Service Dogs for Kids

Trained from an early age, service dogs help people with disabilities varying from blindness to disorders such as autism. While these dogs have usually been trained to work with adults, some organizations will provide a service dog for children with disabilities. Before making the commitment to a service dog, it is important to acclimate your child to having this type of dog.

  1. The Service Dog and What It Does

    • To most people, a service dog is trained to help a person who is blind get around and perform day-to-day activities. While a guide dog for the blind can be a common sight, other types of disabilities may require a service dog. For the deaf, a guide dog is used to supplement a person's loss of hearing. Those who deal with autism may have a dog trained to calm them or help with over-stimulation. A diabetic can be made aware of his low blood sugar level. Some dogs even have the ability to detect when a seizure is about to occur in their owners. For epileptics, this and the ability of the dog to roll them over after a seizure prove invaluable when the risk of a seizure is a high risk.

    Service Dogs and Children

    • Before looking for the right service dog for your child, understand that many service dogs are trained to work with adults. Therefore, you should seek out organizations that train dogs specifically for children. These places allow children to work with a service dog anywhere from the age of 7 to 12, depending on the maturity and condition of the child in need. Often, when preparing to adopt a service dog, your child and the potential service dog will need a period to become used to each other. It is during this period of acclimation that you will be able to see if it will work. Every organization has a different set of rules, so be sure to speak with them before proceeding with placement.

    Obtaining a Service Dog For Your Child

    • There are numerous agencies that train dogs from the time they are puppies to become service animals. Many of these are nonprofit organizations that will require a minimum donation before they will begin placement proceedings. There is a long waiting list. Depending on the type of ailment from your child suffers, the age of the dog may vary. For example, a child with autism may be placed with a younger dog to ensure the dog matures around the autistic child's personality.

    Your Child and the Service Dog in Public

    • The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 allows you to go anywhere in the general public with your service animal. Despite this, be sure to speak with your child's school supervisor about their disability and why the service dog is needed.