Assistance dogs: Help to the handicapped
Dogs have long been used to provide assistance for people with disabilities. These dogs are easily identified by their assistance dog harness and should not be approached except when permitted by the dog's owner. These helper dogs fulfill a range of functions and help their owners live a happier life.

How assistance dogs are used to help those who have disabilities?

There are three distinct types of service dogs. First there are guide dogs which assist people who are blind and have visual impairments.

Hearing dogs help those who are deaf or have other hearing impairments. Assistance dogs help people who have a disability and are not suffering from visual or hearing impairments.

What is the role of a guide dog?

Guide dog provides a vital service to people who are blind or visually impaired and creates a sense of freedom and independence. Guide dogs help their owners avoid obstacles and stops at steps. These dogs cooperate with their owner to arrive at their destination safely. The owner is responsible for issuing directional command, while the guide dog ensures their safety and will disobey a command if he or she feels it will jeopardize their safe ty.

Assistance dog training is required. Guide dogs are typically German Shepherds, Labrador and Golden Retrievers and other breeds. Typically guide dogs live with a volunteer in the first year of their lives and are then sent to a certified trainer. The trainer then trains the dogs for a period of 6 months before placing them with a person in need of their services. Some of the requirements that a guide dog must meet before they can be certified as an assistance dog include:

• Basic obedience skills
• No aggressive or annoying behaviors
• Maneuver around obstacles and traffic
• 20 days training with the new owner
• Completed at least 50 training session of ½ hour each in a period of more than 4 months

How do hearing dogs help those that are hearing impaired or deaf?

Hearing dogs are another type of assistance dog which works with people who are deaf or have hearing impairment. These hearing dogs for deaf people are used to alert them when so unds are made. These tasks include alerting their owner if there is a knock on the door or when the telephone rings or if a baby cries or if the smoke alarm buzzes or if the timer goes off. The hearing dogs get the attention of their owners, usually by physical contact and then lead them to the source of the sound.

Hearing dogs are dogs that have been in animal shelters and are usually from mixed breeds. The hearing dog then undergoes a specialized training focusing on their reactions to sounds. This is also known as audio training. Some of the requirements that hearing dogs must meet before they can be placed are:

• Minimum of 3 months or 60 hours of training with 20 hours of work being in a city environment. The focus should be on obedience training and socializati on
• Master basic obedience commands
• Show no signs of aggressive or annoying social behaviors
• Perform audio awareness skills. The dog must be trained to at least 3 sounds

What role does a service dog play in assisting people with disabilities?

Assistance dogs play a key role in enriching the lives of people who have physical disabilities. They allow their owners to live a secured life through the assistance they provide. Some of the services provided by assistance dogs include pulling wheelchairs, finding another person, turning light switches on and off, opening and closing doors, barking for alert, retrieving items that are out of reach and performing other services as needed by their owners. Service dogs can be identified by their assistance dog harness.

Assistance dogs are typically bred to undergo training as a helper dog. Occasionally dogs that are rescued from an animal shelter will be trained to become an assistance dog. Some of the requirement s that training dogs for the handicapped must meet before they can be placed include:

• 120 hours of training in a span of at least 6 months, including 30 hours of field work
• Basic obedience skills
• S hould not demonstrate aggressive or annoying social behaviors
• Be trained to perform at 3 tasks
• Train at least 60 hours with the new owner before they are assigned with the tasks

What websites are available to provide additional information regarding assistance dogs?

There are numerous online sites dedicated to helper dogs. These websites include the ones belonging to International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, Loving Paws and National Service Dogs. It is important to remember for helper dogs to be given assistance dog harness.