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Is A Service Dog Right For You?
Service dogs are those that have been trained to perform many different tasks to help people with disabilities get through their daily lives. With a well-trained service dog, you’ll enjoy a host of benefits that can help you overcome your personal obstacles. Today, Raw Agility offers up a bit of insight on why service dogs are such a great option for people with disabilities.
What Can A Service Dog Do?
Service dogs serve many purposes, including assistance with mobility, companionship, and anxiety relief.
- Mobility relief. One of the main reasons that you might get a service dog is to help you with mobility issues. Many service dogs can be trained to open doors, retrieve objects, and even pull your wheelchair. Service dogs are often trained to help their handler, you, maintain your balance and navigate obstacles, according to Canine Partners for Life.
- Companionship. As a person with a disability, you can experience loneliness just like everyone else. Service dogs do more than just offer functional assistance. They’re also your right hand and your closest companion. Service dogs are uniquely trained to be attentive and responsive, which provides emotional support and security.
- Anxiety relief. Service dogs (and any dog, for that matter) can help relieve anxiety. If you often feel anxious and find that this anxiety depletes your ability to interact with people or participate in normal daily activities, your service dog can act as a walking, barking security blanket.
Adjusting To And Caring For Your Service Animal
While your service dog is essentially a canine employee, you’ll definitely bond with them. And you have to learn how to take care of them beyond just what’s required and recommended by their trainer. A few things you can do here are:
- Watch your stress levels. Bonding with your pet is important, but you may limit your ability to forge a strong connection if you’re excessively stressed. Remember, dogs are extremely sensitive to the subtleties of stress in their humans. Maintain your calmness and composure, and you’ll see a happier and healthier service dog.
- Keep them exercised. Even if you have mobility issues that limit your ability to walk your dog each day, make sure that you have a trusted friend, family member, or pet sitter that can handle this for you. Remember, dogs need to go out a few times each day to use the restroom and for mental and physical stimulation. And this exercise is great for you, as well!
Decide On A Breed
Not all dogs make great service dogs. There are three that stand out as top contenders, especially for seniors that need a strong back and a loyal companion. The American Kennel Association notes that labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and German shepherds are the top three.
- Labrador retrievers. Labs are one of the most popular breeds for service dogs. They are intelligent, calm, friendly, and eager to please. Retrievers, as their name suggests, are excellent at retrieving dropped objects. They’re also handy to have around when you need a helping hand with the door or walking up and down stairs.
- Golden retriever. Along the same lines as a labrador retriever, golden retrievers are also gentle and family. This makes them well-suited for the physical task of serving a person with a disability, as well as providing emotional support and companionship. Golden retrievers are easily trainable.
- German Shepherd. There’s a reason that law enforcement agencies across the globe used German shepherds. They are agile, strong, and loyal animals that will protect you, provide companionship, and keep you entertained.
Service dogs are more than pets. They are faithful companions that can help you overcome many mobility issues so that you can live a more independent life and enjoy your senior years on your own terms. But remember, they’re aware of your stress levels, so maintain your cool and find someone that can help you care for the animal that cares for you.
If you’re interested in learning more about dog agility, Raw Agility is the site for you. We’d love to hear from you!
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