The Horrible Really Terrible Day-in-the-Life of a Service Dog

What comes to mind when you think of a service or assistance dog?  Many of us picture a beautiful golden or Labrador retriever, or maybe a smaller breed, serving as a faithful helpmate to someone who is disabled.  Most think of someone in a wheelchair or someone who’s blind.  A few of us think of someone whose disability is not readily apparent to others such as diabetes, post-traumatic stress or brain injury.  Some smile down at their own service dog lying quietly at their feet.

But some folks must picture a sad, weary, downtrodden dog with the life of an indentured servant.  Last week, an application to the Northern California Golden Retriever Rescue was turned down because it was noted that the dog would be adopted for training as a service dog.  The rescue group does not allow adoptions for dogs that are destined for service work.  Apparently, they would rather the dog stay in their shelter or foster home than find a loving, permanent home, simply because it would be highly trained for service work. 

A trainer recently informed me that she did not “believe” in dogs working as service dogs.  She was convinced that the dogs were mistreated, overworked, and essentially had a horrible, really terrible life as a service dog.  Interestingly, she didn’t feel that way about other types of working dogs such as those trained for bomb and drug detection.  Nothing I said could convince her otherwise.

To be fair, there are many rescue groups and shelters that not only support placing their dogs as possible service dogs … they encourage it and will help trainers identify likely candidates. 

So what does the typical life of a service dog look like?  I suspect there’s no real answer to that question.  But, on average, service dogs have amazing lives.  They love and are loved back.  They get to go lots of places other dogs don’t get to go.  They play and exercise and nap.  They go swimming, hiking and on vacation.  They get lots of treats.  And every day they increase independence and enhance the quality of life for the person they're lucky enough to love and who love them back.

Isn’t that better than staying in a shelter?

For more information about service dogs and their use for people with invisible disabilities, please visit our website at www.ServiceDog411.com.