We all have heard phrases about a dog being our best friend, and it is because dogs are capable of much more emotional intelligence. Dogs are capable of understanding human emotions and confront them. Hence, for the very same reason, dogs make great service animals. Service animals help their owners with a physical disability or mental stress. However, there are different kinds of service animals. So in this article, we have brought different types of service dogs you should know because they can help someone in need.
Different types of Service Dogs you should know
Hearing Dog
Hearing dogs are people who need assistance for their hearing impairments. They will alert their owners for different sounds like doorbells and lead them to the noise source.
Guide Dogs
Guide dogs are for people who need assistance with visual impairments. These service dogs help in various day-to-day activities like crossing roads and keeping their owners safe from any obstructions.
Psychiatric Service Dogs
Psychiatric service dogs help people with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. These dogs can recognize signs of self-harm and anxiety attacks and comfort their owners.
Mobility Assistance Dogs
As the name states, these dogs can do a lot of physical tasks. They can open doors, bring various objects, help people with wheelchairs, and operate buttons.
Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs have a slight difference in the kind of job they do. Therapy dogs go to hospitals or nursing homes to comfort people in that environment.
Autism Service Dogs
These dogs are specifically qualified for people with autism. They offer emotional as well as physical support to autistic people and keep them away from dangerous situations.
Diabetic Alert Dogs
Diabetic Alert Dogs can smell and sense when there is a significant amount of changes in blood sugar. Humans produce a unique scent during high or low blood sugar levels. Diabetic Alert Dogs can detect these smells and alert their owners to take necessary precautions.
Seizure Response Dogs
A seizure response dog can help a person going through seizures. They might go and ask for help, alarm the neighbors by barking, bring a phone or medicine, and comfort the person.
Allergy Detection Dogs
As the name suggests, these dogs help out their owners by warning them of anything that can cause an allergic reaction. Say if you have a peanut allergy, your dog can help you out by alerting you if there is a peanut in the food.
Service Dogs are working dogs, and they save a lot of lives every passing day. They can make your life easier, be your friend in need, and help you when you are in danger. Hence, it is true that they say that dogs are indeed our best friends.
FAQS
Can I train a service dog myself?
Yes, you can train your service dog. However, it does require a lot of patience and experience.
Can any dog be trained for service animals?
Any dog is eligible for becoming a service dog as long as they are calm, friendly, helpful, and trained.
Can we get a service dog for mental support?
You can get a service dog for mental support, but you will need an authorized document from a professional psychiatrist stating that you need assistance for your health.
Should you pet a service dog?
A service dog's job is to help its owner. So, next time you see a service dog, it is better not to pet them because it will distract them from the job, and their handler might feel uncomfortable.
What to do if a service dog approaches you without an owner?
If a service dog approaches you without its owner, kindly follow them. There is a high chance that the owner might need help as people train service animals to get help in dire situations.
