Susquehanna Service Dogs

The Dogs: Service Dogs

A Service Dog is trained to assist a person with a physical disability. Because of the broad variety of potential physical disabilities, each dog is custom-trained for the particular needs of the specific human partner; however, all dogs are trained in basic behaviors in and service dog tasks, which include:

Basic obedience skills [sit, stay, come, down, stand, heel (on the left side), place (on the right side), back, etc.]. They must obey these commands on and off lead. A service dog can be taught to respond to voice commands, to hand signals, or to an augmentative speech device.
Retrieving everything from dropped items, things under chairs, drinks from the refrigerator, to even clothes out of the drier.
Opening and closing regular or counterbalanced doors. The dog does this by pushing the door, pulling on a tether, or pulling on a removable door hook.
Walking in a controlled manner next to the partner or next to the partner in a wheelchair.
Balance work for people who have trouble walking. The dog wears a special harness and acts as a counterbalance as the person moves. The dog can also help going up or down stairs.
Pulling a manual wheelchair, including up inclines.
Turning regular light switches on and off.
Pushing buttons, such as those provided to open automatic doors.
Finding and retrieving a cordless phone.
Purchasing items in stores.
Going under tables or counters and being "invisible" in restaurants, refraining from picking up or eating food items dropped on the floor.
Providing constant loving companionship.

Keystone Human Services

Susquehanna Service Dogs

The Dogs: Service Dogs