What Services Do Service Dogs Provide?

When you picture the daily life of a typical household dog, you probably envision a lot of playing, eating, cuddling, napping and other fun stuff. However, that isn't reality for all canines. Some of the furry guys are actually employed as service dogs, with job objectives of helping human beings out.

  1. Guide Dogs

    • Some service dogs are guide dogs that work closely alongside people with visual impairments. The duty of a guide dog is to steer a person in the appropriate direction -- all while staying away from any potentially hazardous physical hurdles that may be present. Guide dogs are trained to not pay attention to stimuli that may be disruptive, whether wafting aromas of food, cats walking by or anything else. They are also taught not to make any turns until they receive instructions.

    Hearing Dogs

    • Hearing dogs are service dogs that aid individuals with hearing difficulties. The goal of a hearing dog is to notify a person of any new sounds they hear, whether from buzzing cell phones, knocking neighbors or beeping fire alarms. When hearing dogs detect any sounds, they are taught to immediately establish touch with their owners -- and then to promptly and reliably guide them to the origin of the noise, whether the microwave oven or the backdoor.

    Seizure Dogs

    • Seizure dogs work to notify others -- usually by barking -- of epileptic seizures. They also have an array of other crucial responsibilities, some of which include removing remnants of vomit out from the mouth, dialing K9 telephones and assisting affected persons in standing up safely. Seizure dogs also physically obstruct persons with seizures from walking into potential "danger zones" -- think stairways or balconies.

    Therapy Dogs

    • Therapy or "emotional support" dogs provide the service of their comforting presences. These types of service dogs are generally used to help individuals dealing with mental disorders or serious emotional trauma. Especially extensive training is not usually necessary in therapy dogs, as the main goal of these wee creatures is to soothe and offer peace. It is important for these canines, however, to possess overall positive behavioral patterns and to be devoid of any prominent conduct problems, whether excessive barking, indoor elimination or anything of that ilk. It is not uncommon for therapy dogs to closely accompany their owners in cabins of airplanes, for example.

    Diabetic Assistance Dogs

    • Diabetic assistance dogs aim to, using their noses, monitor glucose swings in individuals that have diabetes. The duty of a diabetic assistance pooch involves notifying the appropriate persons of blood sugar chances, often by barking. In doing this, the affected individual can do what is necessary in order to get his or her levels back on track.