Zoe as a service dog?

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From Lap to Laundry: Toy Service Dogs

by Debi

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" Look Mommy! " the small girl squealed, watching my 9-pound Papillon

service dog pick up the car keys I'd dropped. " That doggy wants to

drive the car! "

Driving a car is one of the few things my service dog Peek can't do

for me. However, the tasks he performs for me each day more than

make up for his inability to play chauffeur. As a person with a

disability using a wheelchair for legs, I remain independent and

self-sufficient because Peek handles tasks which are difficult or

painful for me to perform.

Each morning Peek hears the alarm clock ring, then slaps the snooze

button with his paw for 5 more minutes of snuggling in bed. After

nature breaks, he helps tug off my pajamas, then hands them to me to

fold and put away.

When I am dressed, Peek knows it's time to make the bed, and jumps

in position on the far side of the mattress, waiting for the cue

to " tug the covers. " Grasping the sheet between his teeth, he pulls

it up toward the bedstead, then repeats the task with the

comforter. " Pillows, " I whisper. Peek pulls them into place then

looks to me for another cue. I dream of ways to teach him to pour me

a cup of coffee, but so far the training techniques elude me.

When breakfast is finished, Peek helps me with the housework.

Following me from room to room, he picks up any object. I point to

the cordless phone, and he fetches it and places it on the hook. The

TV controls are deposited on the end table. Peek reluctantly stashes

away all his toys in his toy box, sighs, and follows me to the

kitchen.

I point to the lower cupboard and say " Open. " Peek pulls on the

leather thong attached to the handle, then waits, as I throw trash

into the container under the sink, before closing the door with a

swipe of his paw.

Because I get dizzy when I bend over, on laundry days Peek's job is

to tug the clothes out of the dryer and put them in the clothes

basket for me, while I sit in my wheelchair and fold them. And

although he'd prefer to sleep in the pile of dirty clothes, he does

my bidding by bringing me the next load to be washed – one piece at

a time.

When we have outings, Peek jumps on my lap and presses the handicap

door opener button for me. We roll to the elevator, where he again

presses the button with his nose, and we are off.

The public is used to seeing large breeds doing service dog work,

but a toy dog performing these tasks always raises eyebrows.

Comments of " Oh, he's so cute! " soon turn to " Oh, he's so helpful! "

when they see a toy dog do many of the things a large breed service

dog can do.

Yet the amazing abilities of toy working dogs are overlooked by most

large service dog training programs. They prefer dogs like Golden

Retrievers, which have a history of even temperament, and whose size

and strength make them easily adaptable to those with a wide variety

of disabilities. And it is true that large dogs are needed for those

requiring assistance in pulling wheelchairs, pulling heavy doors, or

getting in and out of the tub. But not all people with disabilities

require that level of assistance. Many with mobility impairments

mainly need a dog to do retrieval tasks, and a toy dog is indeed a

viable option.

For those living in small apartments, a toy service dog may be

ideal. Travelling by car or plane is certainly easier with a smaller

dog. In restaurants, they fit easily under a chair or table, and

more discretely than their large canine counterparts. Clean up after

nature calls is easier, and the amount of food consumed is

considerably less.

Toy breeds have much to offer as service dogs. But it will take

advocates to spread the word and herald the successes of those

already working in the field before they are taken seriously. I look

forward to the day when a cruise through the mall will gain me

comments of " Oh, what a fine working partner you have! " instead

of " Oh, what a cute puppy! "

It can happen.

Originally published Interactions, Vol. 15, No. 33, 1997, pp. 14-15.