Assistance Dogs

Suni putting dishes in the sink

What is an Assistance Dog? Assistance Dogs/Service Dogs work with a person with a disability to mitigate that disability for one or more major life functions such as walking, hearing or seeing. The person with a disability's access to public places is guaranteed under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). That act also guarantees the PWD (person with a disability)'s access with their Assistance Dog (Animal).

What does an Assistance Dog Do?
There are as many types of Assistance Dogs as there are people with disabilities.

• The most well known type of Assistance Dog is a Guide Dog that enables a person with vision disabilities to navigate independently.

• Hearing/Signal Dogs alert persons with auditory disabilities to smoke detectors, doorbells, telephones, the baby crying or someone speaking the PWD's name.

• Mobility Dogs may help to brace or stabilize the PWD, pick up things that are dropped, open doors, turn light switches or carry items.

• Seizure Response Dogs may activate phone dialers or retrieve medication.

These are some of the types of Assistance Dogs and some of the tasks they may perform. There are many other types of Assistance Dogs.

Tuka working on his recycling skills

What kinds of dogs are used?
Assistance Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Many people think of Assistance Dogs as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers or German Shepherds - and all of these dogs can be Assistance Dogs but so can small dogs like toy poodles or mixed breeds. The size and type of dog will depend on what tasks it is required to do.

How do I know if the dog being brought into my business is an Assistance Dog? Please look at Commonly Asked Questions About Service Animals In Places Of Business

Other questions? Please look at our Resources page.

	Dogs in Service 765 Frenchtown Road, Milford, NJ 08848 908-996-9911 FAX 908-236-8883 barking@eclipse.net We'd love to hear from you, whether you need more information,   want to share your experiences with dogs in service, or just want to ask a question.