Types of Service dogs
I help people who cannot see.
Guide dog
I go to hospitals and nursing homes to provide comfort. I have even started being used in court when children have to testify and might be upset. They get to hold me while they talk, so they don't feel so alone.
Therapy dog
Big red dog from children's books and tv show
List 3 interactions that should NEVER occur between you and a service dog.
Optional correct answers:
touching the dog, calling the dog, distracting the dog, staring at the dog, teasing the dog, feeding the dog?
This is the first thing certified trainers evaluate to see if a dog can be a service dog.
disposition? (synonyms: gentleness, attitude, non-aggressiveness)
I am a service dog that helps people who have seizures, severe diabetes, and other serious health problems.
Medical alert service dog
I can help provide comfort and companionship but am not trained tasks and do not have public access rights
Emotional support animal
Labrador retriever
Should you talk to the handler about why they have the dog?
"no, never ask what purposed a dog serves"
(It is even illegal for businesses to do this. They may only ask if the service dog is required for a disability and what tasks the dog preforms)
Name another qualification to be a service dog.
intelligence? or ability to solve problems?
(There is no point in trying to train the complex and independent tasks a service dog has to do if they are unable to figure out small problems.)
I help people who cannot hear.
Hearing alert service dog
I work for volunteers who help when someone gets lost in the wilderness. Sometimes, I help find elderly people with dementia who have gotten lost in their hometowns. I am even helpful finding people when tragedies like earthquakes or avalanches make finding survivors difficult.
Search and rescue dog
What health benefits can dogs offer humans?
Lower blood pressure and heart rate, increased activity from walking dog, etc
True or false: Service dogs are certified.
"false, trainers can be certified, but dogs cannot."
(This is because service dogs sometimes just quit because they don't like the work, and a certification implies a professional level of performance and expertise that can be consistently expected.)
This trait is extremely important for all service dogs because they constantly are facing new and unfamiliar situations and places. Most people don't think of this because it does not directly relate to solving problems or being safe in public.
confidence
(Confident dogs can focus on helping their handler because they are not distracted by fear. Some people feel this is the most important quality even though it is not the first one that is checked.)
I help people who have gait, balance, or other walking issues.
Mobility service dog
I usually start out training to be a guide service dog, but if I don't like that type of work, I can work for the fire department. I am GREAT at finding out if a fire was started by a bad person or happened naturally.
Arson dog
____ percent of American dogs sleep in their owners beds
45%
Name foods, gifts, or other things that can be handed to a service dog.
nothing. Never offer a service dog food or other things. Many working dogs are on special diets, but even if they are not, they cannot be distracted.
When dogs get tired of being a service dog, they quit. They just refuse to put on their vest. They love it and don't need bribes, or they quit.
Do service dogs have to be trained by professionals to be legally qualified as service dogs?
"No, but it is highly recommended"
Ok, so maybe this was a bit of an unfair question. Service dogs do not have to be trained by certified trainers, but considering how important their work is, it is an extremely good idea. Few people possess the knowledge and skills to train their own dog to the level that service dogs need.
I help people who have experienced trauma by performing tasks such as interrupting panic attacks
PTSD service dog
This may sound like a sad job, but it really isn't. I bring closure to families after natural disasters or terrible crimes have been committed by finding deceased people who are under rubble or even under ground. I always work for law enforcement agencies from local police to the FBI.
Cadaver dog
Dogs have around ____ million scent receptors in their noses
100 million
(for context, human have around 6 million)
Describe appropriate distance to keep from all service dogs.
"about 4 feet" Do not come up behind, startle, crowd, or get in front of them.
(Many service dogs are looking for trip hazards or low-hanging things like branches. Some service dogs are constantly sniffing the air to see if their handler is going to have a seizure.) "No distractions!"
What is one place service dogs can not go?
(Hint: they can go to schools, dentist offices, restaurants, movie theaters, bowling alleys, offices, parks, libraries, stores, museums, and malls.)
Religious buildings, sterile areas in hospitals