what can a service dog help me with?
There are many types of conditions that can be aided by a service dog, and many people benefit from tasks not directly expected for their disability. Dogs that use tasks from multiple categories are called Multipurpose Service Dogs
MOBILITY
Pulling Wheelchair using directional commands
Retrieving dropped items
Finding and retrieving certain items on command (Phone, meds, juice for blood sugar, etc.)
Momentum Pull (Help keep gait in handlers with altered gait)
Bracing to use the dog’s shoulders as a solid surface to lean on(Help stand from sitting, act as a railing on stairs, etc.)
Pushing Buttons (Handicap doors, elevators, crosswalk)
Opening/Closing doors
Turning on/off lights
MEDICAL ALERT
High/Low Heart Rate
High/Low Blood Sugar
Incoming Syncope (fainting)
Incoming Seizure
Incoming Panic Attack
Incoming Migraine
Medical Response
Seizure (Puts torso under handler’s head to stop them from hitting the floor repeatedly)
Syncope (fainting) (burrows under Handler’s knees to elevate them and increase blood flow back to the brain, licks handler’s face/hands to prompt faster awakening)
Panic Attack (Burrows into handler’s lap, even when pushed away or handler is curled into a ball, redirects handler to focus on the dog)
PTSD Flashbacks (Breaks handler out of flashback with repetitive behavior (Like pawing or booping))
Interrupt harmful behaviors (Skin picking, intense stimming, self-harm, etc.)
SOUND ALERT
Cell phone ringing
Handler’s name being Called
Smoke Alarm
Waking Alarm
Microwave/Oven dings
Water Running
Incoming Cars
Psychiatric
Turn on house lights in every room
Greet strangers if present (Helps schizophrenic or similar people distinguish what is real through dog’s acknowledgment)
Check every room in house, return if clear, bark if an intruder is present
Circling handler to create a bubble of space to prevent crowding in areas with lots of people
Body Blocking incoming strangers automatically, alerting the handler to their presence and keeping them from being bumped accidentally
General
Guide strangers back to downed handler
Bark to gain attention for injured handler
Step into/Put head through working gear
Bring meds to handler at specific time
Guide
THIS TRAINER DOES NOT TRAIN GUIDE DOGS, BUT SPECIFIC TASKS CAN BE USEFUL FOR SIGHTED HANDLERS
Following Path
Indicate Curb
Indicate Stairs
Avoid ground obstacles
Avoid overhead obstacles
Find door
Find seat
Do not cross street until no cars
Find elevator
Follow indicated human
Follow pre-walked route