Chihuahua Service Dogs

1) Those that are technically service dogs, rendering physical help to those that are in need of it. This can range from helping a seeing impaired individual to cross a street to fetching items for someone who is unable to reach things from the floor.

2) Those that act as a companion, also known as a therapy dog whose job it is to provide comfort and emotional support to those who are in need of such elements.

In regard to the term Chihuahua service dog, it will technically be a dog who is trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. Companion dogs are therapy dogs and are in a different group.

 

What makes a service dog excel at their job is not their breed nor size; it is the training that the dog has. It goes far beyond regular command training, as the result must be a dog that focuses all of his thoughts and actions toward helping his human partner.

Legally, any breed at all can act as a service dog…This allows them to be allowed into any public areas where other dogs would not be allowed. This includes restaurants, movies, malls, stores, markets and more.

In many cases, those that are in need of a service dog can have a particular dog trained specifically for their exact needs. For example, there are seizure alert service dogs whose job it is to respond to a person when they have a seizure and are trained to call for help, usually via a button that needs to be pressed to activate a call to emergency services…

And another may need a dog who can fetch snacks or perhaps even open and close doors. Don’t let the size of the Chi fool you… With ramps and/or doggie steps they can reach any place that a large dog can.

Guides – They will act as the eyes of their handler, guiding them around obstacles and leading them so that they can walk safely in just about any situation…Through traffic, busy sidewalks and more.

Hearing – They will act as the ears of their handler; working with deaf people. They are able to alert someone of just about any noise; depending on their training. This can include the doorbell, knocking, the ring of a telephone…even the whistle of a tea kettle.

Mobility assist – These dogs often pick up things that are dropped, open and close doors and even help their handlers get dressed. While the Chihuahua is not often the optimum size for this type of job, they can do quite a bit such as gathering clothes for their owner to put on.

Walkers - This is most often reserved for large dogs. It is their job to serve as a heavy, sturdy weight for their owner to lean on and use for support when walking.

Seizure Alert – As talked about above, Chihuahua service dogs are trained to immediately notice the symptoms of a person entering a seizure…They then push a button on the phone that alerts 911 and a prearranged agreement will let the emergency services know that barking equals asking for help for their owner.

Psychiatric – Those dogs in this group are close companions to those with certain mental disabilities. The most important aspect is that they are trained to remain at the owner’s side at all times. They may help a person to go outside if they have agoraphobia. They are also trained to help keep a person focused on daily, important tasks. Some even urge a handler to bath or to eat at regular times.

SsigDOG – Chihuahua service dogs in this group are specifically trained to aid those with autism. They can urge a person to stop repeating a repetitive movement which can be distracting to the handler and also assist with other duties.