September is Service Dog Awareness Month. For those unaware, the month celebrates very good boys and girls who have been trained to assist people with disabilities. According to the American Kennel Club, the practice of training service dogs began in Germany to help injured veterans following World War I. For this reason, German Shepherds are still one of the most popular service dog breeds. Some of the other breeds that are often trained to be service animals are Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers. 

A common misconception is that all service dogs are guide dogs who assist those with visual impairments. However, there are numerous types of service dogs including mobility dogs that help individuals who use mobility aids like wheelchairs and medical alert dogs. Some individuals who suffer from mental health disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia, may choose to get assistance from psychiatric service dogs. 

Service dogs start their training when they are puppies. According to Insider, only about 50 percent of dogs who train will end up becoming service animals. While speaking to the publication, a guide dog handler named Kelly Snyder shared that having assistance from a canine companion has changed her life for the better. 

“I’ve been a guide dog user for 16 years and I can’t imagine life without one. The bond is indescribable. When you first pick up the harness handle, you’re thinking really? This four-legged friend is going to make sure I go into a straight line and I go where I need to go. And it’s amazing it works. He just builds my confidence level. I’m very shy, truly I am. Holding the harness is just a fantastic thing,” said Snyder. 

It is also important to note that service dogs are not emotional support animals. The main distinction is that service dogs are trained to do specific tasks, while emotional support animals give a sense of comfort by being by their owner's side. The U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section noted that “if the dog has been trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action to help avoid the attack or lessen its impact, that would qualify as a service animal. However, if the dog’s mere presence provides comfort, that would not be considered a service animal under the [Americans with Disabilities Act].”