Service dogs are trained to serve physically or mentally challenged people, and these dogs can make excellent pets after they retire. And sometimes after extensive training, a dog doesn’t quite make the cut to be a service dog. He can still make a lovable home pet. Keep in mind that because these dogs are generally intelligent, friendly, and well-trained, waiting lists to adopt them can be very long.
Types of service dogs
There are three types of service dogs: sight dogs, hearing dogs, and assistance dogs. They help their owners in the home and workplace.
• Sight dogs help people with impaired sight. They are trained to guide their owners and increase their level of independence.
• Hearing dogs are trained to notify their owners of significant sounds, including smoke alarms, doorbells, and alarm clocks.
• Assistance dogs help other disable people. They may trained to retrieve dropped items, open doors, carry objects for their owners or assist with balance.
Adopting a service dog
If you’re interested in adopting a retired service dog, contact such service dog organizations. And if you want to help out, consider volunteering to be a puppy raiser.
A puppy raiser typically keeps a dog for the first year of his life before he enters specialized training. During this time, you would help socialize the animal and make him a friendly, good-natured companion.
