Assistance Dogs: The Best Friends of Disables

No doubt, assistance dogs are the best and loyal friends that can guide the disables, and make their everyday life a little easier. This article comprises complete information about the assistance dogs and explains the need of these dogs in everyday life.

What are Assistance Dogs?

The assistance dogs are trained to aid or assist a person with a disability. Many of these dogs are trained by specific organizations, while others are trained by their handlers (sometimes with the help of professional trainers). The assistance dogs were not born that way, it took countless hours of training that help these dogs grow up to fulfil their assisting destinies. According to the Assistance Dogs International, there are following three types of assistance dogs:

Guide Dogs

Commonly, the guide dogs help visually impaired and completely blind people. These dogs help in crossing busy intersections, navigating stairs and avoiding obstacles when out and about. They work from cues that are given by their owner, but they are also trained to disobey the cues if these would mean putting their owner in danger. The best guide dog breeds are:

• Labrador Retrievers
• Golden Retrievers
• German Shepherd Dogs
• Standard Poodles

Hearing Dogs

These assistance dogs are specifically selected and trained so as to assist deaf people by alerting their handler to important sounds, such as smoke alarms, doorbells, ringing telephones, or alarm clocks. They also work outside the home by alerting to sounds such as forklifts, sirens, and a person calling the handler’s name. Some best dog breeds that come in this category are:

• Poodles
• Shih Tzus
• Lhasa Apsos
• Shetland Sheepdog

Service dogs

These dogs not specifically trained for hearing or visual impairment, but they are trained to do other work like seizure alert dogs, mobility assistance dogs, and psychiatric service dogs. The service dogs can in some instances be classified as Therapy Dogs. You might see the service dogs helping a wheelchair-bound person pick up a dropped item, turn off a light or open a door. The best examples of Service dogs:

• German Shepherd Dogs
• Labrador Retrievers
• Golden Retrievers

Following reasons explains you the importance of a service dogs:

1.Sense of security

Having a service dog with the disables allows them to relax and feel like they are safe. The visually impaired people can feel like they always have a set of eyes watching over them. While those suffering from autism, diabetes, or seizures have a loyal companion who knows how to act during a time of need.

2.Assistance in work

If something does occur while inside or outside of the home, your trained service dog can assist in more ways than imaginable. The service dogs can use alert devices to call various emergency numbers like 100 or 911. In addition to this, they can retrieve medications, help you up or stimulate you during a seizure, bark to attract attention in public, and most importantly, get help if necessary.

3.Service dogs encourage social interaction

Those who suffer seizures, autism, and PTSD can have social anxiety. Having a furry companion by the side can definitely be a social icebreaker for these people.

4.Provide great affection

For those who suffer from the disabilities, service dogs provide slightly more affection and company than others. These dogs can also provide emotional and physical support. This constant support lowers the stress levels and calms the patient. The dogs are loyal creatures; therefore, we as humans appreciate their company.

5.24X7 support

If something comes up, the service dog will take the proper action to alert you or others. These dogs are trained to wake their handler or someone near in necessity. These dogs are trained to care for you and your family at all times of the day/night.