Assistance animals play an important role in the lives of many people with disabilities. While seeing eye dogs and service dogs are popular examples, they have distinct differences. Keep reading to learn more about the difference between seeing eye dogs and service dogs.
What are Seeing Eye Dogs?
Seeing eye dogs are a specific type of service animal used to assist people with visual disabilities. They are trained to guide their handlers around obstacles and alert them to potential hazards. Seeing eye dogs are commonly used by people who are blind or visually impaired. They undergo extensive training, including learning directional and safety commands, as well as socialization and public access behaviors.
What are Service Dogs?
Service dogs, on the other hand, are trained to perform specific tasks for their handlers with disabilities. They can provide assistance for a variety of disabilities, including mobility, hearing, psychiatric, and medical conditions. Service dogs are trained to perform tasks such as alerting their handlers to sounds, retrieving dropped items, providing stability, and guiding their handler to safety in case of a medical emergency.
Key Differences between Seeing Eye Dogs and Service Dogs
While both seeing eye dogs and service dogs provide crucial assistance to their handlers, there are distinct differences between them. Seeing eye dogs, as previously mentioned, are trained to guide their handler around obstacles and alert them to hazards. Service dogs, on the other hand, perform specific tasks to assist their handlers with disabilities. Seeing eye dogs undergo specialized training, while service dogs undergo a variety of training to meet the specific needs of their handlers. Additionally, seeing eye dogs are primarily used by people who are blind or visually impaired, while service dogs can assist people with a range of disabilities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it's essential to understand the difference between seeing eye dogs and service dogs. While they share similarities, they serve different functions and undergo distinct training. Seeing eye dogs primarily assist people with visual disabilities, while service dogs can assist people with a range of disabilities, performing specific tasks to enhance their quality of life.
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