika Morries from Paws4life Training Academy by Phone: +27 72 445 4310 or via Email: paws4lifetraining@gmail.com. Alternatively visit their website at: www.paws4life.co.za
