Different Types of Service Dogs

Puppy Prep

The most frequently thought of type of service dogs are those who help the blind. However, not all disabilities are visible, and there is a whole spectrum of service animals who help their handlers with often life-saving tasks on a daily basis.

Guide

Guide dogs assist persons with vision impairment or blindness. These types of dogs receive significant training in order to guide their handlers safely through the world, avoid obstacles, and anticipate environmental/situational dangers. Some of the tasks a guide dog will learn are:

Stopping at elevation changes, such as curbs and elevated/step-down doorways.
Leading their handler to an exit or through an entryway.
Guiding their handler through a variety of environments such as stores, sidewalks, and intuitively around other new places without previously having visited that location.

Hearing

When a person has an auditory impairment, these dogs may be trained to alert their handler to everyday sounds as well as alarms and warning sounds. Often, the dog is trained to translate certain cues into specific touch signals, such as a paw-touch or nose-touch alert. Some of the tasks a hearing assistance dog may learn are:

They alert their handlers of emergency warnings, such as fire and CO2 alarms, the sounds of car horns, or truck backup warnings.
They notify their handler of specific everyday sounds, such as knocks at the door, kettles whistling, and alarm clocks ringing.
They retrieve unheard dropped items such as keys or medication, such as inhalers.

Medical Alert

Medical alert dogs are trained to detect scents, chemical changes, and visual reactions to things such as allergies, low blood sugar, and seizures. Some of the tasks these dogs will learn are:

Reminding their handler to take medication when a symptom is detected to prevent further progression of symptoms.
Bringing their handler medications, such as an epipen or medication pouch.
Proactively alerting their handler to the presence of certain substances, such as peanuts.

Mobility

These dogs are trained to support their handlers with medical conditions that may limit their mobility. Common scenarios this dog may support their handler include navigating doorways, retrieving low-down or high-up items, and turning on/off lights. Some of the tasks these dogs will learn are:

Pulling ropes attached to door handles to open them.
Closing cabinets or pushing in chairs to clear obstacles for their handler's path.
Acting as a brace for their handler when traversing stairs, escalators, or transitioning between a wheelchair to a car or stationary chair.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric service dogs perform tasks for their handlers with certain psychiatric or developmental disables. The tasks may overlap with those of a medical alert dog, but the nature of the disability is the distinction in their classification. Some of the tasks these dogs will learn are:

Interrupting self harm episodes or OCD rituals.
Grounding their handler during a panic attack or dissociative episode.
Leading their handler to an exit or quiet space, or circling their handler to provide them personal space from a crowd.
Reminding their handler to take medication.

It is important to note that a psychiatric service animal is different from an Emotional Support Animal and a Therapy Animal, as they are trained to perform specific tasks to promote the safety and wellbeing of their handler; not simply comforting their handler by their presence or affection.

Different Types of Service Dogs

Different Types of Service Dogs

Guide

Hearing

Medical Alert

Mobility

Psychiatric

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