Having a pet is said to reduce stress, blood pressure, cholesterol, and anxiety. That is why almost 70% of homeowners have at least one pet in their household.
However, those who have physical and mental disabilities require more than just a pet. Having assistance dogs can provide the extra help they need.
What is a service dog?
A service dog, known as a therapy dog, is a trained canine to assist people who have autism spectrum disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, among others.
What are the types of service dogs?
Several types of assistance dogs vary depending on the owner’s needs. Here are some of them.
Guide Dogs
Individuals who are visually impaired and blind have a hard time navigating the streets and maneuvering through the sidewalks. Guide dogs help them avoid obstacles and people that may pose an accident.
Mobility Dogs
For those who have physical disabilities, a mobility assistance dog might be what they need. A mobility dog can assist a person with a condition such as those with wheelchair dependency to do daily activities. The activities include opening doors, switching lights, and being a companion in general.
Seizure Response Dogs
Seizures are one of the most life-threatening situations where a quick response is needed. A seizure response dog is trained to handle the situation by alerting nearby family members and preventing the individual from harming himself.
Diabetic Alert Dogs
Dogs have a hyper sense of smell, which is 40 times more than the average human. Because of this, some dogs are now trained to detect blood sugar levels, which can aid people diagnosed with diabetes.
What are the benefits of having a service dog?
Assist with daily activities
Almost all service dogs are trained to assist their owners in doing everyday activities that may be difficult for those who have disabilities. Although a mobility dog is specially trained to do this, almost all types of assistance dogs can offer extra help.
Provide companionship
Dogs, in general, comprise more than half of the percentage of pets in American households. It’s why assistance dogs are the perfect companion for people with disabilities. They are caring, loving, snuggly, and usually happy all the time.
Dogs are the perfect companion for differently-abled people because they rarely complain and would gladly help their owners anytime.
Promotes communication
People with disabilities tend to isolate themselves from social settings. Getting an assistance dog can help break this wall because it can empower its owner to be more socially active.
Lessens worrying and stress
A load of worries can be eased when a person has a service dog. They need not worry about going through their daily activities as much as before when a service dog was not present.
Buying groceries from the supermarket, walking in the pedestrian lane, and eating in restaurants can become less stressful for people with disabilities when they have a service dog by their side.
Without a doubt, getting a service dog can have a substantial impact on his or her life. As what their name implies, an assistance dog lives to help a differently-abled person make his or her life more comfortable. Therefore, if you know someone who could use a service dog, you should probably get one now.