It’s all about independence. The role of mobility service dogs is to act as a guard and companion on many different levels. From the time they are born as puppies, mobility support dogs are trained to provide their disabled handlers the confidence that they need to live. Mobility service dogs allow people to overcome their challenges with everyday activities such as walking, attending events, errands, working, etc. By doing this, they are advancing the quality of life of their owners.
There are a few reasons why Great Danes make good mobility and balance companions. This particular dog is very easy to train. As said on our site, a balance support dog should be at least 45% of their owner’s weight. Great Danes range from 99 to 200 pounds. They can also range from three to four feet tall which commonly accommodates a person in need of mobility assistance. The technique used while the dog is helping someone walk is called, “counterbalance.” Person and dog work off of each other’s weight and the owner never puts their entire weight onto the animal.
Some interesting tasks that mobility service dogs can be trained to do is open and close doors, turn lights on and off, and even picking up and carrying objects. Service dogs are showing up in more and more places around the world, because people deserve the freedom to go where other people go! From hotels, to airplanes, mobility service dogs are popping up more often in society every day. From all that they have to offer it can confidently be said that they provide a stability and balance that goes beyond someone’s physical capabilities.