Your one-stop resource for Service Dog information
This web site contains useful links to web sites, journal articles, and books that discuss service dogs. Service dogs are trained in very specific ways to help their human counterparts. Service dogs include police dogs, accelerant detection dogs, agriculture inspection dogs, war dogs, and psychiatric dogs.
Police dogs are those dogs that help police officers on duty. Their main duties include protecting the officer, searching out narcotics and bombs, and helping to find lost civilians. Recently, police dogs have experienced increased interest due to their help after the attacks on the Trade Towers on September 11th.
Accelerant dogs help firemen. They can detect a number of flammable substances. This helps the firemen determine the source of fires.
Agriculture (Ag) detector dogs are useful for finding illegal plants or other agricultural products trying to be transported across borders.
War Dogs help the army find mines or enemy troops. They are frequently used as patrol dogs as well, watching the camp at night and alerting the troops of any trouble.
Psychiatric dogs help patients who are mentally ill. These dogs are often very therapeutic. Often, they give their companion the confidence necessary to leave the house and go to public areas.
Another type of service dog not discussed at this website are the dogs helping the physically disabled. Information about these dogs can be found by clicking on this link.
Service Dogs pages developed by undergraduate Kathryn Brisbin, 2003.
If you have any questions or comments please email:
Mary Wood, MLS
Librarian
UC Center for Animal Alternatives
3/7/2007
