The number of service dogs in our world today has increased exponentially as compared to the years past. There are service dogs of all types that are trained to aide in various situations from chasing a robber all the way to helping a child with Autism cope in the world better. Here is a list of ten service dogs, some more well known than others, and what they do to help out their owners, handlers, and the world.
Related: 13 of the Sweetest Service Dogs We’ve Ever Seen
10 Types of Service Dogs & What They Do
Police Dogs
Be honest, when you think of a service dog you don’t automatically think of a Police dog. But believe it or not, they are a service dog as well. Sure, they’re actually part of the police department and are even cops themselves, but they provide one of the most important services that any of us could hope for–keeping the rest of us safe from bad guys and bad things. Police dogs don’t just chase down bad guys they sniff out drugs, find missing people, rescue those in jeopardy, sniff out explosives, and so much more. Police Service Dogs are wonderful additions to any police department. They are sometimes the unsung heroes.
Search and Rescue Dogs
Many states in the United States have privately contracted and volunteer search and rescue teams to seek out missing persons. There are a few different ways that they search and rescue, one is to follow a scent then return to their handlers and lead them to the specific location. Then there is the normal search and rescue where they track the subject from their last known location and there are even some that specialize in tracking human remains of deceased victims.
Arson Dogs
These dogs are specially trained to sniff out arson causing accelerates that can be used or have been used to start a fire. Firehouses throughout communities have arson dogs in-house for their accelerate-sniffing abilities and companionship.
Leader Dogs for the Blind
Leader dogs for the blind are probably the most popular of the service dogs that we think of when we hear the term, Guide dogs. Although they are pets to their handlers just as with most service dogs, they are working dogs. Leader dogs for the blind help their handler to travel, communicate, navigate through everyday life while living with impaired vision, and so much more.
Patriot Service Dogs
These dogs are specially trained to help our disabled military veterans that suffer from such traumas as PTSD, mobility disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and loss of limb. Each dog is extensively trained for two years, then with their abilities, they are matched with a veteran’s disabilities.
Autism Service Dogs
Autism service dogs are an option for children or adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The needs can vary depending on the child or adult and what their specific needs are. While every person afflicted with Autism is different, so are the Autism service dogs. Depending on the person’s needs they are matched with the service dog that will be the greatest benefit to them whether comforting or protecting them from sensory overload or some other ailment they suffer from.
Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs are a wonderful alternative to those persons who cannot own a dog. With therapy dogs, some travel to different hospitals or homes to offer comfort and even friendship to patients with many different types of disabilities or diseases. While some people do not consider Therapy dogs service dogs, we thought they should be included on this list because of their importance and the impact the can have on our loved ones.
Seizure Alert Dogs
Seizure alert dogs are trained to aid persons with epilepsy and seizure disorders. The training they receive includes being able to activate a life alert system, the ability to stimulate a person while having a seizure, the ability to find a phone and alert help, as well as retrieve meds, help them to get up and provide comfort until help arrives. Seizure alert dogs are not usually trained to predict when a person might have a seizure, but depending on the bond and length of time a seizure patient and their dog spend together, it is possible that they can sense seizures before they occur. There is no scientific proof of this, but there are stories from individuals whose service dogs have predicted when they were going to have a seizure. Again, these are all individual stories with no scientific facts.
Diabetic Alert Dogs
Diabetic alert dogs are trained for individuals with diabetes to help them owner know if their blood sugar is low or high before it can become dangerous. They are specially trained to know the chemical difference between low and high blood sugars. Diabetic alert dogs can also provide comfort and balance for those suffering from diabetes.
Physical Assistance Dogs
Physical assistance dogs are trained to help their handlers/owners with a variety of tasks that they are unable to perform. These can include picking up dropped items, and opening doors for their handler and even pulling their wheelchair up a ramp for a short distance. People with physical disabilities such as being in a wheelchair, unable to walk, unable to stand, will have physical assistance dogs to help them get through the day every day as easily and normal as possible, whether at school, work, or just at home.
There are so many service dogs in the world, these are just the tip of the iceberg. Dogs can be trained to help people…and the world…in so many wonderful ways that we may never have even thought of!
Do you have any service dogs stories you’d like to share with us? Please feel free to do so in the comments.