How to Find the Right Assistance Dog

Most people are familiar with dogs helping the blind. You often see them in public, and maybe even at the table next to yours at your favorite restaurant.

Today, however, blind people represent only a fraction of those with trained dogs. In fact, thousands of dogs are being taught to help people with a growing variety of physical and psychological disabilities. In fact, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act that protects people challenged by a myriad of disabilities who take their trained dogs to public places.

Here is help to know which kind of dog may be right for you.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Guide dogs help people who are blind or visually impaired navigate along busy city streets, on public transportation, or through crowded aisles at the grocery store. There are about 10,000 guide dogs in the US, and the supply just about meets the demand.

2. Hearing dogs alert a person who is deaf or hearing-impaired to sounds like doorbells, smoke alarms and baby cries. The dogs can even be trained to alert to the name of their owner, making communication with others easier. The first hearing dogs were trained with the input of an audiologist, the American Humane Association, and a trainer of animals for the movies. They came up with a successful training program and the non-profit organization Dogs for the Deaf was formally established in 1977 to train and place hearing dogs.

3. Service dogs help people who have physical disabilities. They can pull wheel chairs, open doors, retrieve dropped items, or provide stability for someone who can't balance very well. Service dogs can also be trained to help people with seizure disorders or other medical problems.

4. By applying to any of the 14 programs around the country, a blind person could probably get a trained dog in three months, or so. On the other hand, if you apply to the 70 programs around the country that train service dogs, you might have to wait two or three years to get one.

Tips & Warnings

• By applying to any of the 14 programs around the country, a blind person could probably get a trained dog in three months, or so. On the other hand, if you apply to the 70 programs around the country that train service dogs, you might have to wait two or three years to get one.
• Fortunately, you do not have to be wealthy to qualify for a service dog, because every trained dog is placed in a home at no cost to the disabled person. Each facility exists on memberships, generous donations and volunteers.
• One of the largest programs in the U.S. is Canine Companions for Independence. Since its inception in 1975, it has placed over 2,500 dogs with people with disabilities.