Service dogs continue to be a popular type of treatment for people who have mental or physical disabilities. This is because they can reduce the impact of symptoms in ways that medication and counseling sometimes can’t. For example, physical service dogs can push wheelchairs, open doors, and handle a lot of other tasks for people with physical disabilities.
Another great example is how psychiatric service dogs can remind people when it’s time for medication or apply comfort through deep pressure therapy (DPT). So, while it may seem like there’s only one type of service dog, the two most common options are physical and psychiatric service dogs. Read on to learn more about each type of service dog in this article.
What Is a Service Dog?
A service dog is a unique type of dog that’s trained to help people with physical and mental disabilities. Service dogs are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Housing Act (FHA), and even the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). These protections allow service dogs to go where other dogs can’t.
This includes housing that’s not usually pet-friendly, airplanes, and public spaces. Service dogs can be of a wide range of breeds, but they do require a lot of training. This is because they have to be well-behaved and not respond to outside stimuli unless it’s to air their companion.
What Disabilities Qualify for a Service Dog?
A lot of disabilities qualify for a service dog, and each type of service dog is trained to help with a specific disability. Some common examples include:
- Hearing problems
- Blindness
- Mental health disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Diabetes
- Allergies
- Physical limitations
These are only some of the disabilities that qualify; US Service Animals’ qualifying disability guide explores even more. You can learn more by speaking with a licensed mental health professional.
Types of Service Dogs
There isn’t just one type of service dog, and you’ll find that there are various options that fit into the physical and psychiatric service dog categories. Learn more about each type of service dog below.
Guide Dogs
One of the most common types of service dogs is the guide dog. These are the dogs you see guiding blind people and people who are otherwise impaired in public settings. They’re specifically trained for this purpose, and you can adopt them through agencies like the Guide Dog Foundation.
Hearing Dogs
There are also hearing dogs that have specific training. Hearing dogs help deaf people and people who are audibly impaired by alerting them to their phone or doorbell ringing, alarm going off, cars passing, and much more. Overall, they act as the ears for people who can’t hear well or at all.
Allergy Detection Dogs
A more niche option, allergy detection dogs are trained to spot common allergens in food. Then, they alert their handlers to the risks of that food and prevent them from having a bad reaction.
Allergy detection dogs can also assist people who have allergies to pollen and other allergens. For example, if someone is allergic to pollen, allergy detection dogs can escort them away from it.
Diabetic Alert Dogs
One of the more interesting types of service dogs is the diabetic alert dog. These dogs are trained to sense changes in blood sugar levels, which is great for helping people manage their insulin intake. They can also fetch medications and get help if necessary.
Psychiatric Service Dogs
Psychiatric service dogs are trained to help people who have mental health disabilities. They can assist people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions. Most of these service dogs are trained to apply deep-pressure therapy (DPT) or to help people get out of stressful situations.
Autism Service Dogs
Another type of service dog is an autism service dog. These dogs help people who fall on the autism spectrum with social situations, mental health problems, and much more. They can also provide stability and support through sensory processing and ensure that people with autism have what they need to thrive.
Seizure-Alert Dogs
Seizures can be debilitating, and while medication can help, sometimes, it’s not enough. This is where seizure-alert dogs come into play. These dogs notice the onset of a seizure and can keep their handlers safe in public settings. Seizure-alert dogs can also find help for someone who needs it.
Get the Right Type of Service Dog for Your Needs
Service dogs are one of the best ways to treat a disability. They can provide support, open doors, call you down, and pretty much do anything else you can train them for – as long as their paws allow it. That said, with so many types of service dogs, you shouldn’t have any problems finding one that suits your needs.
Make sure you work with a reputable mental health professional and reach out to the appropriate organization to get matched with the perfect service dog.
