Types of Service Dogs

A service dog is a dog specially trained to assist people with various diseases and ailments. Medical response dogs are also regarded as service dogs. Good health and desirable traits are important attributes of a service dog. They are either trained by private organizations, or by a disabled owner. A disabled person may take the help of a dog trainer to train his dog, or train the dog himself. Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds are some of the various types of dogs which are quite often used as service dogs.

Various Types of Service Dogs
There are various types of service dogs, each specially trained either for a particular person or for a particular ailment. Mobility assistance dogs, can prove to be helpful pet dogs for elderly, while autism service dogs can help people with autism. Here are some types of service dogs which are very popular in the United States.

Mobility Assistance Dogs
A mobility assistance dog, is specially trained to help physically disabled people. They are trained in simple tasks such as picking up objects or opening and closing doors. Dogs of large stature are also trained in pulling wheel chairs. They are made to wear specially designed harnesses to pull them. A subtype of mobility assistance dog is a walker dog, which is trained to accompany people recovering from injuries. They are very often trained to help Parkinson's patients. These dogs help an individual to maintain balance while walking. If the handler falls, the dog acts as a brace for him, to regain position.

Psychiatric Service Dogs
A psychiatric service dog is a service dog, especially trained to assist people with psychiatric disability. The dogs are trained to handle various types of psychiatric disabilities, ranging from Schizophrenia to post-traumatic stress. Each of these service dog undergoes training to perform tasks which are specifically meant to help his handler in emergency situations. Most often the dog is expected to provide environmental assessment in case of situations such as hallucinations and paranoia. A psychiatric service dog is also trained to alert the handler in case of danger.

Service Dogs for Diabetics
A service dog for diabetics is specially trained to assist people with diabetes. These dogs are trained to identify minor scent changes created by hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, and take necessary steps such as alerting medical response. They are also trained in tracking the shifting levels of the handler's condition, and alert the person to check blood sugar levels or take necessary medications. These dogs detect the faint changes in the scent which can't be detected by humans, and hence prove to be worthy companions for people with diabetes.

Seizure Response Dogs
A seizure response dog is a type of service dog, specially trained to assist people having seizures. Each person with seizure demonstrates different traits, and hence each seizure response dog has to be specifically trained to help a particular individual. These dogs are trained to summon health, activate medical alert, attempt to arouse the handler if he is unconscious, provide physical support, etc. Only a few organizations provide seizure response dogs as it is difficult to find dogs with certain required traits, and difficult to train them.

Autism Service Dog
An autism service dog is specially trained to help a person with autism. These dogs help people with autism to perform various daily activities, thus helping them to gain confidence and making them independent. Some simple situations tend to be too over confusing for people with autism, for instance, running out of the house when the house catches fire. In such a situation, the dog can help the handler to realize the danger and move out of the house. They are also trained to alert the handler in case of simpler activities such as getting a call on the telephone or if a baby is crying. More recently these dogs are also being as babysitters for young autistic children, and trained to alert parents when these children are in dangerous situations.

Service dogs have gained wide popularity over a period of time. Today many organizations in the United States provide various types of service dogs trained for a particular purpose. Even the law favors the idea of pet dogs for disabled, wherein these dogs are allowed to enter premises where dogs are normally not allowed.