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