Service Tasks

RETRIEVE BASED TASKS

• Bring portable phone to any room in house
• Unload suitable grocery items from bags
• 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
• Assist to tidy house or yard - pickup, carry, deposit designated items
• 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
• 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
• Fetch wheelchair when out of reach

CARRYING BASED TASKS (non retrieval)

• Lug a basket of items around the house
• Transport items to a specific location
• Carry item(s) from the partner to a family member in another room
• Send the dog to obtain food or other item from a family member and return with it.
• Carry items following a partner
• 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 exterior home, office doors that open 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
• Pull a drapery cord to open or close drapes
• Assist to close hotel room drapes by tugging on edge near bottom of drape, backing up

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
• 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
• Return paralyzed foot to the foot board of a wheelchair if it is dislodged

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

• Cupboard door - shut it with one paw
• Dryer door - shut it with one paw
• Refrigerator & freezer door - one forepaw or both
• Operate light switch on wall - jump up, paw the switch
• Depress floor pedal device to turn on appliance(s) or lamp
• Jump up to paw elevator button [steady dog if he tries it on slippery tile floor]
• Operate push plate on electric commercial doors
• 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 partner to turn over in bed; have appropriate backup plan

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
• Pull partner in/out of aisle seat on plane, and help into/out of seat
• 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 a family member on command, lead back to location of 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