What defines a service dog?

Service Dogs:

• Guide Dogs: Help individuals with visual impairments navigate safely by avoiding obstacles and managing traffic.

• Hearing Dogs: Alert deaf or hard-of-hearing partners to sounds like alarms, doorbells, or phones.

• Mobility Assistance Dogs: Aid those with physical disabilities by retrieving items, opening doors, bracing for balance, or providing stability.

• Medical Alert Dogs (MADs): Sense, alert to, and respond to physiological changes such as dangerously high/low blood sugar (Diabetic Alert Dogs), severe allergies (Allergen Detection Dogs), or seizure onset (Seizure Response Dogs).

• Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs): Assist with mental health conditions like PTSD or anxiety, performing tasks such as calming, room checks, or interrupting self-harm behaviors.

• Autism Assistance Dogs: Provide calming, grounding tactile stimulation (deep pressure therapy) and safety to individuals on the autism spectrum.

• Neurological/TBI Service Dogs: Help individuals with traumatic brain injuries with balance, daily tasks, and community interaction.