Dogs have been an integral part of human society for at least 15,000 years, when experts think that humans and wolves formed that first bond. Throughout the years dogs have been bred for many practical reasons, including hunting, herding, and guarding. It’s only recently that dogs have the luxury of being companions; a hundred years ago, most dogs had to work hard for their living!

We continue to use working dogs today, for a variety of reasons. Dogs are specially trained to protect, help, or even entertain their human companions. Although all dogs can be trained, certain breeds have strengths and tendencies making them more suitable for particular jobs.

Service (or assistance) dogs help handicapped persons around the world live more independent lives. These dogs actually act as an extension of their owners, giving them security, freedom, and relief from social isolation. A service dog can do many tasks, depending on the person's disability. A dog can be the eyes for the blind, ears for the deaf, or the arms and legs for a disabled person. Service dogs pull wheelchairs, open doors, let their owners know when a phone or doorbell rings, and assist with a multitude of daily tasks. Dogs can even be trained to recognize specific changes preceding a seizure in epileptic owners, allowing their owners time to prepare and get help.

Most service dog organizations train Golden and Labradors Retrievers as because of their gentleness and trainability. The Labradoodle (a hybrid lab poodle mix) was originally bred in Australia specifically as a guide dog more suitable for people with allergies to fur and dander, and is becoming more popular as a service dog. Some service dog organizations maintain their own breeding programs, while others select their animals from a variety of sources, including shelters, pounds, owners and breeders.

Service dogs must pass an extensive series of tests before ultimately being matched with a handicapped person. All service dogs must master basic obedience training, before moving on to more specialized skills. Successful candidates have a calm, non aggressive temperament, and must be able to perform their functions in all types of situations, regardless of the distraction.

Most service dogs spend the early part of their lives in specially trained and selected foster families. These generous volunteers agree to provide loving homes for the first 14-18 months of the young dog’s life, allowing them to socialize and explore the world around them in their communities while learning basic obedience skills. Foster parents provide loving care for the dog knowing that their future lies in helping a disabled person, and that the dog will only part of their lives for a relatively short time.

So, the next time you spot a puppy or young dog wearing the”Service Dog in Training” vest-, its not just a cute puppy-its a special dog with a generous foster family , and the future hope of a disabled person.

For more info about service dogs:
www.guidedog.org

www.4pawsforability.org

About the Author
Pamela Fitzpatrick lives in Sayville with her family (which of course includes pets).  She has a Masters degree in Animal Behavior, and is the Event Coordinator for Have-a-Heart-Adopt-a Pet, a local organization which promotes animal adoptions.  Pam is also the owner of Sayville Petsitters/YourDogWalkers, providing petsitting and dog walking services to Sayville and surrounding towns. 

Suggestions and ideas for column topics are welcome, email shihtzu58@optonline.net