Sometimes we think of dogs as pets or companions. Yet for many people, their dog is their companion to provide a necessary service. There are many types of service dogs.
but there are many different breeds which perform especially well such as German Shepherds, Laborador Retrievers, Standard Poodles and some general dogs from animal shelters.
The bond between the service dogs and their human owners is real. The humans rely on the dogs to be able to accomplish many tasks, some as basic as crossing the road, others as complex as opening the refrigerator or carrying the laundry or assisting with balance or seeking appropriate help when a medical emergency occurs.
A friend of mine had muscular dystrophy and as the disease progressed, she became less able to care for herself until she reached a level of being quadriplegic. She served on some state and county level committees as an advisor and spokesperson for people with disabilities. When given the opportunity to try out an independent living apartment, she was delighted.
It required a lot of scheduling for appropriate helpers to come and go. And yet, she found ways of learning how to cook, used a wide range of assistive technology devices to facilitate the lighting, phone, television, computer, stereo and security of her apartment with voice commands. It was truly astounding to be involved with this process. She began dog training with a precious chocolate laborador retriever puppy. The intent was for the dog to become her service dog and security companion. Her aides and friends became as attached to the pup as she did. We all learned a lot about dog training and obedience, yes, even potty training and teething.
During this time, we learned there are many aspects of living with a service dog that we had never considered. And we learned in cooperation with the assistive technology and dog training staff about the minimum standards for the dogs and for the owners. These are to ensure the health and safety of both the humans and the dogs. We learned a few simple behaviors that really make a difference for the relationship and communication between dog and owner. For instance, if you are approaching a blind person or deaf person who has a guide or service dog, talk to the person first. Do not give in to the temptation to talk to the “nice doggie”. Do NOT attempt to pet the dog. The animal is in a working mode and it is best not to disturb the dog until the owner gives the dog the proper signal or command to interact with you.
There are many more things to learn about service dogs and proper behavior. This is just one short introduction. My friend gave her dog to another person to complete the training because we all realized the puppy needed to learn some really basic skills before becoming a valued service dog. The bond between them never stopped. We all have a lot to learn from the animals around us. Perhaps first we need to ask how can we help them by serving them well. And one day they will be capable of serving us.
Some Guide Dogs help people with little or no vision.In each case the dogs are already taught basic obedience skills and then their dog training becomes specific to the person who will become their owner. Not every dog can become a service dog,
Service Dogs help many people who have disabilities which limit their mobility.
Hearing Service Dogs are trained to help people with impaired hearing.
Seizure Dogs or Medical Response Dogs are taught to alert people who have particular health conditions, like epileptic seizures, or heart attacks, or panic attacks or stroke.
but there are many different breeds which perform especially well such as German Shepherds, Laborador Retrievers, Standard Poodles and some general dogs from animal shelters.The bond between the service dogs and their human owners is real. The humans rely on the dogs to be able to accomplish many tasks, some as basic as crossing the road, others as complex as opening the refrigerator or carrying the laundry or assisting with balance or seeking appropriate help when a medical emergency occurs.
A friend of mine had muscular dystrophy and as the disease progressed, she became less able to care for herself until she reached a level of being quadriplegic. She served on some state and county level committees as an advisor and spokesperson for people with disabilities. When given the opportunity to try out an independent living apartment, she was delighted.
It required a lot of scheduling for appropriate helpers to come and go. And yet, she found ways of learning how to cook, used a wide range of assistive technology devices to facilitate the lighting, phone, television, computer, stereo and security of her apartment with voice commands. It was truly astounding to be involved with this process. She began dog training with a precious chocolate laborador retriever puppy. The intent was for the dog to become her service dog and security companion. Her aides and friends became as attached to the pup as she did. We all learned a lot about dog training and obedience, yes, even potty training and teething.
During this time, we learned there are many aspects of living with a service dog that we had never considered. And we learned in cooperation with the assistive technology and dog training staff about the minimum standards for the dogs and for the owners. These are to ensure the health and safety of both the humans and the dogs. We learned a few simple behaviors that really make a difference for the relationship and communication between dog and owner. For instance, if you are approaching a blind person or deaf person who has a guide or service dog, talk to the person first. Do not give in to the temptation to talk to the “nice doggie”. Do NOT attempt to pet the dog. The animal is in a working mode and it is best not to disturb the dog until the owner gives the dog the proper signal or command to interact with you.
There are many more things to learn about service dogs and proper behavior. This is just one short introduction. My friend gave her dog to another person to complete the training because we all realized the puppy needed to learn some really basic skills before becoming a valued service dog. The bond between them never stopped. We all have a lot to learn from the animals around us. Perhaps first we need to ask how can we help them by serving them well. And one day they will be capable of serving us.
