A Dachshund is an affectionate, playful, and loyal pet, and since they are so much fun to have around the house, many people wonder if they can be a service dog. The short answer is yes. While a Dachshund can do a few service jobs well, they are not suitable for other jobs. Keep reading as we explore what a service dog is, how to register one, and discuss the jobs that the Dachshund can do.
What Does a Service Dog Do?
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As the name suggests, a service dog is a trained animal that provides a service to the user. The service can be emotional support or assistance with various tasks around the house. Service dogs can also help visually impaired and hard-of-hearing people get through their day more easily.
Types of Service Dogs
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Service Dogs
Service dogs primarily help people who are hearing impaired or blind and can also alert people to seizures.
Working Dogs
Working dogs perform tasks in a specific field, like the military or police, and usually act as guard dogs, sniffer dogs, and rescue dogs, among others.
Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs help people deal with illness and stress. They can interact with patients to improve their mood or range of physical motion, and they may also be able to retrieve medication or call for help.
Emotional-Support Dogs
Emotional support dogs are helpful for people with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, mental illness, or other problems. Their playful nature can be a great way to reduce stress and improve mood, and taking care of the animal can distract sufferers and get them into a healthy routine.
Is a Dachshund a Good Service Dog?
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Emotional-Support Dog
If your Dachshund has proper training and a good temperament, they can be a great service dog. They can excel as emotional support animals because their loving, friendly nature can quickly improve their owner’s mood. They also like attention, which can prevent some owners from focusing on the negative aspects of their lives.
Service Dog
The Dachshund can be trained to alert a deaf or hard-of-hearing person when the doorbell rings or a visually impaired person that a crosswalk sign has changed. They also make great seizure-alert pets.
Working Dogs
The Dachshund has a powerful nose, and you might be able to use them for their tracking abilities if you are a hunter. Dachshunds are also good at detecting ingredients in foods that might cause an allergic reaction, so they’re ideal for children with extreme allergies.
FAQ
Can a Dachshund Be a Bad Service Dog?
Unfortunately, due to their small size, Dachshunds aren’t good at many service jobs. They can’t open doors or operate mechanisms, and many items will be too large to fetch, so they won’t be a good choice for people with physical disabilities. Another problem is that Dachshunds can be strong-willed and challenging to train.
What Dogs Can Qualify as Service Dogs?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, anyone with a mental or physical disability can apply for a service dog. You will need a prescription from a licensed therapist or psychologist to get an emotional support dog, which is usually a letter stating that you would benefit from owning the animal.
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How Do I Get a Dachshund Service Dog?
To get a Dachshund service dog, you either need to purchase one as a puppy and train them or buy one that has already received training. It’s typically easier to purchase a trained dog because they will be ready to get to work. However, you must buy an untrained puppy if none are available. We recommend hiring a professional trainer to ensure your service animal will do their job correctly, with less risk of something going wrong.
Do I Need to Register My Service Dog?
Yes, you must register your service dog, even if you only use them for emotional support. To start the process, visit the Official US Service Animal & Support Animal Registry, which has the information you need to register your pet.
Conclusion
A Dachshund can make a great service dog, providing their owner with a wide range of services. They’re perfect as emotional-support animals because they’re loving and playful, but they can also alert people who are hearing impaired if a doorbell or phone rings. They can help visually impaired people and alert children to dangerous ingredients in their food or help hunters catch their prey. However, the Dachshund’s small size makes them unsuitable for opening doors or working the mechanisms that people who are physically disabled require help with.
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Ed Malaker is a seasoned writer who has contributed to a wide range of blogs covering everything from tools to guitars, and pets to fitness. When Ed isn't writing, he is usually making DIY projects around the house or working in the garden.
