Module 1B.1: Guide Dogs Research How animals are used in the field of disability such as Guide Dogs, Autism Assistance Dogs, Diabetes Dogs. What roles do these animals play? What role could they play in the future? Service Dog Definition: Any dog which is specifically trained to perform tasks for a disabled individual that they wold otherwise have difficulty completing on their own. Common Types of Service Dogs Service Dog: Severe Allergy Alert Dogs Job: To tell owner if there are life-threatening allergens in the area, especially tree nuts, gluten or shellfish Handler: May or may not have visible signs of disability Gear: They wear a vest with pockets for emergency information, medical information and medication such as Epi pens. They wear a patch that says, “IN EVENT OF EMERGENCY CHECK POCKETS.” Notes: Usually with children but can be with adults. Most Allergen Alert Dogs carry medical information and emergency protocol in their vest or on a USB key attached to their collar. Service Dog: Autism Assistance Dogs Job: Calms Autistic people using tactile or deep pressure stimulation. May also assist in teaching life skills, maintaining boundaries or finding a “runner.” Can help in reducing the frequency of meltdowns by removing the person. Handler: Likely to be a child, but could be an adult. May or may not show visible signs of disability, and may or may not be verbal. Gear: Wear a vest. If a dog’s partner is young and non-verbal, the dog should carry emergency protocol and contact information in his vest. Notes: Autism Assistance Dogs and Sensory Processing Disorder Dogs fall into the same category and usually perform identical task work. Service Dog: Brace/Mobility Support Dogs Job: A Brace/Mobility Support Dog works to provide bracing or counterbalancing to a partner who has balance issues due to a disability. They also retrieve, open/close doors or do other tasks to assist in day-to-day life. Handler: Will vary in presentation depending on disability. Usually an adult. Gear: Wear a harness to help them safely assist their person. Notes: Brace/Mobility Support Dogs must be large enough to safely support their person. They are at least 59cm tall and 25kg to perform brace/counterbalance work safely, and must be proportionally larger if their human is larger than average. Service Dog: Diabetic Alert Dogs Job: To detect and alert person to blood sugar highs and lows. Many dogs are trained to call ambulance if person can not be woken. Handler: May show signs of visible disability, but likely will not. Could be any age from very, very young to a senior citizen. Gear: Wear a vest and carry emergency protocols in their vest if the dog would ever be the first point of contact with an emergency medical team. Notes: Diabetic Alert Dogs are also known as “Blood Sugar Alert Dogs.” Service Dog: Hearing Dogs Job: To alert their deaf person to certain sounds such as alarms, doorbells, knocking, phones, cars or their name. Handler: Likely won’t show signs of disability. May or may not speak. Gear: Hearing Dogs don’t require special gear, but many state laws designate bright orange as reserved for Hearing Dogs. Notes: Hearing Dogs can be trained to respond to any environmental sound or cue their handler needs to know about. Service Dog: Medical Alert Dogs Job: To alert their handler to dangerous changes in their body such as blood pressure, hormone levels or something else. Handler: May or may not show signs of disability. Gear: The dog usually wears a vest. Notes: Medical Alert Dogs’ jobs and functions can be very different. Service Dog: Medical Assistance Dogs Job: To assist their handler with a medical disability via trained, specific, work Handler: Can have very different disabilities and ages. Gear: Will usually wear a vest. Notes: “Medical Assistance Dog” tends to be a catch-all category for a Service Dog that doesn’t “fit” anywhere else. It’s also commonly used when the handler doesn’t feel like going into detail. Service Dog: Psychiatric Service Dog Job: To assist their handler with a psychiatric disability such as anxiety, depression or PTSD Handler: Can look very different but often you cant tell they have a mental illness. Gear: No special gear required. Notes: Emotional Support Animals and Therapy Dogs are NOT the same as Psychiatric Service Dogs Service Dog: Seizure Response Dogs Job: The dog can get medication, do deep pressure stimulation to end a seizure early, fetch a nearby person to help or call the ambulance. Handler: May or may not show signs of physical disability. Gear: Often wears a vest. Service Dog: Visual Assistance Dogs Job: To help a blind person Handler: Usually will be able to notice that they are blind Gear: Will wear a guide dog harness, which is white Notes: Visual Assistance Dogs are called “Guide Dogs” Most are Labradors, Goldens or German Shepherds, but they need to be any sturdy, even-tempered, medium or large breed dog. Service Dog: Wheelchair Assistance Dogs Job: Gets dropped objects, opens doors, gets the phone and more. Handler: Is in a wheelchair. Sometimes can walk. Gear: wears a special harness to assist in pulling a chair or opening a door.
