Are service dogs only man’s best friend, or everybody’s constant companion?
By Njeri Dean
Are you certified to love? That’s a tricky question. Some people love unconditionally, and some people love with intentions of getting something out of it. Animals, in most peoples opinions, are certified to love because their love is unconditional and overflowing. Even when they are working, they’re selfless and care about the safety of their human counterparts. You don’t have to give a bone to a dog for them to serve and protect their owner. It’s innate and natural.
There’s a common misconception that dogs can’t perform services related to assisting human beings, but that’s simply not the case. For hundreds of years, dogs have helped people with services related to work, disabilities, and emotional support. Dogs are smart and can be trained to do almost anything depending on the breed and their temperament.
Don’t get me wrong, humans have contributed a lot when it comes to service. We’ve served the military, helped with numerous types of manual labor projects, and have given our lives for causes that we believe in, but we can’t dismiss what our four-legged friends have done and still do for people every single day.
You might have seen a service dog working during your life. Most wear harnesses identifying them. Some help guide the blind. You may have seen one walking in the mall, in a department store, or even on the street. Dogs of service are all around us, and they perform unique tasks to help their owner get through the day.
By definition, a service dog is a dog that is a skilled companion and working animal that requires extensive training to perform activities that benefit their human counterpart. Not to be dismissive, but there are many types of animals like dogs that can do service-related activities for humans, but it’s our canine friends who are the most used and recognized for service out of any other animal on the planet.
Just like humans, dogs need to go to school to perform tasks related to their profession. There are three main ways a dog can earn their certification for service: professional training programs, owner-training, and the hybrid choice of owner-training and professional expertise.
In professional training programs, puppies are taken in puppy fosters from professional training programs and raised to learn basic obedience and social skills. Once the puppy is ready, they’re taken back to the organization. Then the puppy goes through advanced training and is matched with a handler.
With owner-training, a person with disabilities trains a dog on their own with a professional handler.
Lastly, the hybrid method of owner-training and professional expertise allows a trainer to raise and train a service dog on their own with expert guidance. This option is more costly to perform.
With the right training and expertise, dogs can thrive and do almost any job their human needs help with. Although there are many types of service dog jobs out there, the main types of service occupations for dogs are: cardiac service, mobility service, allergy detection service, psychiatric service, and guide service.
Cardiac service dogs sense and alert owners to changes in their heart rate or blood pressure. Allergy detection service dogs detect allergens that are harmful to their owner. Mobility service dogs make it easier for their handlers to walk, pick up objects, and do other useful tasks. Psychiatric service dogs help people regulate their emotions in cases such as PTSD. Guide service dogs help the visually impaired.
People might wonder where they can get a service dog if they’re disabled and in need? If you’re disabled and in need of a service dog, you must qualify for services or train a dog on your own or with a professional.
So, the question is, are dogs only a man’s best friend? The answer is no. Dogs serve all types of people in different situations, demographics and regions. It’s safe to say that man is not the only one getting attention from our four-legged friends.
The number of people with disabilities, and people who need services in our country and overseas, have risen astronomically. The help from our canine friends has taken the load off of humans in need and given them a constant companion to turn to in their time of need. Service dogs are everywhere, and they are now more prevalent than ever before.
With the help of our four-legged companions, we can get more done, and they can help improve the lives of the people they’re helping and the people around us. Never underestimate the power of the dog and their resilience. Service dogs are truly certified to love, but you don’t have to give them a bone to have them give back to you.
