Service dog tasks for spinal cord injury
For wheelchair users, a service dog's main job is reach: getting things off the floor, opening doors, and pressing buttons that are awkward from a chair.
Why size matters in a wheelchair
A dog working beside a chair has to move in step with the wheels and footplates through doorways, elevators, and crowded sidewalks, and then fit under the chair or table when you stop. An 80-lb retriever can do this, but it takes up a lot of space. A Spanish Water Dog (17.5–19.75 in for males, 15.75–18 in for females) turns more tightly and tucks away more easily.
The low-shedding coat also matters if you manage skin integrity or a catheter routine. Less loose hair ends up on cushions and transfer boards. Allergens are still present, as with any dog.
Tasks we train
- Retrieving dropped items from the floor to your lap or hand, including small ones like cards, coins, and pens
- essing accessible door buttons and elevator buttons
- ening doors, the fridge, and cabinets with rope pulls
- rrying items in a pack or in the mouth
- inging a phone, or barking on cue to get a caregiver
- rning lights on and off
What we do not train with an SWD
We do not train pulling a wheelchair, bracing, or transfer support with Spanish Water Dogs. Those tasks need a larger dog and specialist equipment.
Getting started
Training takes about 14–22 months after go-home, then trained handler transfer. Talk with us early, and bring your OT into the conversation if you like.
This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice.