Service Dog Tasks

Medical Service Dog Tasks

General Medical Alerts

  1. Alerting and responding to heart rate changes

  2. Alerting and responding to blood pressure changes

  3. Alerting to fainting

  4. Alerting to dangerous medical levels in the body (e.g., blood pressure, cortisol, etc.)

  5. Alerting to seizures

  6. Alerting to high blood sugar

  7. Alerting to low blood sugar

  8. Alerting to a change in medication needs (e.g., reminding to take meds or alerting to changes in routine)

Medical Assistance Tasks

  1. Medication/Water/Item Retrieval

  2. Medication/Water/Item Pickup

  3. Retrieve emergency medication

  4. Retrieve medical equipment (e.g., cane, walker, wheelchair)

  5. Assist with position changes (e.g., sitting to standing, laying to sitting, etc.)

  6. Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT) for conditions like anxiety, pain relief, etc.

  7. Wake handler when needed (e.g., due to medical emergency or time-related needs)

  8. Assist with wheelchair transfers

  9. Assist with grounding in cases of dizziness or fainting

  10. Provide forward momentum in a wheelchair or when walking, up inclines, up stairs

  11. Provide counterbalance, bracing, stabilizing for added support

  12. Assist with elevated legs to relieve pressure or swelling

  13. Pull wheelchair or handler for mobility support

  14. Retrieve mobility aid (e.g., wheelchair, cane, walker)

Medical Equipment Tasks

  1. Retrieving medical equipment (e.g., insulin pump, emergency inhaler)

  2. Retrieve phone (for emergency contact)

  3. Call 911 on a dog-friendly phone

  4. Dial pre-programmed emergency numbers (e.g., 911, family, doctor)

  5. Call suicide hotline on a dog-friendly phone in emergencies

Psychiatric Service Dog Tasks

Behavioral Intervention Tasks

  1. Guide to an exit (when overwhelmed, in stressful situations)

  2. Create Space (circling or laying / sitting at a distance)

  3. Watch my back (providing a sense of safety by keeping an eye on surroundings)

  4. Interrupt dissociation or flashbacks

  5. Interrupt crying, freezing, and harmful behaviors (e.g., skin picking)

  6. Interrupt panic or anxiety attacks

  7. Disrupt repetitive and other harmful behaviors

  8. Interrupting freezing behaviors

  9. Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT) to calm anxiety, PTSD, etc.

  10. Provide tactile stimulation to redirect focus during anxiety episodes

  11. Wake handler (during nightmares or dissociative episodes)

  12. Provide distraction during moments of heightened distress

  13. Providing an excuse to leave an uncomfortable situation

  14. Guide handler to a safe place (help them find an exit or safe space)

Autism Service Dog Tasks

Safety and Environmental Assistance

  1. Guide to a specific location (e.g., safe space, bathroom)

  2. Find assigned seat (at school, at work, etc.)

  3. Find the car (help the handler locate their car in parking lots)

  4. Guide to a specific person (e.g., therapist, family member)

  5. Guide to an exit in case of overwhelm or distress

  6. Crowd control (circling or blocking others, reducing sensory overload)

  7. Interrupt repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand-flapping, rocking)

  8. Interrupt harmful behaviors (e.g., skin picking, biting)

  9. Provide tactile stimulation (e.g., licks or nudges during anxiety)

  10. Interrupt sensory overload (e.g., by guiding to a quiet space)

Behavioral Support

  1. Disrupt self-harming behaviors

  2. Alert handler to changes in routine or schedule

  3. Assist with sensory regulation (providing grounding techniques, DPT)

  4. Redirect focus (e.g., to a task, through nose nudges)

  5. Guide handler through transitions (e.g., from one place to another)

Hearing Service Dog Tasks

Auditory Alerts

  1. Alert to smoke/fire alarm

  2. Alerting to phone ringing

  3. Alerting to doorbell

  4. Alert to door knocking

  5. Alerting to police, fire, and ambulance sirens

  6. Alert to approaching car

  7. Alert to car horn

  8. Alert to doorbell/knocking

  9. Alerting to handler’s name being called

  10. Alert to sirens

  11. Alert to timer alarming

  12. Alert to phone

  13. Alerting to people walking up from behind

Mobility Service Dog Tasks

Mobility Assistance

  1. Assist with position changes (e.g., sitting to standing, laying to sitting)

  2. Provide forward momentum (in wheelchair, when walking)

  3. Provide momentum up inclines or stairs

  4. Pull handler with strap (to assist in changing positions)

  5. Wheelchair pulling

  6. Pulling handler up stairs or inclines

  7. Counter-balance, bracing, and stabilizing for support

  8. Provide momentum up stairs

  9. Elevate legs to reduce swelling or pain

Stability & Environmental Assistance

  1. Blocking approaching persons/animals (for safety)

  2. Assist with balance when standing or walking

  3. Retrieve dropped items

  4. Retrieve mobility aids (e.g., cane, walker)

  5. Help handler stand up from the floor

Service Dog Tasks: Environmental Actions

Assisting with Household Tasks

  1. Retrieve items from specific places (e.g., remote, TV, phone)

  2. Open/close doors (with paws, nose, or teeth)

  3. Retrieve groceries (from counter or storage)

  4. Carry groceries or other items

  5. Clear a room (check for intruders or hazards)

  6. Turn lights on/off (with paws or nose)

  7. Retrieve mail/newspaper

  8. Pick up trash from the floor

  9. Close doors or cabinets

  10. Pull blankets on/off handler

  11. Open/close sliding doors

Impressed? The possibilities are endless. The ADA Regulations for Service Dogs define the requirements for a service dog. To qualify, a dog must be trained on at least one valid task that directly alleviates a disability. But that’s just the beginning—most service dogs are trained in a variety of tasks. The more your dog can do, the more valuable its service will be. Whatever your needs may be, we’re here to help. Contact us today for your service dog consultation and let’s get started on training the perfect companion for you.