Service Dog Tasks

Tasks Your Service Dog Can Help With

POTS, Ehlers-Danlos (EDS), and Dysautonomia

• Alert and/or response to Heartrate changes.
• Alerting and responding to Blood pressure changes.
• Alert and/or response to fainting.
• Medication/Water/Item Retrieval.
• Medication/Water/Item Pickup.
• Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT).
• Assisting with Position Changes (e.g. Sitting to Standing, Laying to Sitting, etc).
• Assist with Wheelchair Transfers.
• Provide Forward Momentum (in wheelchair, when walking, up inclines, up stairs).
• Counter-Balance, Bracing, Stablizing, etc.
• Pull Wheelchair or Handler.
• Retrieve Medical Equipment (Cane, Walker, etc.).
• Elevate Legs
• Wake Handler

Auditory Support

• Alert to Smoke/Fire Alarm.
• Alerting to Phone Ringing.
• Alerting to Door Bell.
• Alert to Door Knocking.
• Alerting to Police, Fire and Ambulance Sirens.
• Alert to People Walking Up from Behind.
• Alerting to Name Being Called.

Psychiatric

• Guide to an Exit.
• Crowd Control (circling).
• Block Approaching People.
• Watch My Back.
• Interrupt Crying, Dissociating, and Freezing Behaviors.
• Disrupt Repetitive (Stereotypy) and Other Harmful Behaviors (skin picking, scratching, etc.).
• Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT)

Alerts

• Alerting Family Members.
• Alert Handler to Another Person or Child Crying/Calling/Yelling.
• Alerting for Help.
• Alerting to Alarms.
• Alert to Allergen in Food.
• Alert to Allergen in the Area.
• Alerting to Approaching Car.
• Alert to Car Horn.
• Alerting to Dangerous Medical Levels in the Body (Blood Pressure, Cortisol, etc).
• Alert to Doorbell/Knocking.
• Alerting to Handler’s Name Being Called.
• Alert to Intruder.
• Alerting to Person Coming Up Behind.
• Alert to Phone.
• Alerting to Seizures.
• Alert to Siren.
• Alerting to Sounds.
• Alert to Unheard Dropped Item.
• High Blood Sugar Alert.
• Alert to Heartrate changes.
• Alerting to Blood pressure changes.
• Alert to fainting.

Mobility and Stability

• Assist with Grounding.
• Assisting with Position Changes (e.g. Sitting to Standing, Laying to Sitting, etc).
• Assist with Transfers.
• Counter-Balance.
• Forward Momentum (in a wheelchair).
• Forward Momentum (when walking).
• Provide Momentum Up Inclines.
• Provide Momentum Up Stairs.
• Pull Handler with Strap (to change positions).
• Wheelchair Pulling.
• Answer the Door.

Environment Actions

• Block approaching persons/animals, etc.
• Block from Moving Towards Danger (busy road, away from home, etc).
• Call 911 on a Dog-Friendly Phone.
• Dial Pre-Programmed Number on a Dog-Friendly Phone.
• Call Suicide Hotline on a Dog-Friendly Phone.
• Carry Grocery Bags.
• Carry Purse.
• Carrying Items Up or Down Stairs.
• Check the House.
• Clean Up Items on the Floor (put in basket).
• Clean-Up Trash on the Floor (put in the wastebasket).
• Clear a Room (enter ahead of the handler and check for intruders).
• Closing Washer/Dryer (with paw or nose).
• Close Bathroom Stall Door.
• Closing Doors (pulling closed with a tug).
• Closing Doors (pushing closed with nose or paws).
• Drag Heavy Items to Specific Location.
• Drag Laundry Basket.
• Find a Bathroom.
• Find Assigned Seat (at school, work, etc.).
• Finding Elevator/Stairs/Escalator.
• Find Empty Seat.
• Find the Car.
• Open Sliding Door.
• Open/Close Cabinet/Drawer.
• Open/Close Dishwasher.
• Opening/Closing Refrigerator.
• Open/Close Bathroom Door.
• Open Doors (Disability Button).
• Opening Doors (pulling open using a tug).
• Open Doors (pushing open with nose or paws).
• Pull and Hold Heavy Door.
• Pulling Blankets Off/On.
• Pull Blinds/Curtains Closed/Open.
• Push Floor Button to Turn on Lamp.
• Throw Away Trash.
• Turn On/Off Lights (with paw, nose, or teeth).
• Unload Grocery Items.
• Unload Items From the Washer or Dryer.
• Watch My Back.

Interaction

• Bring a Note to a Person.
• Crowd Control (circling).
• Deliver a Credit Card or Money to a Cashier.
• Delivering Items from Cashier to Handler.
• Deliver Item to Person.
• Find a Specific Person.
• Follow a Designated Person.
• Go Find Help.

Personal Actions

• Clean out a person’s mouth (e.g. vomit, etc.).
• Cover.
• Crying Interruption/Response.
• DPT (Deep Pressure Therapy).
• Find Handler.
• Find Disabled Handler (runners, wanderers, lost handler).
• Flashback Interruption.
• Help Sit Up if Slumped Over.
• Help With Turning Over.
• Interrupt Dissociation.
• Interrupting Freezing Behavior.
• Interrupt Harmful Behaviors.
• Interrupting Panic/Anxiety Attack.
• Interrupt Repetitive Behaviors.
• Interrupt Scratching/Skin Picking.
• Lick Face/Hands.
• Diabetic Alert.
• Medication Reminders.
• Nightmare Interruption.
• Panic/Anxiety Alert.
• Paws Up to Help With Putting on Dog Gear.
• Provide Distraction.
• Providing Excuse to Leave Uncomfortable Situation.
• Provide Pressure on the Chest to Produce Cough.
• Push Paralyzed Limb Back into Place.
• Remove Socks or Other Clothing.
• Respond to Anxious Behaviors.
• Roll Handler Onto Their Side (by nudging, pulling clothing).
• Routine Reminders (e.g. feed the dog, eat meals, go to sleep, etc).
• Tactile Stimulation.
• Wake Handler.

Guiding

• Avoid Moving Objects (while guiding).
• Guide Home.
• Guide to an Exit.
• Guiding to Specific Item.
• Guide to Specific Location.
• Guide to Specific Person.
• Guiding to a Safe Place.
• Indicate Barrier (while guiding).
• Indicating Curbs (while guiding).
• Indicate Drop-Offs (while guiding).
• Indicate Stairs/Steps (while guiding).
• Lead Around Ground Hazards (while guiding).
• Leading Around Low Hanging Items (while guiding).
• Lead Around Stationary Items (while guiding).
• Refuse to Move Forward if Not Safe.

Retrieval

• Retrieve Clothing Items (teach your dog to retrieve).
• Retrieving Dog Bowls.
• Retrieve Dropped Items.
• Retrieve Emergency Medication.
• Retrieving Items When Pointed To.
• Retrieve Juice/Gatorade/Etc.
• Retrieve Mobility Aid (e.g. Wheelchair, Cane, Walker, etc)
• Retrieving Named Items.
• Retrieve Phone.
• Retrieve Purse/Wallet.
• Retrieving Shoes.
• Retrieve Tissue (when crying, sneezing, coughing).
• Retrieve Towel (after a shower, bath).
• Retrieving TV Remote.
• Retrieve Vest/Harness/Leash/Gear.
• Retrieve Water to Take Medication.
• Retrieving Item from Store Shelf.
• Retrieve Mail or Newspaper.