Mobility assistance dog
A mobility assistance dog or mobility service dog is a dog trained to assist a
physically disabled person who has mobility issues, such as poor balance or being a non-ambulatory wheelchair user. Roles include "providing balance and stability"[1] picking up and carrying objects, pulling wheelchairs, opening and closing doors, and operating light switches.[2] Mobility assistance dogs can have significant positive impacts on the lives of their handlers.[3]
Some larger-statured dogs with sound joints are trained to pull individuals in wheelchairs, and wear a type of harness specifically designed for pulling.[2] However, wheelchair pulling remains controversial. Many US programs limit "wheelchair pulling" to short straight distances, most commonly for assistance getting in and out of a crosswalk. One study has found that using the traction provided by the service dog has physical benefits because manual wheelchair users can operate their chairs with less effort.[4]
Another type of mobility assistance dog task is "counter-balance". They are used for
proprioceptive sensory loss, such as an inability to walk in a straight line.[6]
These dogs usually wear a special vest so that the owner can attach a cane-like handle. This allows the dog to guide the owner and assist with their balance.
See also
- Working dog – Dog trained to perform practical tasks
References
- ^ "Service/Assistance Animals", New Hampshire Governor's Commission on Disability.
- ^ a b "Commonly Asked Questions about Service Animals in Places of Business", U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.
- PMID 33264370.
- ^ "Effect of Service Dogs on Manual Wheelchair Users with Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study", Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development"
- ^ "Assistance Dogs Transform Lives of Veteran Partners" Archived 2015-05-23 at the Wayback Machine, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
- ^ Thomson, Philip D (2004). "Gait Disorders". In Bradley, Walter George et al. Neurology in Clinical Practice: Principles of Diagnosis and Management, Volume 1. Philadelphia: Butterworth Heinemann. pp. 324-326.