Assistance dog

'Assistance dog' is the internationally established term for a dog that provides assistance to a disabled person and is task-trained to help mitigate the handler's disability. In the United States, assistance dogs are also commonly referred to as 'service dogs'.{{Cite web |title=General FAQs |url=https://assistancedogsinternational.org/resources/general-faqs/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Assistance Dogs International |language=en}}

Assistance dogs are not emotional support animals (ESAs), which are generally not protected by the same laws{{Cite web |title=Americans with Disabilities Act |url=https://www.ada.gov/topics/service-animals/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=ADA |language=en}} and typically have little to no training compared to an assistance or service dog. Assistance dogs and ESAs are also both distinct from therapy dogs. While therapy dogs are required to undergo training and become certified, they work for people other than their handler and are not covered by laws such as the US Americans with Disabilities Act.{{Cite web |last=Karetnick |first=Jen |date=July 9, 2024 |title=How To Train a Therapy Dog: Learning If Your Dog Is Fit For Therapy Work |url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-train-a-therapy-dog/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=American Kennel Club |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Three Steps to Making Your Dog a Therapy Dog |url=https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/articles/three-steps-to-making-your-dog-a-therapy-dog/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=American Kennel Club |language=en}}

For a dog to be considered an assistance dog, they must meet the following criteria:

1. The dog's handler must meet the legal definition of disability in a specific country or region.
2. The dog must be specifically trained to mitigate the handler's disability in some way,--e.g. opening doors, detecting high blood sugar or allergens and notifying of such, alerting to a ringing phone or other audible stimuli, assisting handlers with PTSD, assisting those who are visual impaired, helping individuals with disabilities that affect their mobility, and much more.{{Cite web |title=Tasks performed by Guide, Hearing and Service Dogs, .|url=https://iaadp.org/membership/iaadp-minimum-training-standards-for-public-access/tasks-performed-by-guide-hearing-and-service-dogs/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=The International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP) |language=en-US}}
3. The dog must be docile and well-behaved, as well as clean and healthy.

Individual countries and regions will have specific laws and regulations, with these international criteria having broad recognition across the globe.{{cite web |last1=The Equality and Human Rights Commission |title=Assistance Dogs. A Guide For All Businesses |url=http://www.assistancedogs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/assistance-dogs-a-guide-for-all-businesses_0.pdf |access-date=25 August 2018 |archive-date=22 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822154606/http://www.assistancedogs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/assistance-dogs-a-guide-for-all-businesses_0.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Standards |url=https://assistancedogseurope.org/standards/ |website=Assistance Dogs Europe |access-date=25 August 2018 |archive-date=3 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103223352/https://assistancedogseurope.org/standards/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=IAADP Minimum Training Standards for Public Access |url=https://iaadp.org/membership/iaadp-minimum-training-standards-for-public-access/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=The International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP) |language=en-US}} In many countries, notably in Europe, assistance dogs must be certified by a State-recognized body to enjoy the legal protections.

File:Service dog in training resting.jpg

Assistance dogs have traditionally been trained by organizations. In a few countries, such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, assistance dogs can also be trained by their handlers{{Cite web |title=ADA service animals FAQ |url=https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/#:~:text=Does%20the%20ADA%20require%20service%20animals%20to%20be%20professionally%20trained|access-date=2024-08-26 |website=ADA FAQ |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Assistance dogs UK |url=https://www.assistancedogs.org.uk/information-hub/training-an-assistance-dog/#:~:text=In%20the%20UK,%20assistance%20dogs%20can%20be%20owner%20trained|access-date=2024-08-26 |website=Assistancedogs.org.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=healthdirect AU |url=https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/assistance-dogs#:~:text=While%20many%20dogs%20are%20trained,Australian%20Government's%20Disability%20Gateway%20website. |website=Healthdirect.gov.au| date=3 September 2024 |language=en}} but in most countries, only dogs trained and certified by an officially recognized organization can be recognized as assistance dogs and enjoy the associated legal protections.

A prospective assistance dog candidate will go through socialization and desensitization training, where the dog is exposed to unfamiliar locations, sounds, scents, and other stimuli. This training sets the foundations for the assistance dog to remain focused while working. An assistance dog prospect will also go through obedience training to ensure they remain under control of the handler.{{Cite web |title=AKC |url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/service-dog-training-101/|website=AKC.ORG|language=en}}

After completing obedience training, an assistance dog commences specialized task training. During this training, the assistance dog will learn to perform tasks that will aid their disabled handler. The tasks that an assistance dog is trained to perform will differ based on the handler's disabilities and needs.

Examples of tasks include alerting to a fire alarm or doorbell, retrieving a medication during a medical episode, pulling a wheelchair, retrieving an item that has been dropped by the handler, and turning on lights. Some tasks may require a larger dog with healthy joints, while others (e.g. alerting to a sound) can be performed by a dog of any size.{{cite web |last1=Froling |first1=Joan |title=Assistance Dog Tasks |url=http://www.iaadp.org/tasks.html |website=IAADP |access-date=25 August 2018}}

Image:BoltonPriory AssistanceDogs.jpg]]

Image:Mobility Service Dog bracing his handler.jpg helping his handler stand up]]

Common examples of assistance dogs include:{{Cite web |date=2020-02-15 |title=Types of Services Dogs & What They Are Used For - UDS |url=https://udservices.org/types-of-service-dogs/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=udservices.org |language=en-US}}

• Guide dogs
• Hearing dogs
• Mobility assistance dogs
• Medical response dogs
• Seizure response dogs
• Psychiatric assistance dogs
• Autism assistance dogs

In the United States, the Americans with Disability Act states that there is no formal certification or registration required for a dog to become an Assistance Dog.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-02 |title=ADA Requirements: Service Animals |url=https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=ADA.gov |language=en}} State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm|title=ADA 2010 Revised Requirements: Service Animals|website=www.ada.gov|date=28 March 2023 }}

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• {{annotated link|Assistance animal}}
• {{Annotated link|Cell dog}}
• {{annotated link|Bravehound}}
• Dogs for Good (in the UK)
• Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (in the UK)
• {{annotated link|Working dog}}

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{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100107022320/http://www.deltasociety.org/Page.aspx?pid=302 Delta Society's National Service Animal Resource Center]
• [http://www.caninepartners.org.uk Canine Partners] (in the UK)

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Assistance dog

Category:Dog roles