Companion Animal:

For most households a Companion Animal is the family dog.

The role of a Companion Animal is to provide loyalty, love, friendship and companionship.

Many of us refer to our dog as a member of our family.

Some of us call them our kids.

Dogs play an essential role in our lives:

Often healing the scars of human relationships that might be lost or have always been void.

Service Dog aka Assistance Animal:

A Service Dog is a Companion Animal.

However the most important layer of the definition includes their legal status.

A Service Dog aka Assistance Animal has had to pass assessment that they exhibit appropriate behaviours in all situations of public access. This is why they are allowed in all forms of public transport and can go into all places of business such as shops, offices and hospitals. The most well known Service Dog is a Guide Dog.

Did you know that when Service Dogs are attacked, they have been trained not to fight back.

The main roles of the Service Dog aka Assistance Animal include:

To avoid distraction i.e. ignore unknown people and to not interact with unknown dogs

At all times to remain focussed on their Handler

At all times to exhibit calm behaviour

The function of Service Dogs aka Assistance Animals is that they are task trained to alleviate the effects of Their Person’s disability.

Disabilities Include:

A Physical Impairment that limits a person’s movement and dexterity.

Examples: a large dog may assist their person who suffers from balance issues with stability.

Any breed dog can be trained to open cupboards and drawers. To fetch items such as a drink from the fridge. To find lost belongings around the home. To pick up dropped possessions such as keys, wallet and phone. Even to help their person take their socks off, as well as other articles of clothing.

Loss of senses such as sight and hearing:

Guide Dogs help keep a vision impaired person to keep safe when negotiating obstacles and dangers that those of us who can see take for granted.

Any breed of dog can be trained to alert a deaf person that the groceries were just delivered, the telephone has rung, an intruder is on the premises or that the smoke alarm has gone off.

Chronic illnesses:

Medical alert dogs are trained in detection of abnormal cells. Example - early stage cancer recurrences.

Seizure alert dogs know in advance when a person is about to suffer an epilepsy episode, hypoglycemic crash or even a heart attack.

Other Invisible Disabilities such as mental health challenges.

These include dogs who are trained to respond and assist their person getting through an episode.

Examples: PTSD, Dissociation, Anxiety, Psychosis. Any dog can be trained to perform tasks that minimize trauma and interrupt the person from self harming.

My Background:

I come from a background of animal rescue.

My role includes rehabilitating dogs who have suffered abandonment, heartbreak, disability, neglect or abuse.

I have an intermediate knowledge in understanding canine psychology and in dog training.

It is my job to rebuild a dog’s confidence and to fix canine anti-social behavioural issues.

Dog Handler:

Someone who has built a mutually respectful and mutually focussed bond with their dog.

Their dog’s focus is on them by regularly checking in.

Their dog walks beside them calmly on a loose leash.

The Worst Problems That We Have To Deal With Out In The Field:

Off-leash dogs roaming free in residential areas.

People who exercise their dog in this way are ignorant, over-entitled and selfish.

In the dog walking world, these grubs are the equivalent of drunk drivers.

It's "all about them".

These people have zero respect for other people's boundaries.

When somebody gets hurt, they never take responsibility.

They are quick to flee the scene, leaving a wake of devastation behind them.

Warning Signs Include:

Dogs whose attention is locked-on, staring and fixated on our dog.

Untrained dogs lunging, pulling, invading the personal space of others is aggressive and abusive.