A service dog is any dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. Service dogs can guide a person with impaired vision, alert someone with impaired hearing to the presence of people of sounds, pull a wheelchair, retrieve dropped items, etc. (For more detailed information, see The Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990.)

Any physical or mental condition which substantially limits a major life activity such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working is considered a DISABILITY. Many disabilities are hidden.

A person is not required to show proof that their dog is a service dog. There is currently no national standard with which to evaluate the training or performance of any type of service dog, including guide dogs.

A service dog may be any breed or size. It might wear specialized equipment such as a backpack, harness, or special collar or leash, but this is not a legal requirement. At Steve Welch and Associates, we pride ourselves on our individual approach to training the service dog. We train the dog to do what YOU require on an individual and personalized basis.

 

Some of the tasks we train the dog to do include (but not limited to):

1)Alert people who have impaired hearing of the presence of people, or specific sounds, such as the door bell, alarm clock, oven timers, telephone rings, smoke detectors, etc.

2) Sense the owner's on-coming seizures and warn them. The person then has time to sit, lie down or take medication before the seizure begins.

3) Help the physically or emotionally disabled by picking up things, providing support or protection, carrying items in backpacks opening doors, helping the person walk, etc.

Service dogs are permitted in places like grocery stores, restaurants and movie theaters. They may accompany their owners in taxi cabs, trains and buses, to their doctors' offices, to work, in hotels and motels, stores, health clubs, schools and practically every place the public is welcome.

You take on a serious commitment when owning a service dog. Remember, the person at the end of the leash is responsible for the dog at all times. Service dogs must obey leash and vaccine laws and be under the control of their handlers at all times. Their behavior should be neither disruptive or destructive. This is why we highly recommend that we train your service dog. With our 30+ years of animal training experience, we are confident you will have a service dog that not only assists you, but is your best friend.

Signal Dogs for the Hearing Impaired
These dogs are trained to respond to door bells, washing and drying machines buzzers, alarm clocks, knocks on doors, telephone rings, oven timers, etc. They give freedom to their owners to live normal lives, such as being woken up when their alarm clocks go off by the dog. Dogs can be trained by the owner or at our training center at reasonable costs.

Service Dogs
for the Handicapped who are Bedridden or Wheelchair Bound

There dogs open doors, turn on and off lights, aid in transfers from bed or seating area to wheelchair, pick up dropped objects, carry packs, and assist in moving wheel chairs. They can also be trained to protect the owner. They are great companion dogs and give the owner more freedom in their lifestyle.

Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs are used in the aid of heart victims, seizure victims, and for the elderly. They can be trained to hit panic buttons, alarms, etc. Statistics show that when dogs are brought into hospitals and elderly health care facilities, the patients respond tremendously. This can attribute to more healthful activity, relieve stress, and could actually add longevity to life of their human companions.  Because of the positive physiological effect on the human, these dogs have been given credit for changing the lives of many patents and elderly people.