Covering Everything You Need To Know About Service Dogs And The Month-Long Holiday That Promotes Them
Service dogs provide a very important role in society for a wide variety of people. They help people that are visually impaired, hearing impaired, and even people that are diabetic. Service dogs are so valuable that the entire month of September is celebrated as National Service Dog Month. This article will cover everything you need to know about National Service Dog Month. Additionally, this article will also discuss common types of service dogs and how they assist their handlers in their day to day lives.
What Makes A Service Dog A Service Dog
According to The Spruce Pets, a service dog can be defined as a working dog that is specifically trained to assist a person with a disability or specific needs. It’s important to note that service dogs are not the same as other working dogs such as police dogs and search-and-rescue dogs. It’s also worth noting that service dogs are not pets. They are there to perform a service and assist their handlers with a specific task that is directly related to the person’s disability. Lastly, therapy dogs and emotional support dogs are not considered service dogs as they do not require specific training for specific tasks.
Common Types Of Service Dogs
There is a wide variety of different types of service dogs in the world today. Each type of service dog is specially trained to perform a specific task or set of tasks. These service dogs make it possible for their handlers to live a normal and independent lifestyle. Here are some examples of the most common types of service dogs and the services they provide.
Guide Dogs
Guide dogs, a.k.a. seeing-eye dogs are a type of service dog that is specifically trained to aid, guide, and protect people that are blind or visually impaired. These dogs assist their handlers in navigating through the world and in everyday situations. This includes things like walking down the street, getting around the house, and avoiding hazardous environments/situations.
Guide dogs usually wear a specific type of harness that has a large handle attached to the top for the handler to hold onto. Common responsibilities of a guide dog include giving directional cues through body language, providing navigational support, and watching out for hazards. Guide dogs essentially supplement eyesight for those that can’t see very well.
Hearing Dogs
Hearing dogs are a type of service dog that assist deaf people or people that have trouble hearing. These dogs are specifically trained to listen for common sounds like smoke alarms, doorbells, alarm clocks, telephones, etc. They are also trained to alert their handlers about these sounds after hearing them. Essentially, hearing dogs act as the ears for people that can’t hear very well on their own.
Mobility Assistance Dogs
Mobility dogs are a type of service dog that is trained to help people with balance, strength, and mobility issues. They can be trained to perform a variety of tasks such as, retrieving out-of-reach items, retrieving dropped items, pushing buttons for automatic doors, and being a brace for individuals with strength or balance issues. Mobility dogs are essential to people who can’t balance or move around without assistance.
Seizure Response Dogs
One of the most interesting types of service dogs is the seizure response dog. A seizure response dog is a type of service dog that is trained to respond to a seizure in someone who has epilepsy. In the event their handler has a seizure, a seizure response dog will help them by barking to alert family members, put their body between the handler and the floor to break their fall, lie next to the handler to prevent injury, or even activate an alarm or pre-programmed device like Life Alert. These service dogs are essential to the well being of people that suffer from epilepsy or are prone to seizures.
How You Can Observe The Holiday
One of the best ways to observe National Service Dog Month is to donate to service dog schools. The average cost to raise and train a service dog is over $40,000 dollars and all donations to service dog schools make a big difference. To learn more about how and where you can donate, click here. Additionally, you can also observe National Service Dog Month by raising awareness about it on social media. Be sure to use the handle #nationalservicedogmonth when posting on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
Looking For A Pet Sitter Or Dog Walker?
National Service Dog Month is a very important pet-themed holiday and we hope you take the time to get involved. If you or someone you know is looking for pet sitting or dog walking services, then look no further than Paws & Claws Pet Sitting and Dog Walking! We service the Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara, and West San Jose areas. Click here to contact us or give us a call at 408-752-2997. We hope to hear from you soon!
