What is an Assistance Dog?

An Assistance Dog (Service Dog) is a dog that provides assistance to a disabled person, to help mitigate that person’s disability.

Requirements for an Assistance Dog:

• The person that the dog is aiding must meet the legal definition of having a disability

• The dog must be specifically trained to mitigate the person’s disability by performing “Tasks”

• The dog must be trained to behave appropriately in public

• The dog must be healthy and not pose a hygiene risk

• Once the dog’s training has been completed, Assistance Dogs may take a Public Access Test, and are entitled to accompany the person they are assisting to most public areas (food preparation and sterile medical areas are excluded).

• Assistance dogs usually wear vests or other identification, although this is not required by law.

Types of Assistance Dog

There are many different types of Assistance Dog. Some dogs may perform multiple roles, in accordance with their handler’s needs.

Dog Guides assist the blind and the visually impaired to navigate safely and avoid obstacles. 

Hearing Dogs help the deaf and hard of hearing by alerting them to specific sounds such as approaching traffic, kitchen timers, a crying baby, door bell or a fire alarm.

Mobility Assistance Dogs provide physical support, pick up dropped items, and open cupboards and doors. 

Medical Alert/Response Dogs alert the person to an impending medical episode, and/or provide support following a medical episode. For example a Diabetic Alert Dog may nudge or paw to alert the person to a high or low blood sugar level, fetch glucose tablets, or push an emergency button to summon help. 

Psychiatric Assistance Dogs may be trained to interrupt nightmares, switch lights on to reduce anxiety, create space in a crowd, give a reminder to take medication at a certain time of day, or nose-nudge to interrupt compulsive behaviours. 

Autism Assistance Dogs are trained to support the affected child and the family, for example, by using their bodyweight to provide deep pressure therapy if the child is upset, performing tricks on request to improve social interactions, and providing support at bedtimes to help with routines and improved sleep.

What Is A Therapy Dog?

A Therapy Dog is a dog that provides support and comfort to a variety of different people, often in settings such as hospitals or nursing homes, as well as schools and workplaces.

A Therapy Dog does not have public access rights and is only allowed in certain places by prior arrangement.

A common type of Therapy Dog is a Therapeutic Visitation Dog. These dogs are usually household pets; the owner will take their dog to hospitals or nursing homes to visit residents. These visits improve the emotional and physical wellbeing of residents by creating positive emotions, encouraging mental stimulation and promoting physical activity. There are also special purpose therapy visitation programs, such as Story Dogs in which owners volunteer to take their dog into a school to improve literacy through children reading to the dog. Another type of Therapy Dog is Animal-Assisted Therapy Dogs (AAT). Dogs who fall under this category provide specific support and encouragement to people in reaching certain goals towards their recovery. Under direction, the dog may work to help people gain skills such as motor skills, use of limbs and hand-eye coordination by engaging in activities and games which practice these skills. Or assist with social participation and communication skills under the guidance of a Therapist. Some Therapy Dogs are Facility or Workplace Therapy Dogs. These dogs usually live at a facility or go home overnight with a caregiver and visit on a daily/regular basis. Facility Dogs help people manage stress, and offer canine support when needed. School Wellbeing Dogs encourage school attendance, improve behaviour, provide a sense of responsibility and reduce anxiety.

Requirements for a Therapy Dog: 

• Must display genuine interest for socialising with people and receiving attention from a variety of different people

• Able to handle sudden loud or strange noises, can walk comfortably on a variety of surfaces (e.g. shiny floors), not frightened by people with canes, wheelchairs, or unusual styles of walking, speaking or moving

• Toilet trained, clean, healthy and well-groomed

• Respond to basic obedience commands

• Demonstrate control around food, toys and other dogs/animals