Wool & Whiskers Animal-Assisted Support Services

30/05/2026

Soooo many people ask about the lambs and how they're training is coming along…

Honestly, considering people once doubted my ability to train:
A. An Airedale Terrier instead of just owning another Border Collie
and
B. Literal sheep…

…I feel like this is a pretty strong moment for the résumé 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

Turns out years of dog training experience DOES transfer surprisingly well to tiny woolly crackheads with the attention span of a moth 🦋

At this point I’m not entirely sure if I’m running an animal-assisted support business or accidentally assembling a travelling circus. Either way it's loads of fun! 🎪🤡

29/05/2026

So lovely to meet the team from The Therapy Room NQ at the expo this morning!

One of the best parts of events like this is meeting other passionate local businesses and building genuine community connections.

Looking forward to staying in touch and seeing where those connections might lead in the future 🥰

Visit us today at the Regional Disability Expo.
Townsville Stadium.
9am-3pm

29/05/2026

Today Pickle and I stepped a little further into the future we’ve been quietly working towards 💜🐾

We headed along to the RDE - Regional Disability Expo today for some exposure training and to see how Pickle would cope in a busy, noisy, jam-packed indoor environment full of people, mobility aids, conversations, movement and distractions… and honestly, he absolutely nailed it 👌💪

Calm. Gentle. Confident. Social. Thoughtful.
Exactly the kind of dog I always hoped he would become 🥰😎

One of the best parts of the morning was making genuine connections within the community and seeing how naturally Wool & Whiskers seems to be finding its place. Nothing forced, nothing rushed — just good conversations, kind people, and moments that reminded me why I started this journey in the first place ✨🤝

It was also really special having Sarah and Clover there with us today. Watching Clover work so beautifully as Sarah’s service dog was such a lovely reminder of the incredible bond and trust these dogs build with their people. Sarah and Clover have both been such a huge encouragement and source of motivation for Pickle and I throughout this journey, and it was so nice getting to share another important step together 🍀🥒

Pickle and I are getting very close to officially completing our certification through Therapy Dogs Australia, and days like today make me even more excited for what’s ahead. We can’t wait to start getting out into the community for official visits and hopefully bring a little comfort, connection and happiness wherever we go 🫶🤗

Meanwhile, the therapy lambs stayed home at Snakeweed Flats avoiding employment, contributing absolutely nothing to society, and continuing to freeload off hay and good looks while Pickle and I pave the way in the real world 😅🐑

01/05/2026

There’s something really special about getting out into the community… and today was one of those days that reminds me exactly why this work matters so much 💜

Community access isn’t just about “going out” — it’s about connection, confidence, and feeling part of the world again. For people living with disability, illness, or reduced mobility, it can mean:
✨ Building independence
✨ Reducing isolation
✨ Improving mental health
✨ Creating meaningful social interactions
✨ Gaining confidence in everyday environments
And when you add dogs into the mix… it takes it to a whole new level 🐾

Dogs have this incredible way of breaking down barriers. They spark conversations, bring smiles from complete strangers, and create natural, relaxed social moments that might not happen otherwise. For our clients, that can mean:
💬 Easier social engagement (no awkward “what do I say?” moments — the dogs do the work!)
😊 Boosted mood and reduced anxiety
🤝 Genuine connections with others in the community
🧠 Sensory and emotional regulation
💪 Motivation to get out and about

Today we had the absolute pleasure of spending time outdoors with Sarah and Allan (supported by my beautiful friend Sue), soaking up fresh air, good chats, and plenty of dog cuddles 🐶

Moments like this might look simple from the outside… but they’re not. They’re powerful. They’re meaningful. And they’re often the highlight of someone’s week.

This is what support work can be — not just care, but connection. Not just assistance, but joy 💜
And honestly… I feel so damn lucky to be part of it!

29/04/2026

Today we took Pickle 🥒 & Clover 🍀 to Castletown for some proper “life skills” training… and WOW, did the community show up 🥹

We met so many beautiful humans who happily soaked up pats, cuddles and a bit of dog-shaped joy. Clover absolutely nailed her focus work with Sarah (proud moment 👏), while Pickle… well… Pickle did what Pickle does best—quietly making everyone’s day 🥰

One of my favourite moments? Chatting with a lovely man and his Support Worker (who confessed to giving his poor labradoodle a very questionable haircut 😂). While we stood there talking, Pickle calmly positioned himself right beside the wheelchair wheel—no cue, no fuss… just that natural, steady presence that these dogs offer so effortlessly 🐾

We also met a gentleman who’d recently lost his dog and was craving that feeling of a dog cuddle again. Safe to say Pickle delivered 🥹

And then a lady told us we’d made her whole day… which honestly sums up why we do this 💜

Quick pit stop into Westpac as well where Pickle pulled out his signature bow/woof combo (10/10 crowd pleaser 😏), and the staff and clients absolutely loved it.

Days like today aren’t just “training days”… they’re connection days.
They’re confidence-building, joy-sharing, heart-filling kind of days.

And this right here? This is true Support Work.
Helping Sarah build confidence, move through the world, and feel supported…
with a couple of very good dogs stealing the spotlight along the way 🐾😏✨

24/04/2026

The Adventures of Pickle 🐾✈️ (feat. Clover & a whole lot of VERY good dogs)

This week was a big one… and honestly, I’m so proud I could burst 🥹

Sarah and Clover 🍀 had the lovely Liz from A Dog's Choice Training Services in town for training sessions and assessments, and Pickle and I tagged along to support them through a jam-packed few days of real-world training.

We tackled:
🐾 Shopping centres (4 HOURS worth… yes, really)
☕ Multiple cafés
✈️ The airport (including security!)
🐶 Pet shops
🛗 Lifts, crowds, noise, chaos… the lot

And not just Pickle and Clover—there were multiple dogs in training across the week, and every single one of them showed up, settled beautifully, and stayed so connected to their handlers. That kind of focus in those environments? Huge 👏

Pickle ticked off a big milestone too—travelator stairs conquered 💪
Not only that, he proudly showed Clover how it’s done… she gave it a VERY solid “almost” (which we’re absolutely counting as a win 😉)

After a massive airport session today, we finished things the best way possible—letting the dogs run, play, and just be dogs at the park 🌳 Because balance matters 💜

And then…
There’s the final photo.
Pickle 🥒
In a public toilet 🚽
Absolutely wedged into a cubicle he did not fit in… and choosing to lie down half under the door like some kind of emotional support speed bump 🤣
Dignity? Optional.
Commitment to the job? 10/10.

But underneath the laughs, this is the part I don’t take lightly…
This is what real support work looks like.
Showing up in busy, unpredictable environments.
Helping build confidence—both human and dog.
Being a steady, calm presence when things feel big.
Celebrating the small wins (because they’re actually the big ones).

I feel incredibly lucky to walk alongside people like Sarah on this journey—to support, encourage, and witness these moments as they happen in real time.

And watching Pickle grow into this role… it honestly fills my cup in a way I can’t quite put into words.

We’re only just getting started 🐾💜

22/04/2026

So proud of this Team 🤩

20/04/2026

POV: You’ve been to the hospital 177 times and still couldn’t find your way out of a paper bag 🛍️
Thankfully I had a very official remote navigation system (aka my friend Jo watching the security cameras 👀) guiding me step-by-step…
“Turn left.”
“Stop. You’ve gone too far.”
“WHY ARE YOU IN THAT CORNER?”
Meanwhile Pickle is just standing there like,
“Ma’am… I thought YOU were the professional.” 🐾💀

14/04/2026

Kewpie out here Snakeweed Flats running a full-scale psychological operation like:
“Hello ma’am, I am but a dirty humble, starving farm child… I have never known love… or… potato chips 🥺👉👈”

Meanwhile:
✅ Has eaten literally everything on the property
✅ Has her own catering service (aka me!)
✅ Now addicted to crinkle cut like a tiny woolly gremlin
MIL: “Oh just one won’t hurt…”
Kewpie: adds ‘professional chip dealer’ to her résume 🍟

Honestly the betrayal!… I work SO HARD raising these lambs and she’s out here switching loyalties for a handful of Smith’s 😭💀

…also me, spending hours training them NOT to climb into people’s laps for safety reasons:
Kewpie: immediately installs herself as a lap dog for snacks 🫠