Changing Lives One Dog At A Time
Mitigate and help with the challenges
An Assistance Dog is specially trained to perform a minimum of three tasks or skills that actively reduce the challenges associated with a person’s disability. At Smart Service Dog, our Autism Assistance Dogs are developed with a highly specialised and individualised set of skills, tailored to support each client’s unique needs.
Medication Reminders
Our Assistance Dogs can be trained to respond to alarms, prompting the handler when it is time to take medication. Upon hearing the alarm, the dog will gently alert the handler using a paw or nose touch, providing a reliable and consistent reminder.
Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT)
Deep Pressure Therapy is a powerful calming technique where the dog applies gentle, controlled body weight to the handler. This provides sensory regulation and emotional grounding during moments of anxiety or distress. This support can be provided at any time, including during the night, helping to improve sleep quality and reduce restlessness.
Retrieving Dropped Items
For individuals who experience challenges with motor skills, our dogs are trained to stop, locate, and retrieve dropped items. This promotes greater independence and reduces daily frustration.
Retrieving Essential Items
Our Assistance Dogs can also be trained to identify and retrieve important belongings such as keys, mobile phones, ear defenders, water bottles, or even a child’s comfort item. This ensures that essential items are always within reach when needed most.
Self-Harm Interruption
Safety is a critical focus of our training. Our dogs are taught to recognise behaviours associated with self-harm and to intervene appropriately. This may include interrupting skin scratching with a gentle paw or using their body to block harmful actions, helping to redirect and de-escalate the situation.
Meltdown Response
Autistic meltdowns can occur as a result of sensory overload, frustration, fear, or confusion, often leading to a loss of control and difficulty communicating. Our Assistance Dogs are specifically trained to remain calm and responsive in these high-stress situations, even when faced with loud noises, sudden movements, or distress behaviours.
At Smart Service Dog, we recognise that no two individuals experience meltdowns in the same way. That’s why our training programmes are fully bespoke. Each dog is carefully trained to meet the specific needs of the client. For example, a dog may be trained to retrieve ear defenders or sunglasses to help reduce sensory input and support faster recovery during overwhelming moments.
