Service dogs are specially trained to assist people with disabilities by performing tasks that directly mitigate their handler's disability. Their roles vary widely depending on the needs of the person they support, including physical, medical, psychiatric, and sensory assistance.
Common Tasks Service Dogs Perform
- Physical Assistance:
- Opening and closing doors, cabinets, and drawers.
- Picking up dropped items and retrieving specific objects like medication, keys, or phones.
- Assisting with mobility, such as helping with position changes, providing balance, pulling wheelchairs, and guiding around obstacles.
- Carrying items like groceries, mail, or purses.
- Medical Alert and Response:
- Alerting to medical conditions such as seizures, low or high blood sugar, asthma attacks, blood pressure changes, or heart rate changes.
- Retrieving medication or emergency items.
- Providing deep pressure therapy during panic attacks or anxiety episodes.
- Helping during fainting or collapse by raising legs or protecting the head.
- Psychiatric Support:
- Interrupting harmful behaviors or flashbacks.
- Providing tactile grounding through nuzzling or licking.
- Creating space in crowds or leading the handler to safe places.
- Alerting caregivers to changes in the handler's emotional state.
- Sensory Support:
- Guiding people who are visually impaired by avoiding obstacles, indicating curbs, stairs, or drop-offs.
- Alerting people who are hearing impaired to sounds such as doorbells, alarms, or phone rings.
- Environmental and Safety Tasks:
- Alerting to smoke or fire alarms.
- Blocking access to dangerous areas.
- Calling emergency services using specially adapted phones.
- Checking rooms for safety or intruders.
Service dogs are trained in at least one specific task that alleviates their handler’s disability, but many are skilled in multiple tasks to provide comprehensive support
. In summary, service dogs enhance independence, safety, and quality of life for people with a wide range of disabilities by performing practical tasks and offering emotional support tailored to their handler’s needs.
