12 Incredible Australia Service Dog Statistics & Facts: Updated in 2024
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Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Australia with your service animal or you’re looking into how to get a service animal if you live there, there’s a lot of information to break down.
Service animals are a critical part of so many people’s lives, so understanding a bit more about them goes a long way. We’ve highlighted 12 outstanding stats and facts about Australian service dogs for you here, and we took the time to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about them.
The 12 Australia Service Dog Statistics
- It can cost more than $25,000 to train a service dog.
- 50–70% percent of potential service dogs drop out of the training programs.
- It takes about 2 years to train a service dog.
- There are currently 31 certified trainers for guide, hearing, or assistance dogs in Australia.
- Service dogs can learn more than 50 tasks.
- Australia introduced its first service dog legislation in 1976.
- Different Australian jurisdictions have different accreditation processes for bringing service dogs on public transportation.
- Owners of assistance dogs in Australia can take them to all public places.
- The Australian Human Rights Commission typically receives between 36 and 52 complaints each year about service dog accommodations.
- 34% of complaints from people with service dogs are about a lack of access to premises.
- Service, guide, and hearing dogs are the three types of assistance dogs in Australia.
- All types of dog breeds can make a great service dog.
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Service Dog Training and Cost
1. It can cost more than $25,000 to train a service dog.
(American Kennel Club)
With the amount of training that goes into each service dog, it’s no surprise they cost quite a bit to train. With service dogs, you need to view $25,000 as the starting point for the cost. If the dog takes a bit longer to train, it can quickly drive up the cost further.
2. 50–70% percent of potential service dogs drop out of the training programs.
(American Kennel Club)
Not every dog can make it as a service dog. Not only is there a highly selective process to even get a dog into a training program, but of the dogs that make it more than half of them won’t graduate. The dogs that wash out still make it to great homes, but they never become certified service dogs.
3. It takes about 2 years to train a service dog.
(Health Direct)
From start to finish it will typically take a dog about 2 years to make it through all the necessary training to become a service dog. In Australia, the process typically consists of the dog living with a volunteer puppy educator for about 18 months before spending 6 months in an advanced training program.
4. There are currently 31 certified trainers for guide, hearing, or assistance dogs in Australia.
(Queensland Government)
While there are currently 31 certified trainers, this number can change at any point. For the most up-to-date list of certified service dog trainers in Australia, check out this link.
5. Service dogs can learn more than 50 tasks.
(Health Direct)
While many people think of service dogs as helping people with a task or two, the truth is that some service dogs will learn more than 50 tasks. This allows them to help with a wide array of everyday tasks someone might need help with. The more tasks a service dog can learn, the more of an impact they can make in someone’s life.
Laws About Service Dogs
6. Australia introduced its first service dog legislation in 1976.
(Australian Human Rights Commission)
Service dogs are relatively new, but the Dog Act of 1976 created the first official recognition of these dogs and the certifying guidelines in Australia. This legislation lays out the major framework for certifying a service dog and the rights those with a service dog have in Australia.
7. Different Australian jurisdictions have different accreditation processes for bringing service dogs on public transportation.
(Australian Human Rights Commission)
While each jurisdiction in Australia has to meet certain basic requirements, the exact process they follow to meet these requirements varies. For instance, in Victoria, you need an Assistance Animal Pass issued by Public Transport Victoria. This pass is good for 3 years.
However, in Queensland, you need a Handler’s Identity Card which is good for 5 years. Meanwhile, in Tasmania, there is currently no accreditation system.
8. Owners of assistance dogs in Australia can take them to all public places.
(Health Direct)
According to the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act of 1992, no one can lawfully discriminate against someone with a disability. Since service dogs help those with a disability function, it is illegal to discriminate against anyone with a service dog by turning them away or denying them access to a public location.
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Miscellaneous Service Dog Stats and Facts
9. The Australian Human Rights Commission typically receives between 36 and 52 complaints each year about service dog accommodations.
(Australian Human Rights Commission)
While most places in Australia do a great job of accepting service animals and their handlers, some places and people still struggle. The Australian Humans Rights Commission handles all complaints, and the number of complaints they receive each year stays relatively consistent.
10. 34% of complaints from people with service dogs are about a lack of access to premises.
(Australian Human Rights Commission)
While there aren’t a ton of complaints by people with service dogs, about a third of all complaints relate to illegally denying someone with a service animal access to the location. This translates to between 12 and 18 complaints about access to a location each year in Australia.
11. Service, guide, and hearing dogs are the three types of assistance dogs in Australia.
(Health Direct)
Assistance dogs consist of three different types of dogs. Service dogs help people with various disabilities. Meanwhile, guide dogs help those with visual impairments. Finally, hearing dogs help people with hearing impairments by alerting them to specific sounds.
12. All types of dog breeds can make a great service dog.
(American Kennel Club)
While some people commonly think about specific breeds as service dogs, the truth is that all kinds of breeds can excel as different types of service dogs. It all comes down to the dog’s temperament, size, and what kind of service dog you’re looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Australian Service Dogs
With service dogs playing such a critical role in Australia and the rest of the world, it’s perfectly normal to have a few questions. We completely understand, and it’s why we decided to answer some of the most frequently asked questions for you here:
Can You Ask for Proof of a Service Dog in Australia?
It is perfectly legal for someone or a business to ask for proof of a service animal in Australia. Furthermore, if the owner of the service animal refuses or cannot provide proof, it is legal for the person or business to deny them service because of the service animal. (Australian Human Rights Commission)
What Disqualifies a Dog From Being a Service Dog?
There are a bunch of potential disqualifiers for a service dog. However, some of the most common disqualifiers include excessive growling or barking, energy levels that are too high, or a dog with too short of an attention span.
Do Service Dogs Have to Wear a Vest in Australia?
While a service animal doesn’t have to legally wear a vest in Australia, it can help identify a service animal as a legitimate service animal. Typically, these jackets will have the name of the qualifying organization, a photo, the handler’s name, license number, and expiration date. (Assistance Dogs Australia)
Do Service Dogs Ever Get to Play?
Yes! Just because they’re working dogs doesn’t mean that time for them to decompress and play isn’t just as important. Giving a service dog time to play is a critical part of being a responsible service dog owner, actually.
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Conclusion
The next time you see a service dog in Australia, just think about all the amazing things they can do and the in-depth process that goes into training one of these outstanding dogs. It takes quite a bit of time and work, but they vastly improve people’s lives, making it well worth every penny.
Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
