Purpose of assistance dogs

Purpose of assistance dogs

A dog is man’s best friend. Whether you’re out for a run or relaxing on the sofa, they’re by your side like a shadow. Dogs are amazing creatures; they’re capable of more than we give them credit for. Just like you and me, some dogs have jobs. Assistance dogs not only act as a friend, but also provide help and service for those in need. The Safer Pet GPS dog tracker is an ideal accessory for any assistance dog, as it provides extra reassurance with its GPS dog tracking functionality.

Assistance dogs are trained to perform tasks for those with disabilities or life changing conditions that hinder them from being completely independent. Most people are familiar with guide dogs that act as a sense of sight for those who are visually impaired. However, Assistance dogs are capable of much more than just that.

Purpose of assistance dogs | Safer Pet GPS Dog Tracker Blog

Guide dogs

Guide dogs assist the blind and visually impaired. They help them to avoid obstacles, help their handlers get through traffic and find their way from A to B without injury. The Safer Pet GPS dog tracker app can be very helpful for navigation and provides historic activity logs. 

Like all Assistance dogs, the relationship between them and their owner is important to ensure they work as a team. The human partner gives commands and the guide dog must distinguish between safe and unsafe commands and ignore distractions from passers by.

Hearing dogs

Hearing dogs carry out service to those who are deaf or have hearing difficulties. Their job is to alert the owner of important sounds such as door bells, alarm clocks, fire alarms and babies crying. In order to alert their companion of these sounds, they make physical contact with their owner.

Service dogs

Service dogs help with various disabilities other than visual and hearing difficulties. They are trained to help people with mobility issues, autism and psychiatric disabilities. Service dogs are able to open and close doors, turn lights on and off and grab things that are out of reach of their owner.

Therapy dogs

Therapy dogs are also commonly referred to as emotional support dogs; they provide love and affection to those in difficult living situations. They are commonly residents of hospitals, retirement homes or companions of people with mental health issues. Spending time with a dog is proven to be therapeutic. Therapy dogs are able to connect with those in need to reduce stress and anxiety as well as lowering blood pressure.

With enough training, any dog could become an Assistance dog to someone in need, however there are some fan favourite breeds that are assistance dogs more commonly than others.

Golden Retriever - Guide and hearing dogs

Border Collie - Search and rescue dogs, seizure alert dogs

Labrador Retriever - Guide and hearing dogs

German Shepherd - Police and military dogs

Belgian Malinois - Police and hearing dogs

An Assistance dog differs from a regular pet. They are quite literally a lifeline for someone in need. They are trained to perform specific tasks and to act calm around their companion. With that being said, when an Assistance dog is not “clocked in” for their shift, they are able to relax and behave more like a standard family pet. Of course, Assistance dogs require just as much love and affection as any other pet.

We recognise Assistance dogs are incredibly important to their owners which is why knowing where they are at all times is imperative. Although Assistance dogs are incredibly reliable, investing in a GPS dog tracker is an extra safety precaution that can be taken in order to ensure your furry friend never goes missing. You can set boundaries for your pet and track them if they disappear.

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