The Essential Role of Mobility Assistance Dogs in Daily Life
Mobility assistance dogs perform many tasks to mitigate day to day tasks a person with a physical disability may struggle with. Navigating the world with a mobility assistance dog can make previously inaccessible places easier to cope with, and give the recipient independence. Clerks at hard to reach countertops can be handed payment, the ability to call for help without worrying about dropping the phone, or the ability to pick up items without help gives clients the tools to move through life independently. Mobility assistance dogs perform a variety of tasks including:
Go for help
Turning lights on/off
Opening/closing doors
Helping to pull heavier items
Assist in activities such as dressing
Retrieving dropped or stationary items
Picking up canes or pulling a walker closer
Carrying necessary items such as money, keys, medications
Provide balance to a person with a(n) ataxic/antalgic/ spastic gait
Act as a brace during instability during transferring or when moving
Retrieving necessary items such as a phone or medication on command
My husband recently got me a sticker for my car. It’s a silhouette of a dog (that looks remarkably like Obi) and says “never alone.” That sticker simply encompasses how I feel with Obi. My condition is not managed well and I am frequently seeing new doctors, taking new medications, and doing every diagnostic. It’s draining and there are times it seems hopeless. This first year with Obi has been incredibly rewarding and challenging. He went from my “acquaintance” to my “ride or die.” Obi makes me feel safe and brings me comfort when I need it most. Disabilities isolate. With Obi, I am never alone. Thanks for everything you did and do.
- Brandy & Obi
Therapy with Mobility Assistance Dogs
Use in Therapies
As with other types of service dogs, mobility assistance dogs can be utilized during specific therapies such as physical and occupational therapy. In adults and children a mobility assistance dog may be integrated into maintenance therapies like stretching, grip, and coordination. Children sometimes find it more enjoyable to have a dog included in their therapies; redirecting attention onto a positive stimulus (the dog ) during uncomfortable tasks can make the sessions easier for both the child and clinicians . A mobility assistance dog can also keep their partner engaged in the activities and provide a motivation for progress.
