Benefits Of A Service Dog

Hugging A Service Dog

What is a service Dog?
Before you can acquire a service dog, you must know what is a service dog right? Well a service dog is a good trained dog that is bred to assist an individual with special needs. Those special needs are not limited to the physically challenged. But goes on to security personnel as well.  Service Dogs are trained to assist the following:

• Blind Personnel
• Deaf Personnel
• People with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Persons Prone To Seizures
• Persons who are crippled

Service dogs are used to alert their owners or other persons should the need arise for external help. They are trained to detect and signal when ever they perceive danger. These are very smart and well trained animals which are highly intelligent. The common dog breed used for service dogs are Labrador retriever, German Shepherd and Golden Retriever. There is no biased as it relates to which dog is picked as a service dog, but it boils down to attributes of the animal which makes it qualify to be a well trained service animal.

Qualifications Of A Service Dog

1. The Dog must exercise good temperament
2. Good level of intelligence
3. Physically Strong
4. Good Resistance To Illnesses
5. Healthy
6. Trainable

A service dog is not a super dog, but if you want a reliable companion that you need to help you around, you must get an animal with the above qualifications. You really don't want a service dog that you spend more time taking care of and when you need it's guidance or help, it is unavailable or simply lacking.  Remember, don't mix up a companion dog with a service dog. Every dog can be a great companion, but not every dog makes a great service dog. If you have a specific dog breed and you want to train it to become a service dog, that too can be done.  There are animal training facilities which exist that will help in this plight and will make the animal as serviceable as possible.

Other Than Helping Those With Medical Conditions, What Else DO Service Dogs Do?
As i mentioned before, there are service dogs which are used in the police force to help fight crime. They are also used by trained personal security. Here is a list of other functions given to service dogs.

• Fire and Rescue - Popular breed is the Dalmatian
• Security and Crime - Popular breed is the German Shepherd
• Search And Rescue - Popular Breed is the Border Collie
• Seizure Detection -  Popular Breed, Border Collie, German Shepherd

Where to get a service dog
Assistance Dog international (http://www.assistancedogsinternational.org) is a great place to start as it relates to acquiring a service dog.  You could also use the lists above and acquire a breed and then have it trained by certified Service Dog Trainers. Whatever means you use to get your service dog, as long as the animal is well trained for your particular needs, it will make a difference in your life.