A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities. These dogs have helped people for a very long time, but having service dog isn’t perfect.Imagine you are a dog trained to help a disabled person. Would it feel good or bad? Dogs are still dogs, no matter how much they are trained. There will always be advantages and disadvantages to having a service dog. How Do Dogs Help People? Dogs help people in many different ways. There’s the service dog, the most common type of helping dog. They help people with all types of disabilities. There’s physical disabilities like physical impairments, blindness, deafness, or hearing impairments. They also help people with mental illnesses such as PTSD, depression, …show more content…
Service dogs are no different. Like any other dog, service dogs do die. They have a lifespan of usually 14-16 years, but even if the dog does live up to 16 years, it may too old to continue its duty for its owner. And when it's time for the dog to die or retire, it usually leaves its owner in emotional distress or a period of grief. Having a service dog is a large time commitment. Unlike a human helper, service dogs can’t look after themselves. They can’t get a job, so they don’t earn any money. The dogs can’t buy food, water, vet care, etc. That makes having a service dog very costly. The training of the dog can cost $20,000 to $50,000 and the cost of the dog can be a few hundred dollars up to $7,000. Plus, the basic needs can cost $287-$2,486 yearly. Service dogs can draw attention. Let’s say you’re in a wheelchair, paralyzed, and you have a service dog. You’re on your way to work and all of a sudden, a little kid comes up to you and starts petting your dog. Of course, your dog has been trained not to bite, and you can’t possibly tell a child to go away. So in the end, you end up late to work. “Uninformed businesses may (though not legally) question a person’s need for a service dog and cause difficulty for a person with a service dog.” says Capital Area Parkinson's …show more content…
Advantages Of Service Dogs There’s more to service dogs than just pushing a wheelchair or guiding the blind. Service dogs do actually provide exercise to its owner. The dogs need to exercise and when the owner throws a ball, it gives the dog and the owner, some sort of physical movement. A service dog also has social benefits. Many people (especially children) that are disabled feel isolated or alone from the outside world. Having a service dog helps break that barrier. For instance, if someone would feel uncomfortable asking about a person’s disabilities, they can show interest to how the dog helps the person. Being disabled has one major disadvantage, you can’t protect yourself. Luckily, having a service dog gives security to the owner. A dog can be very intimidating, especially with its loud bark. If anyone tries to hurt the disabled, the dog’s bark can be a warning to stay away. Relationships can also form bonds between dog and owner.Because dogs are with its owner almost 24/7, they offer companionship to its owner. Most people, usually children, will form a deep bond with the dog. The dog can be a psychological lift for its
Golden Retrievers were originally bred as hunting dogs that would retrieve (Hence their name) fallen prey for their masters. Golden Retrievers are extremely loyal and friendly, which makes them very easy to train. They are often used as guide dogs for the blind or rescue dogs because they are patient and intelligent. Another highly intelligent dog breed is
The American Pit Bull Terrier and veterans are beneficial to on another. One way they are beneficial to one another is that they help improve each other 's life. The way they help improve each other’s life is by changing the negative look that society gives them. American Pit Bull Terrier’s also helps with the veterans depression and as stated before with anxiety attacks. Veterans with the disorder have lowered self esteem and the American Pit Bull Terrier helps build back up their self esteem and they feel more apart of society.
Dogs can 't do any of those tasks a monkey could do . The article, Animals Help People states Service dogs are mainly for hearing
Nothing can really beat dogs when it comes to loyalty aside from our family. They are also helpful to us when it comes to pulling loads, herding, hunting, protection, companionship, assisting the police and military, and they can also help handicapped persons. There are really numerous times that dogs are helpful and useful to us. These things are known to be done by humans but how impressive is it, that dogs can do it too, for us too.
It brings the public recognition needed to the problem. It helps stop the fear of certain breeds. It will bring awareness and help stop dog fighting. It helps people realize that any dog can be trained to be a good dog. It can stop people from abusing or abandoning these breeds.
Predict Seizures People who experience seizures periodically have said that their dogs alert them to the onset of one before they know themselves. Now, dogs are specially trained to recognize the early signs before a seize and can signal to their owner when one is coming. This allows the owner plenty of time to prepare for the seizure. Seizure alert dogs can signal an impending seizure to their own up to 45 minutes before a seizure begins.
One point to make is that even though they grow an unbreakable bond with their handler, they can still save lives, and that is absolutely true. Though there are many other dogs that can do the same job or when the dog is decommissioned and it's service is done, the original handler should have first pick to adopt the dog. In a different case even though the dogs help with stress why can't the veteran get another dog to help with the stress. Though that is correct, it's more personal if it's a dog that has changed even possibly saved your life. They grow a much deeper connection and understanding through things they experience together, meaning it's more beneficial than just a normal dog.
The current law states “those entering businesses with animals can be asked just two questions: Is this a service dog? What is it trained to do for you?” (Fake Service Dogs, A Growing). Service dogs are allowed in every place of business.
These specially trained dogs can help by retrieving objects that are out of their person’s reach, opening and closing doors, turning light switches off and on, barking to indicate that help is needed, finding another person and leading the person to the handler, assisting ambulatory persons to walk by providing balance and counterbalance, providing deep pressure, and many other individual tasks as needed by a person with a disability.” This quote obtained from Assistance Dogs International provides the perfect description of service dogs and their many capabilities. Service dogs are trained to perform different types of tasks. However, they are not all competent to execute every single task as listed above. They specialize in certain areas and are assigned to a
There are about 2500 dogs in active service today and about 700 deployed overseas. These dogs are the only ones that can be trained to perform certain tasks in the military. Some of these tasks are sniffing out mortars, bombs, and drugs. They also protect their fellow troops on bases around the world. Their training begins at Joint base San Antonio- Lackland, TX.
Service dogs can be trained to assist people with diabetes, autism, cancer, and other illnesses. Trained dogs can help people who are visually impaired, deaf, or prone to seizures.” These quotes prove how dogs better our lives because they can help people in need and make life easier for us. Dogs have abilities and skills that we don’t and they are very helpful.
For example, PETA kids say there could be health risks: “Not only is keeping a classroom “pet” dangerous for the animals, it’s also a risk for students and teachers”(PETA Kids). Although some of these animals could be service dogs too. At the school where teachers can bring their pets the author stated, “To the pet lovers who take their animals to school, all dogs are therapy dogs”(Hendrix). This quote shows that all dogs are not being abused and that all dogs are service dogs when being used the right way. This is the job that they have to do until they retire.
Have you wondered what animals feel when they are being mistreated? How many animals have you seen outside being exposed to danger? They are approximately 11 million animals being abused and abandoned each year in the United States. These animals need the support of every one of us. BMAS (Barks and Meows Animal Shelter) provides a safe shelter for these innocent and harmless animals that need immediate attention.
Dog training opens up the lines of communication between you and your dog. A real form of two way communication is established through positive non violent dog training. You and your dog will learn to interact with each other in a mutually respectful manner, based on co-operation and understanding. A well socialized and trained dog will become a fantastic life-long companion, work mate and friend.
Often times, these thoughts can spiral into unrealistic negativity. “Dogs help break that cycle by providing comforting companionship and a sense of purpose,” writes Jacquelyn Bennett, author of “Feeling Depressed? There’s a Dog for That!” Often times we rely on the internet, cellphones, and social media to feel that connection with another human being. “However, we are losing real interpersonal connection, and that is contributing to more emotional problems and disorders,” Bennett elaborates.