The story of Dog Assist

Ethics first · Science-based · Collaboration as method

Dog Assist was born from a long-standing passion and a simple question: how can we build a human-animal relationship based on trust, safety, and mutual respect?

From the first activities to today, we chose the difficult but right path: animals respected as partners, interventions grounded in science, and a team that collaborates genuinely for the benefit of participants. This is our legacy and our promise for the future.

First Lessons

Dersou · Bes · Bailey

The Dog Assist story cannot be told without the dogs who laid the first bricks: Dersou, Bes, and Bailey.

Dersou was a volcano of energy, an organized chaos needing a safe environment to find balance. Bes, his son, was the opposite: calm, balanced, attentive. A dog who learned easily and showed us that collaboration, not control, is key. Bailey was pure joy - energy that makes you smile and opens hearts.

Bes - Partner, Not a Tool

Bes became Dog Assist’s first therapy dog and the teacher who changed our perspective: the human-animal relationship is not about authority, but collaboration. In almost eight years of work, Bes brought calm, safety, and hope to hundreds of children and families.

Even after retirement, his lesson remains present in everything we do: respect, connection, gentle guidance, and the joy of growing together.

Why a New Model

Beyond classical vs. “positive” training

Years of working with animals and people have shown us the limits of traditional methods - whether harsh or simplified into mechanical rewards. Authentic relationships require more.

We placed trust, emotional safety, and adaptation to each individual at the center. We integrated attachment psychology, positive discipline, and modern research on human-animal bonds.

Step by Step & Today

Dog Assist Method · 60,000+ Hours

Step by Step is our method: mutual trust, emotional safety, and gradual progress - for children, families, and therapy animals.

Today, it includes psychologists, physiotherapists, social workers, dog handlers, and partnerships with universities (USAMV, UBB, UMF). It means over 60,000 hours of animal-assisted therapy and education, and a community growing through respect and collaboration.

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