We cannot repay the depth of love our companions give us, especially those who work hard to keep their humans as happy, healthy, and capable as possible. We may understand that service dogs have important jobs, but the reality of their work is often much deeper than people realize.
Years of training dogs, learning new things about their capabilities and behavior, and developing better accessibility tools has enabled them to perform tasks we couldn’t even imagine. Keep reading to learn just how smart these canine workers are.
1. Intelligent Disobedience
Unlike plain old disobedience, intelligent disobedience refers to a dog’s refusal to perform a task or cue if it will land them in an unsafe situation. While this is incredibly useful, particularly for guide dogs for the visually impaired, it’s something that must be taught and reinforced every time it’s performed.
When it was first taught, trainers would use aversive methods to teach the dogs to avoid the situations. Now, trainers first establish the desired command and then introduce obstacles that would make sense to avoid, rewarding the dog for avoiding the obstacle instead.
Dogs who excel at intelligent disobedience are able to see the world through the eyes of their partner, avoiding signs or tree branches that stand no chance of hitting the dog. Handlers reinforce the idea of intelligent disobedience to ensure the skill does not go away.
(Finally, a good outlet for stubborn breeds like pit bulls.)
2. Locating Objects, Locations, or People on Command
Many service dogs learn to navigate their environments the same way their humans would, including recognizing certain locations, objects, and individuals. This way, their handler can tell them to retrieve an item or seek out a certain person.
These dogs can also lead their person to an assigned seat or recognize similarities in situational details, such as flagging down a waiter at a restaurant. They may also note entrances or exits or unoccupied seats or spaces for their partner.
Some service dogs are trained to automatically retrieve dropped objects as well.
3. Alerting to Specific Sounds
Service dogs sometimes act as another set of ears for hearing impaired individuals. While a civilian dog may bark at everything they hear, these dogs learn to identify and isolate certain noises and alert their partner when they hear them.
These may include:
- Doorbells or knocking
- Alarms (i.e. smoke alarms or clocks)
- Children crying
- Sirens
- Vehicles
- School bells
- Colleagues or companion calling handler name
Once the service dog hears the sound, they alert their partner with a nudge and may even lead them back to the source.
4. Unloading Groceries or Laundry
Some service dogs may be trained to unload specific groceries from bags or even move laundry into or out of a basket. Baskets may have ropes or handles attached so the dog can transport them from one area of the house to another.
Their involvement in these tasks heavily depends on their partner’s capabilities. Sometimes they just need help moving the bags or baskets, and sometimes they need their helper to put things where they belong.
This may seem like a minor task compared to the heroic feats of some service dogs, it can make a world of difference for their handler.
5. Shopping
While these working dogs don’t moonlight as a secret shopping, they still know their way around a retail store. Many service dogs are trained to help with shopping tasks. They can place packaged items in the cart or remove them to place them in the check out area.
If the payment counter is too high (which happens occasionally to wheelchair users), a service dog may “stand up” at the counter with their partner’s cash or card to pay for the items. They can also transfer the bags from the clerk to their partner, minimizing any strain or guesswork for either individual.
6. Bracing Tasks
While bracing tasks are not ideal, mobility service dogs often learn how to use their body to prevent their handler from falling or to help them return to an upright position. It’s especially important that these service dogs have large, sturdy bodies without any musculoskeletal issues; this is why many of the most popular service dog breeds are large working dogs.
Bracing tasks may include:
- Transferring to or from wheelchair, bed, bathtub, toilet, or vehicle
- Walking step by step to deliver partner to seat
- Helping partner catch balance when rising
- Preventing falls (sometimes bracing on command)
Bracing tasks may also include helping their handler turn over while reclined. Mobility service dogs also help their handler navigate life easier by opening or closing doors using tugs.
7. Psychiatric Assistance
Psychiatric service dogs work with individuals who have a mental illness or learning disability so that they may move through life with ease. Their specific tasks vary depending on their handler’s needs, but some basics include providing deep pressure therapy to alleviate stress or anxiety (by laying on their owner) or interrupting harmful behaviors.
For example, a service dog for a person with schizophrenia may be trained to greet individuals on command if they are physically present. If their handler is having a hallucination, they will ask their service dog to greet the individual they see. When the dog refuses the command, this reveals the hallucination.
Parents of children with autism may get a service dog to provide companionship, enhance their social interactions, and encourage them to interact with the world.
8. Assistance in Crisis
Service dogs should also know how to act in a crisis, even without a command. Many are trained to alert to certain conditions (i.e. low blood sugar), but further training can teach them to seek help if the situation worsens and their handler cannot respond.
This is one area where service dogs differ from emotional support animals. An ESA or therapy animal may be able to provide companionship in this situation, but a service dog is trained to respond.
Some service dogs learn to retrieve necessary medical equipment without command, such as an insulin kit or specific medication. They can use their body to interrupt in emergencies, such as licking the face or gentle teeth pressure for tactile grounding.
Technology makes it easier for service dogs to keep their handler safe. Touchscreens and projects like GVU’s FIDO Lab make it possible for dogs to call 911 and even communicate with humans.
