Service Dog
A service dog is defined under the ADA guidelines as a dog that has been trained to perform tasks or to do some type of work regarding a disability their handler has.

Types Of Service Dogs & Some Tasks They May Preform
 

Autism Service Dogs

• Give cues to help their handler prioritize information. Such as a fire alarm in the midst of also processing the sound of a fan, music playing, the texture of the carpet under their feet and the feel of their clothing.

• Notify handler of repetitive behaviors they are exhibiting. These behaviors may be calming to the handler, so this notification is not to halt the behavior, rather to make the handler aware that it is happening.

• Apply pressure on handler’s body to help calm them.

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Hearing Dogs

• Alert handler to environmental sounds. Such as sirens, a phone ringing, a doorbell, etc.

• May be used outside the home, but some handlers make a personal decision not to use their hearing dog in public.

• Are often shelter or rescue dogs given a second chance. It is not certain which genes are responsive to sound, so becoming a hearing dog may be a path for dogs to be rescued.

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Mobility Dogs

• Assist handlers who are wheelchair users by picking up dropped items, opening/closing doors, turning on/off light switches, and exchanging items that may be out of their handler’s reach.

• Aid with stability and balance for handlers who are ambulatory but require assistance to maintain mobility.

• Require more extensive training, and at a later age. The dog’s growth plates must be completely closed before any training with a special mobility harness can begin in order to prevent injury the dog.

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Diabetic Alert Dogs

• Alert handler to chemical changes in their blood sugar so they will inject insulin or ingest glucose to prevent a diabetic emergency.

• Notify others in the household or set off an alarm system in the case of emergency.

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Allergy Detection Dogs

• Sniff out and alert handler of allergens present in an environment.

• Used primarily with children to give parents peace of mind and allow children more independence.

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Seizure Alert/Response Dogs

• Alert handlers with epilepsy 10-20 minutes before a seizure. This gives the person the opportunity to move to a safer location, take medication, or call for help.

• Respond during or after a seizure to roll handler on their side to open airway, clear airway, alert or call for help, and block from hazards.

• The ability to alert a person of an oncoming seizure is present naturally in some dogs cannot be trained.

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Guide Dog

• Obey orders of directions 

• Identify an obstacle, point it out and go around it 

• Find and walk across a pedestrian crossing 

• Stop in front of a sidewalk 

• Secure a climb or walk down the stairs 

• Find certain infrastructures such as a letter box, a bus stop, etc.

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Psychiatric Sevice Dog

• Interrupting behavior such as self-injury, scratching, and shaking.

• Standing in front of you to secure your personal space while in public.

• Keeping you engaged by maintaining eye contact.

• Locating the exit, your house, or your car.

• Retrieving medication and fetching other items like a phone or water bottle.

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While many of these types of service dogs can be sorted by the trained skills of the dog and the disability of their handler, each situation is different. Service dogs’ abilities are trained based on the individual needs of their handler. The disabilities and specific needs of the person determine what abilities their service dog must have and what tasks the dog is required to perform.

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Service Dogs in Public

People With Service Animals Must Be Allowed Access to All Public Accommodations. This right takes precedence over all state and local laws which might otherwise prohibit animals in those places such as Stores, Malls, Restaurants, Hotels/Resorts, Airlines,Cruises, Taxi cabs, Buses just to name a few.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, also known as the ADA, clearly states that proof of “certification” cannot be required by any facility or business for legal access if you meet the requirements for a person with a legal disability, and your dog meets the requirements of a service animal. 

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