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Beatrix, the four-year-old Dobermann is a multi-purpose assistance dog for her owner, Sharee Hocking who is a dog trainer in Victoria.
Beatrix was two years old when Sharee brought her home and began Assistance Dog training right away. She has been confidently working in her role for over a year.
“Training an Assistance Dog is a gradual and ongoing process that typically takes around two years to reach a reliable working standard.”
“My background as a dog trainer has helped guide and support her training journey, allowing me to shape her skills to meet my needs effectively.”
Sharee holds a Certificate III in Dog Training and Behaviour, Certificate IV in Disability and is currently completing her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Sharee is also involved with the Centre of Excellence in Disability Inclusion as part of the Co-Creator team at The Gordon TAFE College in Geelong, Victoria.
“I broke my neck 11 years ago and I'm very lucky to be alive and feel very grateful that I survived.”, said Sharee.
After suffering a broken neck, Sharee was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (a genetic connective tissue disorder that affects the way collagen is created, with joint dislocation a common occurrence), PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), depression and ADHD.
As a multi-purpose assistance Dog Beatrix is trained in a variety of tasks to help reduce the impact of Sharee’s medical conditions through medical alerting, mobility support, sensory regulation, and grounding.
“Beatrix is considered a medical aid similar to someone who might use a wheelchair or oxygen tank or a walking stick or glasses.”
Beatrix assists Sharee during episodes of dissociation, anxiety, bracing and balance assistance, alerting early signs of medical episodes, retrieving dropped items, providing deep pressure therapy and guiding her away from overstimulating environments.
Having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome means Sharee is more prone to drop things and Beatrix is there to pick things like car keys.
“She does a great job of picking things up so I don't have to bend over and hurt myself.”
An assistance dog was the best option to help Sharee with mitigating the effects of her complex medical conditions.
“If I am having lots of dislocations, using a walker or walking stick would cause more dislocations.”
Beatrix remains in sync with what Sharee needs even when she’s not formally ‘on duty’.
“This is what makes her role so valuable in every part of my life.”
Beatrix naturally started alerting Sharee to the early signs of migraine without directly training it.
“She nudges my stomach with her nose to take my medication earlier and I'm not affected by the migraine as badly.”
Beatrix’s impact doesn’t stop at the physical side of things as she helps support Sharee’s mental health too.
“If I have a panic attack or feel depressed, she applies deep pressure therapy, where she will either put her head or her body on my lap or over my legs and it simulates the feeling a weighted blanket would.”
Along with the assistance work, Beatrix is Sharees first conformation show dog.
Participating in conformation showing gives Sharee and Beatrix a relaxing and fun environment while still being a team.
“Showing has provided us with a fun and rewarding activity that we both enjoy, giving her a well-earned break outside of her Assistance Dog role.”
In Australia Assistance Dogs are protected under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA).
An Assistance Dog is defined as a dog trained to perform tasks that reduce the impact of a person’s disability similar to medical aids like wheelchairs, hearing aids, and prosthetics.
Laws regarding assistance animals are generally determined on a federal level and then followed by state laws which may be different in each state.
An assistance dog is similar to a guide dog and although their jobs are different, they have the same rights as a guide dog.
“Being part of an organisation can help if you're new to assistance dogs and organisations will have their own set of rules.”
“They may have tests or regular checkups depending on the organisation, but you don't have to go through an organisation.”
“The most important factor is that the dog possesses the temperament, behaviour, and skills needed to support the handler effectively.”, Sharee said.
Beatrix and Sharee are an independent team and need to carry evidence of training and disability.
“I have to carry a doctor's letter stating that I do have disabilities and my doctor supports the use of an assistance dog.”
Sharee does recommend seeking out the help of a trainer or an obedience club if you don’t go through an organisation.
All dogs except those who are a banned or restricted breed can be trained to become an assistance dog. The five restricted breeds in Australia are the American Pitbull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu and the Presa Canario. Any or all forms of these breeds cannot work as an assistance animal. Any form of wolfdog is also prohibited.
If your dog is a registered dangerous dog, it cannot be an assistance animal. Dingoes cannot be assistance dogs even if it's legal in a state as federally, it's restricted.
Having an assistance dog is vital for Sharee to participate and be comfortable in environments that would be difficult to cope with on her own.
“Beatrix offers me not just physical help, but emotional reassurance and safety, allowing me to live a fuller and more independent life.”
With the support of Beatrix Sharee has been able to achieve her goals of studying, working and engaging with her community including helping other people train their dogs as assistance dogs.
“Beatrix isn’t just an assistance dog, she’s a partner, a companion, and an anchor in my life.”
“I rely on her every day, and I can’t imagine living without her support.”
Over the past 15 years, Sharee has had three other assistance dogs that all needed to retire early and this time she wanted longevity.
“I wanted to make sure that I got a dog from an ethical breeder that was breeding for health, temperament, breed standard and aligned with ethical breeding.”
“Choosing a purebred from a Dogs Australia registered breeder dog gave me confidence in the predictability of key traits essential for assistance work.”
When choosing an assistance dog Sharee had certain criteria in mind:
And the Dobermann met what Sharee needed.
Originally developed in Germany by Lewis Dobermann for protection and companionship, Mr Lewis Dobermann needed a dog that good with his family and children, and able to protect him as he collected taxes.
“These qualities remain strong in well-bred lines today and translate well into assistance work, where a stable temperament, focus, and trainability are crucial.”
“The Dobermanns versatility as a working breed meant she could remain focused in public settings and attuned to my medical needs, and her personality is perfectly matched to her role.”
“She’s gentle, alert, eager to work, and deeply connected to me.”
“As Beatrix continues to excel as an assistance dog, show dog, and companion dog, she stands as a proud ambassador not only for working Dobermanns but also for the many remarkable dogs excelling in working roles across Australia.”, said Sharee.
Dogs Australia is a not-for-profit organisation advocating for the preservation of purebred dogs through ethical breeding.
It champions the highest standard of animal welfare through education and fostering dog-loving communities.
Internationally recognised and established in 1958 as the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC),
the organisation promotes responsible dog ownership; maintains the ORCHID* heritable canine diseases database;
funds research into canine diseases; and supports state and territory-based member bodies.
Dogs Australia promotes breed conformation shows and community sports for dogs that fulfil a breed’s natural instincts.
