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The Use of Service Dogs for Children with Limited Mobility
Michelle A. James, MD
Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery Shriners Hospital for Children, Northern California
Children & Adolescents with Spinal Cord Injuries
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Age 15-21 years
Independent prior to injury
Tetraplegics
Independence
Privacy
Control
Normal interactions with others
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Assistance Dogs
Help restore independence, privacy, control & normal interactions with others for people with:
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Loss of sight
Loss of hearing
Loss of mobility
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Guide Dogs |
Hearing Dogs |
Service Dogs |
| Disability |
Blind |
Deaf |
Impaired Mobility |
| Training |
Help Partner safely negotiatie environment |
Alert partner to sound by physical contact |
Interact with environment on command |
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Service Dogs for Disabled People
Not commonly used for children
Highly specialized training (exclusively verbal)
Long wait lists
High costs
Children/adolescents assumed to be too immature to consistently control dog
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Kids Should Benefit Also
Partnership: SHCNC & service dog
training organization
1995-present
Shriners Hospitals have funded dog
training costs
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Service Dog Committee
Patient selection
Dog training
2 years
Dog-child training
2 weeks intensive training
Parent/caregiver trains too
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1995-2006
21 dog-child pairs
Age 11-17 years at training
(average 14.4)
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School Needs
Pick up pen, paper, book
Bring paper to teacher
Retrieve paper from printer
Open doors
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Mobility Needs
Move wheelchair
Sit child upright if she falls forward
Return childs arm or leg
to arm/leg rest
Stop leg spasms by jumping
onto lap with front paws
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Home & Self-care Needs
Retrieve clothes from closet
or drawer
Remove childs shoes & hat
Remove & reapply blanket
Open & close doors, cabinets, refrigerator
Retrieve food from refrigerator
Turn lights on & off
Retrieve items from floor or
childs lap
Give items to other people
Pick up phone receiver
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Community Needs
Open door at store
Push elevator buttons
Retrieve item from shelf
Carry item to counter
Pay for item
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Psychological & Social Needs
Allow child to be left alone
Wake up parents at night
Help child feel safe in public
Give child companionship
Give child a sense of control
Help child feel socially accepted
Help child have fun
Help child make friends
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Changes in Independence
Greatest improvements in school, community &
psycho-social areas
Factors which may affect outcome:
Age of child
Family ability to care for dog
Whether disability is progressive
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In their own words
"I have always been a very independent person, so when I broke my neck and became dependent on others, I was crushed
I cant even begin to describe the difference Rosie has made in my life. I am able to stay home alone, retrieve objects,
and go outside for a walk without having someone tag along
Many people
find it easier to approach someone who has a dog than someone who is in a wheelchair
I am extremely grateful for her." -C.S.
"Thank you so much for this program and my very best friend". -M.B.
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"Great way to meet girls!" -B.T.
When the right child is matched with the right dog, they can achieve a level of independence that is otherwise unattainable by a person with tetraplegia.
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