Tasks: Service Dogs

The following are general tasks for service dogs. This list may not be fully inclusive as each individual's needs may differ.

RETRIEVE BASED TASKS

• Bring portable phone to any room in house;
• Bring in groceries - up to ten canvas bags;
• Unload suitable grocery items from canvas sacks;
• Fetch a beverage from a refrigerator or cupboard;
• Fetch food bowl(s);
• Pick up dropped items like coins, keys etc., in any location;
• Bring clothes, shoes, or slippers laid out to assist with dressing;
• Unload towels, other items from dryer;
• Retrieve purse from hall, desk, dresser or back of van;
• Assist to tidy house or yard - pickup, carry, deposit designated items;
• Fetch basket with medication and/or beverage from cupboard;
• Seek & find teamwork - direct the dog with hand signals, vocal cues to: retrieve an unfamiliar object out of partner's reach, locate TV remote control, select one of several VCR tapes atop TV cabinet, other surfaces;
• Remove VCR tape from machine after eject button pushed;
• Use target stick to retrieve an indicated item off shelves in stores retrieve one pair of shoes from a dozen in closet;
• Use laser pointer to target an item to be retrieved;
• Drag Cane from its customary location to another room;
• Pick up and return cane if falls off back of wheelchair;
• Pickup or fetch Canadian crutches from customary location;
• Drag walker back to partner;
• Fetch wheelchair when out of reach;

CARRYING BASED TASKS (non retrieval)

• Move bucket from one location to another, indoors & outdoors;
• Lug a basket of items around the house;
• Transport items downstairs or upstairs to a specific location;
• Carry item(s) from the partner to a care-giver or family member in another room;
• Send the dog to obtain food or other item from a care-giver and return with it;
• Dog carries a prearranged object to care-giver as a signal help is needed;
• Carry items following a partner using a walker, other mobility aids;
• Pay for purchases at high counters;
• Transfer merchandise in bag from a clerk to a wheelchair user's lap;
• Carry mail or newspaper into the house;

DEPOSIT BASED TASKS

• Put trash, junk mail into a wastebasket or garbage can;
• Deposit empty soda pop can or plastic bottle into recycling bin;
• Assist partner to load clothing into top loading washing machine;
• Dirty food bowl [dog's] - put into kitchen sink;
• Put silverware, non breakable dishes, plastic glasses in sink;
• Deliver items to "closet" [use a floor marker to indicate drop location];
• Deposit dog toys into designated container;
• Put prescription bag, mail, other items on counter top.

TUG BASED TASKS

• Open cupboard doors with attached strap;
• Open drawers via strap;
• Open refrigerator door with a strap or suction cup device;
• Open interior doors via a strap with device to turn knob
• Answer doorbell and open front door with strap attached to lever handle;
• Open or close sliding glass door with a strap or other tug devices;
• Shut restroom door that opens outward via a leash tied to doorknob;
• Close stall door that opens outward in restroom by delivering end of the leash to partner;
• Shut interior home, office doors that open outward;
• Shut motel room exterior door that opens inward;
• Assist to remove shoes, slippers, sandals;
• Tug socks off without biting down on foot;
• Remove slacks, sweater, coat;
• Drag heavy coat, other items to closet;
• Drag laundry basket through house with a strap;
• Drag bedding to the washing machine;
• Wrestle duffle bag or other objects from the van into the house;
• Pull a drapery cord to open or close drapes;
• Assist to close motel room drapes by tugging on edge near bottom of drape, backing up;
• Operate rope device that lifts blanket and sheet or re-covers disabled person when he or she becomes too hot or cold;
• Alternatively, take edge of a blanket and move backwards, tugging to remove it or assist someone to pull the blanket up to their chin if cold.

NOSE NUDGE BASED TASKS

• Cupboard door or drawers - nudge shut
• Dryer door - hard nudge
• Stove drawer - push it shut
• Dishwasher door - put muzzle under open door, flip to shut
• Refrigerator & freezer door - close with nudge
• Call 911 on K-9 rescue phone - push the button
• Operate button or push plate on electric commercial doors
• Turn on light switches
• Push floor pedal device to turn on lamp
• Turn on metal based lamps with touch-lamp device installed - nudge base
• Assist wheelchair user to regain sitting position if slumped over
• Help put paralyzed arm back onto the armrest of wheelchair
• Return paralyzed foot to the foot board of a wheelchair if it is dislodged

PAWING BASED TASKS (some dogs prefer it to nose nudge)

1. Cupboard door - shut it with one paw
2. Dryer door - shut it with one paw
3. Refrigerator & freezer door - one forepaw or both
4. Call 911 on K-9 rescue phone - hit button with one paw
5. Operate light switch on wall - jump up, paw the switch
6. Depress floor pedal device to turn on appliance(s) or lamp
7. Jump up to paw elevator button [steady dog if he tries it on slippery tile floor]
8. Operate push plate on electric commercial doors
9. Close heavy front door, other doors - jump up, use both forepaws

BRACING BASED TASKS (no harness)

• Transfer assistance from wheelchair to bed, toilet, bathtub or van seat - hold Stand Stay position, then brace on command, enabling partner to keep their balance during transfer.
• Assist to walk step by step, brace between each step, from wheelchair to nearby seat.
• Position self and brace to help partner catch balance after partner rises from a couch or other seats in a home or public setting.
• Prevent fall by bracing on command if the partner needs help recovering balance.
• Steady partner getting in or out of the bathtub.
• Assist partner to turn over in bed; have appropriate backup plan.
• Pull up partner with a strap [tug of war style] from floor to feet on command, then brace till partner catches balance.

HARNESS BASED TASKS - Mobility Assistance

• (Only appropriate for large sturdy adult dogs with sound joints, proper training).
• Assist moving wheelchair on flat [partner holds onto harness pull strap] avoiding obstacles.
• Work cooperatively with partner to get the wheelchair up a curb cut or mild incline; handler does as much of the work as possible, never asking the dog to attempt an incline unaided.
• Haul open heavy door, holding it ajar using six foot lead attached to back of harness, other end of lead attached to door handle or to a suction cup device on a glass door.
• Tow ambulatory partner up inclines [harness with rigid handle or pull strap may be used].
• Brace on command to prevent ambulatory partner from stumbling [rigid handle].
• Help ambulatory partner to climb stairs, pulling then bracing on each step [rigid handle or harness with pull strap may be used to assist partner to mount a step or catch balance].
• Pull partner out of aisle seat on plane, then brace until partner catches balance [harness with a rigid handle and a pull strap, or pull strap only].
• Brace, counter balance work too, assisting ambulatory partner to walk; the partner pushes down on the rigid handle as if it were a cane, after giving warning command, when needed.
• Help ambulatory partner to walk short distance, brace between each step [rigid handle].
• Transport textbooks, business supplies or other items up to 50 lbs in a wagon or collapsible cart, weight limit depends on dog's size, physical fitness, type of cart, kind of terrain.
• Backpacking - customary weight limit is 15% of the dog's total body weight;10% if a dog performing another task, such as wheelchair pulling in addition to backpacking; total weight includes harness (average 3 - 4 lbs.). Load must be evenly distributed to prevent chafing.

OTHER KINDS OF ASSISTANCE IN CRISIS

• Bark for help on command
• Find the care-giver on command, lead back to location of disabled partner.
• Put forepaws in lap of wheelchair user, hold that upright position so wheelchair user can access medication or cell phone or other items in the backpack.
• Wake up partner if smoke alarm goes off, assist to nearest exit

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TASKS (Sample)

• Operate push button device to call 911, an ambulance service or another person to help in a crisis; let emergency personnel into home and lead to partner's location.
• Fetch insulin kit, respiratory assist device or medication from customary place during a medical crisis.
• Lie down on partner's chest to produce a cough, enabling patient to breath, when suction machine and/or care-giver unavailable.

Source: IAADP