Close up view of trained assistant dog.

On Assistance Dog Day we honor assistance dogs and their trainers.

Importance of an Assistance Dog

There are many different types of assistance dogs.  There are some trained to be guide dogs for the blind, hearing alert dogs for the hearing impaired, and medical alert dogs that recognize the signs of heart attacks, strokes, seizures, panic attacks, and epilepsy.  People put their lives in the paws of these dogs each and every day.  Their life depends on how hard that assistance dog works.

These specially trained dogs are completely and selflessly devoted and dedicated to their humans.  Assistance Dog Day is meant to celebrate that selfless love and devotion.  The day also celebrates their trainers who work hard to pick out the right dog for the job and train them to be life savers.  Training can take months to years to complete depending on the dog and what the dog is being trained to do.

Without assistance dogs, people who live with disabilities or illnesses may not be able to lead independent lives. These very special dogs help their humans navigate the world and even keep them safe.

But they’re more than just helpers. As a constant companion, an assistance dog is also a member of the family.

This is also the beginning of Assistance Dog week. The week (and we presume the day) was started by Marcie Davis.

Ms. Davis has been a paraplegic for more than 35 years. She is an author (Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook ) and founder of the Working Like Dogs website.

National-Assistance-Dog 2

Assistance Dogs Have Lots of Jobs

The assistance dogs most people are probably most familiar with are the guide dogs for people with vision loss. These dogs help their masters get around:

  • Cross the street
  • Walk through doorways
  • Sit down safely
  • Walk around obstacles

 

But other assistance dogs are trained to help with other disabilities or illnesses.

Medical/Seizure Alert Dogs recognize signs of certain conditions:

  • Epileptic seizure (also other seizures)
  • Stroke
  • Heart attack
  • Panic or anxiety attack
  • Post-traumatic stress episode

 

Service Dogs help people with disabilities or limited mobility with certain everyday tasks:

  • Open drawers and doors
  • Carrying items
  • Walking and balance
  • Dressing

 

Hearing Alert Dogs help people with hearing loss and alert them to sounds like:

  • The telephone
  • The doorbell
  • Alarms (smoke, fire or a timer)
  • Sirens

 

These dogs are truly amazing. And in many cases literally lifesavers for their humans.

Learn more about assistance dogs:

  • Assistance Dogs International is a “coalition of not for profit assistance dog organizations.” The coalition works to improve training and education about assistance dogs and the right of people to bring assistance dogs with them in places pets are not normally allowed. See their information on Types of Assistance Dogs and frequently asked questions.
  • International Association of Assistance Dog Partners is “a non-profit, cross-disability organization representing people partnered with guide, hearing and service dogs.” You’ll find links to a lot of good resources on their home page.
  • An Introduction to Service Dogs, on rover.com, also provides links to a variety of resources to help you understand how these animals help their humans and the laws protecting them.

 

Sources:

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