Assistance Dog Tasks - The Wonderful Helper With Four Feet

Tasks Of Assistance Dogs

Retrieve-Based Tasks

• bring portable phone to any room in house
• bring in groceries
• fetch a drink 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/load washing machine or dryer
• fetch basket with medication from cupboard
• use target stick to retrieve an indicated item off shelves in shops
• use laser pointer to target an item to be retrieved
• drag walking stick or crutch from its customary location to another room
• fetch items when out of reach

Carrying Tasks

• carry items downstairs or upstairs to a specific location
• carry items from the partner to a care-giver or family member in another room
• send the dog to obtain food or other item from another person and return with it
• carry items following a partner using a walker or other mobility aids
• pay for purchases at high counters
• transfer merchandise from a shop assistant to a wheelchair user’s lap
• carry mail or newspaper into the house

Deposit Tasks

• put rubbish and junk mail into a waste bin or dustbin
• assist partner to load clothing into top loading washing machine
• put dirty dog food bowl into kitchen sink
• put other non-breakable items in sink
• deliver items to a designated cupboard
• deposit dog toys into designated container
• put shopping list, bag, mail, and other items on shop counter or domestic worktop

Pulling/Tugging Tasks

• open cupboard doors with attached strap/cord
• open drawers with strap/cord
• open light doors with a suction cup device
• open handled doors with attached rope/cord
• slide patio door open
• assist to remove shoes, slippers, sandals
• tug socks off without biting down on foot
• remove trousers, sweater, coat
• drag heavy coat and other items to cupboard
• 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-Nudging Tasks

• cupboard door or drawers - nudge shut
• washing machine door - hard nudge
• swing bin - nudge open
• operate button or push plate on electric commercial doors
• turn on light switches
• 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 Tasks

• cupboard door - shut it with one paw
• refrigerator and freezer doors - one forepaw or both
• operate light switch on wall - jump up
• paw the switch, pedestrian crossing buttons, lift buttons
• operate push plate on electric commercial doors
• close heavy front door, other doors - jump up, use both forepaws

Other Types Of Assistance

Mobility Assistance

Emergency Assistance

• bark for help on command
• find the career on command
• lead back to location of disabled partner
• wake up partner if smoke alarm goes off
• operate the big button on an emergency home-call telephone
• fetch a portable phone off its cradle
• to bring to disabled partner who has had a fall

Final Words