Assistance Dog Training

Partnering with Lee Dog Training,

Thea Trussler, recognized Assistance Dogs International evaluator, is now taking applications to train your PET dog the skills to help your child diagnosed on the spectrum.

Please go to www.mindandbodysafety.com or

call 083 304 2068

Class dates and times to announced.

Thea Trussler, originally from Canada, comes to Lee Dog Training with over 30 years experience in the fields of mental health and animal therapy.  Thea is a master trainer of Mental Health First Aid as well as Applied Suicide Interventions Skills Training.  She is recognized as an assessor for Assistance Dogs International.  Her years with National Service Dogs Canada included traveling across Canada to assess applicants, conduct annual testing of deployed dogs, train of client/dog teams before dogs  deployed and ongoing client supports for the Autism, PTSD and Facility dog programs.  Thea assisted with training at the NSD school, was a speaker at numerous events including international conferences held by Assistance Dogs International.

National Service Dogs is the school that pioneered the assistance dog program for children on the autism spectrum.  Irish trainers came to Canada to apprentice with NSD and subsequently began assistance dog programs such as the one in place at Irish Guide Dogs.  Thea’s work with veterans and first responders who were psychologically injured on the job and diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has been one of her most rewarding aspects of her work.  Her hope is that in the future she will also be able to provide a similar program for those suffering with PTSD and their pet dogs.