Guide Dogs

Guide dogs are one of the most commonly known and easy-to-identify types of service dogs. These pups are tasked with helping the blind and low-vision folks navigate through the world. They wear a special type of harness that allows their handler to grasp them, instead of a vest like other types of service dogs.

Guide dogs are unique from other types of service pups because they practice “selective disobedience.” This means that they take in information from their surroundings and make choices based on the assessments made about a situation. For example, their owner may tell them to cross a street, but the dog will disobey if they deem the street too unsafe to cross.

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Hearing Dogs 

 As the name suggests, hearing dogs are trained to help their deaf or hard-of-hearing owners interact with their world. They can alert their owner about smoke alarms, doorbells, stove timers, and even crying babies. These dogs are trained to place their paw upon their handler when they hear the noise. They can also lead them toward or away from the cause of the noise, depending on if they deem it safe or not. 

Mobility Assistance Dogs

Mobility assistance dogs are those trained to perform a wide range of tasks for their handlers with mobility problems. They can perform tasks such as bringing them objects, pressing buttons on doors, serving as a brace, pulling a wheelchair up ramps, opening doors, and turning on lights. These dogs are typically partnered with people with health conditions such as brain or spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, or cerebral palsy..

Psychiatric Service Dogs

Psychiatric service dogs are those trained to perform specific tasks for people living with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. These dogs are trained to provide a comforting barrier when their owners are distressed. They can perform a wide range of tasks, including protecting their owner’s personal space and turning lights on in rooms before their owner gets there to help them feel safer.

Note: Psychiatric service dogs are not the same as emotional support dogs. Though they are trained to perform emotion-based tasks, psychiatric service dogs go through very rigorous training and are not legally considered “pets” as emotional support or therapy dogs are.