Canberra woman wins award for assistance dog training business
Yevette Ho's YoPaws helps disabled people train assistance dogs across Australia.
Yevette Ho opened YoPaws in Canberra in 2025 to help disabled people train their own assistance dogs. The business works with about ten active client teams.
Ho herself lives with autism, ADHD, PTSD, chronic pain and autoimmune conditions. Ho was inspired after struggling to train her own assistance dog, golden retriever Yoshi, while managing her own health challenges.
Her philosophy is unusual: success means clients become independent and need her less, not more. YoPaws has reached an estimated 200 to 300 people through consultations, events and education.
Ho's work has earned the 2026 David Perrin Award, which recognises people who overcome challenges to live independently.
- 2025
- Year founded
- About 10
- Active client teams
- 200 to 300
- People reached
- 2026 David Perrin Award
- Award won
Why it mattersMany disabled Australians lack access to affordable assistance dog training, and YoPaws shows how community-based coaching can build independence.
AustraliaYoPaws is based in Canberra but serves disabled clients nationally through online consultations, expanding access to assistance dog training across Australia.
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