YoPaws | Assistance Dog Coach

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Canberra, ACT
YoPaws | Assistance Dog Coach

🐾 Assistance Dog Coaching & Puppy Foundations
📍 Canberra & Online Australia-wide
Supporting owner-trained assistance dog teams and helping puppies build strong foundations for real life.

YoPaws provides human-centred dog training and assistance dog coaching in Canberra and online Australia-wide.

We specialise in supporting owner-trained assistance dog teams, from early planning and dog suitability through to foundation skills, task training, public access preparation and ongoing coaching.

We also offer puppy foundations and private training focused on practical real-life skills, confidence, communication and building a strong connection between dogs and their humans.

Our approach is behaviour-informed, disability-aware and tailored to each individual dog and handler.

30/10/2026

I'm grateful to have been recognised as a finalist in the 2026 Lifeline Canberra Spirit of Hope Awards.

Sometimes we're so busy trying to get through each day, working, volunteering and figuring out what comes next, that we forget to look at how far we've come.

It was wonderful to hear about the people making a difference in Canberra, often quietly and without expecting recognition.

Thank you to Lifeline Canberra for the recognition and congratulations to all the finalists and winners.

And of course, Yoshi has already claimed the certificate as her own. Apparently, she did all the hard work. 🐾

21/10/2026

🐾 THE CEO HAS FOUR PAWS! 😂💜

Well, our four-legged CEO, Yoshi, has officially made the news! Apparently, the rest of us are just here to do the paperwork!

A huge thank you to Naziya Alvi Rahman and Region Canberra for sharing the story behind YoPaws.

At YoPaws, we believe dog training is about more than teaching behaviours. It's about understanding and supporting the humans at the other end of the lead, building confidence, and helping dogs and their people grow together.

We're incredibly grateful for this opportunity to share our journey and shine a light on disability, mental health and assistance dog partnerships.

💜 Where Dogs and Humans Grow Together.

🐾 Read the full story:
https://region.com.au/the-ceo-has-four-paws-meet-the-dog-behind-a-canberra-mental-health-success-story/1008710/

20/10/2026

🐾 Team Ruby | Training Tools for Humans Too! 💜

Something as simple as a long shoehorn or ladle can help us deliver rewards to small dogs and puppies without constantly bending down.

For people with disabilities, chronic pain, back injuries or mobility limitations, little adaptations like these can make a big difference.

Not everyone can bend safely or comfortably, and that's okay!

Good training isn't about pushing ourselves beyond our physical limits. It's about finding practical ways to be consistent while keeping both human and dog comfortable.

There's nothing wrong with recognising our limitations, getting creative and asking, "Is there another way to do this?"

💜 At YoPaws, we believe training should adapt to BOTH ends of the lead.

Because sometimes, the best training tool is the one that helps the human succeed too! 🐾

16/10/2026

🐾 We love businesses that genuinely welcome assistance dog handlers and their dogs! 💜

A big shoutout to Discount Hut Jamison for being so welcoming to Vienna and her human!

What made this visit extra special wasn't just the friendly smiles or yummy treats. It was the respect shown towards the dog and handler team. ❤️

The staff asked before interacting with Vienna, checked whether they could offer treats, and even asked permission before taking photos.🥰

These little gestures make such a difference!

At YoPaws, we encourage businesses to be welcoming and inclusive while respecting the boundaries of assistance dog teams. After all, even the friendliest dog may be working, and it's always best to ask first.

Thank you, Discount Hut Jamison, for setting such a lovely example of how businesses can make dog and handler teams feel welcome, respected and included.

And Vienna? Well, she certainly enjoyed her visit! 🐶💕

Inclusion doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes, it starts with simply asking.💜

16/10/2026

🐾 Two dogs, two different journeys, one shared training session! 💜

Vienna and Indi teamed up for a training session today, each working on something a little different.

🐕 Vienna is already a pro at hanging out and taking the world in her stride. Her next lesson? Learning to trust that her human has her back, so she doesn't have to manage everything herself.

🐾 Indi is working on impulse control, learning that she doesn't need to respond to everything happening around her. Sometimes, the best choice is simply to chill, check in and choose her human over all the exciting distractions!

💜 Different dogs. Different needs. Different goals.

Training isn't always about teaching dogs to do more. Sometimes, it's about helping them feel safe enough to do less.

And that's where trust, connection and teamwork grow. 🐾

YoPaws | Where Dogs and Humans Grow Together.

16/10/2026

🐾 Cooperative Care: Built on Trust, Rewards and Love. 💜

Cooperative care isn't just about getting your dog to accept grooming, handling or medical procedures.

It's about building a bond where your dog feels safe, loved and understood.

💜 Trust instead of force.
💛 Rewards instead of pressure.
🐾 Patience, choice and lots of love.

Every positive experience builds confidence. Every reward reinforces cooperation. And every gentle interaction strengthens the bond between you and your dog.

Because cooperative care isn't about making your dog comply. It's about helping them choose to participate because they trust you.

At YoPaws, we believe training is something we do with our dogs, not to them.

🐾 Where Dogs and Humans Grow Together.

13/10/2026

🐾 Big milestone for Team Indy! 💜

First time training in a public access environment, and Team Indy did amazingly well!

They've come such a long way, and it's wonderful to see their progress, confidence and teamwork growing.

Training an assistance dog is never easy, and living with a disability can bring additional challenges. Some days, even the simplest training exercises can take a lot of effort.

But having the right support, being open to learning different approaches and finding ways to adapt training to your own abilities can make a real difference.

It's not about doing everything perfectly. It's about finding what works for you and your dog.

Every team is different. Every disability is different. And not every journey will lead to the same outcome.

But with patience, flexibility, support and a willingness to keep learning, sometimes things that once seemed out of reach become possible.

Well done, Team Indy! You've worked hard to get here, and this is a milestone worth celebrating! 🐕‍🦺👏

💜 YoPaws | Where Dogs and Humans Grow Together.

08/10/2026

🏆 A special moment for YoPaws! 💜🐾

We're incredibly proud to share that our founder, Yevette Ho, has received the 2026 David Perrin Award at the ACT Mental Health Sector Awards!

The award recognises a person with lived experience of mental health challenges who lives an independent, self-determined life beyond what they may have expected after diagnosis.

YoPaws was built from lived experience, a passion for dogs and a belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to build confidence, independence and meaningful connections.

Through education, advocacy and personalised training, we continue to support people and their dogs to grow together.

This recognition means a great deal, not just personally, but for what YoPaws stands for.

And of course, our four-legged CEO Yoshi deserves some credit too! After all, she's a big part of why YoPaws exists. 🐕💜

Where Dogs and Humans Grow Together.

03/10/2026

Enrichment isn’t just “here’s a toy, good luck.” 🤣🐾

Play with them. Explore with them. Get a little silly with them.

💜 *Enrichment with connection.*

That’s where the good stuff happens.

30/09/2026

Well, there’s the name! 💜🐾

Very happy to be a finalist for the Lifeline Canberra 2026 Spirit of Hope Award alongside some wonderful Canberrans doing great things in our community.

There’s also a People’s Choice Award, decided by public vote.

If you’d like to cast yours, head to the link, scroll to the bottom and select Yevette Ho. 🐾💜

https://www.lifelinecanberra.org.au/spirit-of-canberra-awards/⁠

Thank you.

Yoshi & Yevette

Address

Canberra, ACT
2912

Website

https://yopaws.com.au/

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