Why is that dog in here?

Service Dogs

The photo above that was recently posted on Facebook got my interest in a big way. Mainly because I adore dogs, but also because I donate a couple times a year to the Guiding Eyes for the Blind organization. 

When my kids were younger, they asked me once, "why is that dog in here?" when someone brought a dog into the restaurant with them.  I immediately looked for the owner to be carrying a cane or to be wearing dark glasses - something to give me a clue that the dog was a "seeing eye" dog. Since then I've donated to the Guiding Eyes for the Blind and have had a great interest in it all.

It goes without saying that any service dog's greatest assistance is the emotional support they can offer their handler. Most disabilities present trials than can be relieved on a mental level simply by the dog's presence. A well behaved dog can help to lower blood pressure and give a sense of ease to anyone who is near. Recently the public has received education regarding psychiatric service dogs with respect for our soldiers who are returning from war, as well as for civilians, all with PTSD and other psychiatric conditions such as severe anxiety and depressive disorders. These days they are not only for the blind, but also for those plagued with seizures or PTSD, etc.

Check here for more info

Service Dogs are not only for blind people. They can sense, irregular heart rhythms, chemical changes, smell the change in their owners breath and more. This is very interesting to me so I really dove into my research, but I don't want to overwhelm you either. So if this really peaks your interest too, simply follow the links I give and Google "service dogs" yourself and read the tons of information out there about this topic.


For Example: Tyler Ashcroft is an energetic, 5-year-old boy who loves to play catch with his dog, Zoey. But the little boy has hit some rough spots in his young life. He has to wear a backpack at all times that carries the tubes that keep him fed. Tyler also has asthma, and suffers from epileptic seizures. Zoey is trained to let the Ashcrofts know when little Tyler is close to seizing. "There's a scent that happens when they're going to have a seizure, a chemical thing n the body," Rochelle says. "So she will usually come up to Tyler and paw at him a few times, and then she comes up to one of us and lets us know." Zoey's presence allows Rochelle to get more sleep, and gives Tyler more freedom. In the fall, the pair will start school together. "He's happier," says Rochelle. "He has a friend, and I think he knows that, too."
 
Here is some information that you may find particularly interesting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual difficulties, hearing impairments, mental illness, seizures, diabetes, Autism, and more.

Most owners expect their service dogs to be treated as a working animal while in public. The health and safety of their owner may depend on the dog's ability to focus and resist distraction. Many service dogs are trained to avoid distraction when wearing their gear, but relax and are friendly when the gear is removed. An owner will expect to be asked for permission before another individual interacts with the dog.

A service dog wearing a colorful vest and
a waterproof coat with reflective markings.

By definition, a service dog is a dog that is individually trained to perform tasks that mitigate the disability of the dog's owner. Since each person experiences a disability differently and therefore has different needs for assistance, each dog is to some extent custom-trained for the individual it will be helping. For example, a dog meant to assist a person in a wheelchair might be taught to pick up dropped items, open and close doors, and turn on and off lights. A dog trained to assist a person who cannot see well might be taught to avoid obstacles.

Disabled owners of service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,which generally gives them the right to be accompanied by their service animal anywhere the general public is allowed. Additional federal laws protect people with disabilities partnered with service animals, as well as other types of assistance animals, from discrimination in housing (the Fair Housing Amendments Act) and on aircraft (the Air Carrier Access Act). Service dogs may wear special vests or ID tags, but they are not a requirement of the ADA.

A Good Service Dog

Not all dogs are suitable to become service dogs. There are certain characteristics that make a dog perfect and qualified to help people in need. If you want to make your dog a service dog, here are the characteristics that your dog should have to become one.

Dogs that exhibit these traits are much more likely to become successful service dogs.

• Your dog must be calm and well mannered. They should be able to relax and play just like normal dogs because although they are working dogs, it doesn’t mean that they have to work 24/7. Your dog should know how to tell the difference between relaxing time from working time.
  Dogs that can be qualified to become a service dog are dogs that can easily adjust to new people and environment. Dogs that tend to get anxious and uncomfortable in new surroundings are not suitable to guide a disabled person. For example, you’re in an emergency situation and you ask your dog to look for help but the dog got nervous when he saw a marching band outside your house. In any situation, a dog should remain calm because the dog’s partner depends on them
  for assistance. The animal must learn how to ignore the distractions and focus on the task. It will not be beneficial for the person in need if the service dog can not easily adopt in new environments and situations.

• Service dogs must be confident. These dogs will need to assist people with different needs. Some may even have equipments. A dog should be confident when approaching and helping the people in need. For example, an old man in a wheelchair needs a service dog. The dog is doing its job correctly but when the wheelchair starts to move, the dog gets scared and ran away. This will not be favorable for the man as the dog will not be able to help him if he starts to move his wheelchair. The dog should be confident and calm in order to support its partner.

• It is important that a service dog is friendly and cooperative. The dog should be calm and allow people to pet him/her. They should be cooperative with their partner and not be stubborn. Dogs that are too friendly to the point that they will leave their partner’s side to greet and play with people is not good either. Although they should be friendly, they also need to have self control. A balance of the two will be perfect. Also, a good service dog knows how to respect his/her partner’s space and property. For example, when the dog’s partner is sleeping, unless the person wants the dog beside him/her, the dog should not climb into bed and sleep with its partner.

• Of course, all service dogs must be easy to live with. Since the dog’s job is to help its partner and make their partner’s life easier, it is vital that the dog should have a calm and well behaved attitude. They should be quiet when inside the house. If their partner has kids or other animals, they should get along with the kids and the animals. They should not chew the slippers or the sofa, they should not rummage the garbage, they should urinate or defecate outside the house and they should not bolt right through the door or gate when it is open. They should wait patiently for their partner to give the cue.

There is so much more out there to read on this topic!  Such as Therapy Dogs. Here is just a blip about it because this post is mainly about Service Dogs. 

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Therapy dog

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Golden Retrievers are often used as therapy dogs due to their
calm demeanor, gentle disposition, and friendliness to strangers.

A therapy dog is a dog trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, disaster areas, and to people with learning difficulties.

Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds. The most important characteristic of a therapy dog is its temperament. A good therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations. Therapy dogs must enjoy human contact and be content to be petted and handled, sometimes clumsily.

A therapy dog's primary job is to allow unfamiliar people to make physical contact with it and to enjoy that contact. Children in particular enjoy hugging animals; adults usually enjoy simply petting the dog. The dog might need to be lifted onto, or climb onto, an individual's lap or bed and sit or lie comfortably there. Many dogs contribute to the visiting experience by performing small tricks for their audience or by playing carefully structured games. In hospice environments, therapy dogs can play a role in palliative care by reducing death anxiety.