An assistance dog pressing a button to open an automatic door.

An assistance dog is a dog trained to aid or assist a person with a disability. Many are trained by a specific organization, while others are trained by their handler (sometimes with the help of a professional trainer).

[edit] Classification

There are three general "types" in which an assistance dog may be further classified.^[1] Most assistance dogs will be trained for only one of these, though "combination" dogs do exist.

• Guide dogs assist the blind and the visually impaired.

• Hearing dogs, or signal dogs, help the deaf and hard of hearing.

• Service dogs refers to dogs not specifically trained for visual or hearing impairment, but trained to do other work, such as mobility assistance dogs, seizure alert dogs or other medical alert dogs, and psychiatric service dogs. In the United States, the term "service dog" may be used synonymously with "assistance dog," and is occasionally used for other types of working dogs as well. In most of the rest of the world a distinct separation between service dogs and assistance dogs is observed.

[edit] See also

• Assistance animal
• Autism service dog
• Guide dog
• Hearing dog
• Medical response dog
• Mobility assistance dog
• Psychiatric service dog
• Service dog
• Seizure dog

[edit] References

1. ^ Assistance Dogs International

[edit] External links

• Service Dogs and More - A large print site about Assistance Dogs
• Assistance Dogs International
• Christy Hill's Assistance Dog Information Page
• Delta Society's National Service Animal Resource Center
• DMOZ Open Directory Project: Service Dogs
• International Association of Assistance Dog Partners
• Service Dog Central (includes guide and hearing dogs as well)