What Is the Purpose of Service Dogs?

Service, or assistance, dogs are the animal heroes of our world. They guide people who cannot see into public places and around their homes; tell their owners who cannot hear that the doorbell is ringing; find those who have lost their way; and "fetch" items off the floor for their owners who are unable to move without wheelchair assistance. They truly are man's (and woman's) best friends.

  1. Seeing Eye Dogs

    • Seeing eye dogs were the first Service Dogs seen in the United States shortly after World War I, according to an article entitled, "History of the First Assistance Dogs in the U.S." on the Shore Service Dogs, Inc., website. Dorothy Eustis, a wealthy American kennel owner living in Switzerland, paired a young man named Morris Frank, who could not see, with his first seeing-eye dog. Together they founded the first-ever seeing eye dog organization in the United States in 1929.

    Hearing Dogs

    • Hearing dogs make physical contact with their owners to let them know that someone is at the door or on the phone, that a baby's crying, that someone's calling their name or when a smoke alarm goes off, and then leads them to the source of the sound or problem, says the Shore Service Dog website. Many owners prefer small dogs as hearing dogs, according to Cheryl Heppner in an article entitled "Hearing Dogs" in Hearing Loss magazine, on the Northern Virginia Resource Center website, because they can fit easily under tables or airplane seats.

    Seizure and Migraine Alert Dogs

    • These dogs let their owners know when they're about to have a seizure or migraine, respectively, so they can get help before it happens. According to Barbara Willis in an article entitled, "Dogs Provide More Than Just Love to Their Owners," in the December 29, 2009, issue of the Missourian, her service dog, Sydney, was trained to lick her on the ear when she was about to have a migraine. Such dogs pay particular attention to their owners' scents, which change when they are about to experience these types of sudden medical problems.

    Autism Service Dogs

    • Autism Service Dogs enable families with autistic children to increase their mobility and socialization as a family, says the "Welcome to Autism Service Dogs of America" page of the Autism Service Dogs of America (ASDA) website. This type of service dog will accompany an autistic child when he's away from home, including school. ASDs lessen the occurrence of emotional traumas and serve as a positive social link between the child's home and his school or community, says the ASDA website.

    Other Functions

    • Other types of service dogs include those who locate missing persons, track fugitives, pull wheelchairs or provide stable support to an owner who cannot keep her balance, according to the Missourian article. Assistance dogs also pull their owners shoes and socks off and assist with daily chores, according to an article entitled, "Service Dogs" on the Patriot Paws website.