This is a page for a January 19, 2023 presentation by Brad and Veronica to the nonprofit Open Doors entitled “Service dog work and tasks”. A PDF version of the presentation is available to view or download below the text-only version for screenreaders.
Service dog work and tasks
Veronica Morris, PhD and Bradley Morris, MA, CPhil
Psychiatric Service Dog Partners
www.psych.dog/odo
Things to take home
There are infinite service dog work and tasks
Terminology is not standard
Owner-trainers can train any type of work or task
The infinite work/tasks
Most common work or task for psychiatric service dogs is pressure therapy
Alerts and responses are also commonly used to warn a handler of an impending issue, or to help them through the issue
- Anxiety attacks
- Mood swings
- Flashbacks
- Seizures
- Blood sugar issues
- Heart conditions/rate
Hallucination discernment allows the handler to perceive which of the things they are seeing are real, and which are not
Grounding keeps a handler present in space and time
Tactile stimulation is often used to interrupt behaviors, ground the handler, remind of routines, do alerts, and respond to medical conditions
Section summary
- Any list you might find of work/tasks is incomplete
- The most important factors are that the person has a limitation due to their disability, and that the dog is trained to do something to help
- Since every person is affected uniquely by their disability, every dog can work differently
- Two people with the same diagnosis might use different work or tasks
Non-standard terminology
Even among programs, they use different terms for the same action
With owner-trainers, the names of work and tasks become even more varied
People who speak English as a second language, or who have disabilities that affect their cognition or ability to communicate in written English might use terms that seem “off” or “strange” to native English speakers (e.g. “touch me when I feel sad”)
Preconceived ideas or emotional reactions can get in the way
Pressure therapy has many names
- Hugs
- Deep pressure therapy
- Lying on parts of the body
Tactile stimulation is called many things
- Licking
- Kisses
- Pawing
- Nudging
- Bumping
- Paws-up
Pressure therapy and tactile stimulation are just two examples
Always give people a chance to explain what they mean, as there are no standardized terms
Two yellow flags by themselves: “emotional support” or “comfort”; get clarification
Can train anything
Many people think there are some things only programs can do
In fact, owner-trainers can train anything a program can!
Guide dogs can be trained by using a cane, using familiar routes, during times of the day where the person has more vision, or with the assistance of a friend, family member, or pet dog trainer
Allergen detection dogs can be trained using protective equipment like surgical gloves, respirators, ziptop baggies, and baby food jars
Alert and response dogs can be trained by: faking the episode, training during an episode, or enlisting the help of friends, family, or a pet dog trainer
People might have pet dogs that they want to train, or obtain dogs from breeders or the shelter
They may have varying levels of support from others in the service dog community, and so have varying knowledge of “standard” terms and techniques
Owner-training is often better than program training for customization of the dog, avoiding scam programs, and for cost effectiveness
Conclusion
There is such a wide variety of things a service dog can do, what those things are called, and how to train them that the possibilities are infinite
If something doesn’t make sense, ask them to describe what it looks like to someone else when their dog is working/doing tasks
The point is access, not maximum barriers—err on the side of disability rights