Mobility Assistance Dogs: Facilitating Independence, Confidence, and Happiness

Mobility assistance dogs make an impact by helping individuals with limited mobility live more independent lives. By performing certain tasks and learning to respond to specific cues, these dogs empower their recipients in ways that vastly improve their quality of life. 

Putnam Service Dogs is committed to helping recipients enjoy more independence by transforming their suitable pups in training into mobility service dogs. With the help of our skilled trainers and caretakers, our volunteer service dog puppy raisers,  and our donors, we make a tangible impact on recipients and their local communities. 

What Is a Mobility Assistance Dog?

A mobility assistance dog has been specifically trained to help someone with physical disabilities that impact their ability to walk. These dogs can assist people in wheelchairs, those who use walkers or canes, or have balance issues. A mobility assistance dog assists their person to navigate successfully in public, through crowds, on stairs. The dog gives their person the confidence to even attempt going out in public. People with mobility issues tend to fear crowds as people may jostle them or be impatient with them, not fully realizing they have difficulty with mobility. With a service dog walking next to them, people give them a wider berth (so no jostling), and they understand why person with disabilities is slow. A mobility assistance dog allows their person to lead a fuller,  more independent life.  

Tasks Mobility Assistance Dogs Perform

Mobility assistance dogs are trained to perform a wide range of tasks based on their recipients’ specific needs. Some of the most common tasks they can perform include the following:

• Retrieving a dropped item. 
• Assisting the recipient with balance while walking
• Assisting the recipient to safely navigate stairs
• Aiding the recipient by providing leverage while standing 
• Helping recipients with position changes, transfers, or counter-balancing 
• Fetching items
• Pressing buttons on automatic doors
• Notifying others in the event of a fall 

3 Ways a Mobility Assistance Dog Empowers Independence

Mobility assistance dogs empower independence for their recipients in three primary ways: enhancing daily life, providing accessibility and support, and giving life new meaning through the responsibility of caring for a service dog. 

Enhancing Daily Life

A mobility assistance dog enhances daily life in several important ways. By picking up dropped items, or retrieving items, or giving their person the confidence to venture out into the world, they add independence and open up their person’s life. They provide emotional support to their recipients, acting as real-life companions and resolving many deep-rooted feelings of isolation. According to a 2019 study published in Animals, university students who interacted with house-trained dogs experienced many psychological and social benefits, experiencing their emotions more positively and reducing feelings of depression and anxiety. 

Accessibility and Support

Mobility assistance dogs are specifically trained to provide physical support, making many previously difficult-to-reach areas far more accessible. For example, if a library was previously difficult to enter due to an inability to press an accessibility button to open the door, a mobility service dog trained to press this button can make the library more accessible. Furthermore, these dogs can provide the emotional support and companionship necessary to empower their recipients to venture into more public spaces. 

Sense of Meaning and Responsibility

Many people who experience limited or restricted mobility feel as if their contributions to others are limited. By providing these individuals with mobility service dogs, they gain a newfound sense of responsibility. Their new companions must be fed, watered, and exercised – something that transforms not only the life of the mobility assistance dog, but also the recipient. Depending on their mobility challenges, the recipient may rely on having a fenced yard and playing ball with the dog there to exercise it, or they may build a stronger support system to exercise and care for their dog. Being sensitive to their dog’s needs, and responsibly caring for their dog, expands the life of a recipient.

What It Takes to Transform Pups into Mobility Assistance Dogs

Transforming puppies into mobility assistance dogs requires expertise, an average of 2 years of training for the dog, and careful matching of trained dogs and recipients. This all starts with the pups, who are carefully chosen based on factors like temperament, natural retrieving ability and social responses. Volunteer puppy raisers help ensure that these dogs learn house manners, obedience, and are widely socialized to new places and experiences, all while providing them with a safe, comfortable, and happy home to grow into adulthood. 

Finally, after six to 18 months with a puppy raiser, the dogs return to our Residential Training Center for their final training, get introduced to potential recipients, and eventually choose the recipient they want to serve. Along the way, things like high quality food, vet bills, toys, bedding, and other supplies must be procured, typically through the help of donations. 

Volunteer or Donate to Provide More Mobility Assistance Dogs

It takes about two years to raise puppies into mobility assistance dogs with the ability to completely change their recipients’ lives. You can raise a pup for 6, 12, or 18 months – your choice. If you want to change your life, learn new skills,  get involved with Putnam Service Dogs’ mission and make an impact on the community, consider volunteering your time as a puppy raiser, assisting us with fundraisers, or providing vacation relief or weekend fostering. If you are unable to volunteer your time, consider making a one-time or monthly donation to Putnam Service Dogs’ mission to transform pups into exceptionally well trained mobility assistance dogs. 

Nancy Teague

Nancy Teague, the founder of Putnam Service Dogs, is a dedicated advocate who embodies the mission of the organization every single day. Alongside the passionate individuals who have joined the cause, she works tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of both people and dogs. With an unwavering commitment to championing service dogs, Nancy understands the transformative power that occurs when a service dog is matched with its recipient, forging a remarkable team.