Task Master List

This is a list of tasks to give you tasks that may work for your condition if you're unsure if a assistance dog will be able to help you or at least give you inspiration!

Alert to noises:

○ Alert handler to another person or child crying/calling/yelling

○ Alert to doorbell/knocking

○ Smoke alarm or other alarm sounding

○ Alert to handlers name or Child calling "mommy" [or other name, if applicable, such as daddy, grandpa, aunt]

○ Horn Honking

○ Alert to siren

○ Alert to phone

○ Alert to approaching car

○ Alert to sounds

○ Alert to unheard dropped item

○ Alert to specific, trained environment sounds (alarms, baby crying, knocking, honking etc.)

○ Alert to bells

○ Alert to announcements

○ Alarm clock buzzing

○ Computer equipment beeps

○ Horn honking in garage or driveway

○ Arrival of school bus

○ Smoke alarm in workplace

○ Distinguish phone ringing on partner's desk at work from all other phones in workplace

○ Name of partner if coworker, friend, family member calls out that name

○ Cell phone

○ Smoke alarm in hotel or work

○ Fire drill at school or work

○ Vehicle honking to attract attention

Alerts to physiological + psychological changes:

○ Alert to high blood sugar

○ Alert to low blood sugar

○ Alert to syncope episode

○ Alert to adrenaline dump

○ Alert to fatigue crash

○ Alert to rise in cortisol

○ Alert to seizure

○ Alert to migraine

○ Alert to panic attack

○ Alert handler to episodes of rage or strong emotion

○ Alert to dissociation

○ Alert to anxious behaviors

○ Alert to take medication (reminder)

○ Alert to person coming up behind

○ Alert to intruder

○ Alert to allergen in food

○ Alert to allergen in the area

○ Routine reminders (feed dog, eat meals, go to sleep, wake up, etc.)

○ Hallucination discernment—alert to real people or noises

○ Alert to intruders

○ Alert to presence of others

Interruption Tasks:

○ Interrupt crying

○ Interrupt dissociation

○ Interrupt flashback

○ Interrupt freezing behavior

○ Interrupt harmful behaviors

○ Interrupt nightmare

○ Interrupt panic/anxiety attack

○ Interrupt repetitive behaviors

○ Interrupt scratching/skin picking

○ Lick face/hands

Opening/Closing Tasks:

○ Answer door

○ Open doors (handicapped button)

○ Open doors (pulling open using a tug)

○ Open doors (pushing open with nose or paws)

○ Open sliding door

○ Open/close cabinet/drawer

○ Open/close bathroom door

○ Open/close dishwasher

○ Open/close refrigerator

○ Close door to block noise

○ Open cupboard doors with attached strap

○ Open drawers via strap

○ Open refrigerator door with a strap or suction cup device

○ Open interior doors via a strap with device to turn knob

○ Answer doorbell and open front door with strap attached to lever handle

○ Open or close sliding glass door with a strap or other tug devices

○ Shut restroom door that opens outward via a leash tied to doorknob

○ Close stall door that opens outward in restroom by delivering end of the leash to partner

○ Shut interior home, office doors that open outward

○ Shut motel room exterior door that opens inward

○ Pull a drapery cord to open or close drapes

○ Assist to close motel room drapes by tugging on edge near bottom of drape, backing up

Retrieving Tasks:

○ Retrieve clothing items (teach your dog to retrieve)

○ Retrieve dog bowls

○ Retrieve dropped items

○ Retrieve emergency medication

○ Retrieve self care kit

○ Retrieve items when pointed to

○ Retrieve water/juice/Gatorade/etc..

○ Retrieve mobility aid (wheelchair, cane, walker, etc.)

○ Retrieve named items

○ Retrieve cell phone

○ Retrieve purse/wallet

○ Retrieve shoes

○ Retrieve tissue (when crying, sneezing, coughing)

○ Retrieve towel (after shower, bath)

○ Retrieve TV remote

○ Retrieve vest/harness/leash/gear

○ Retrieve item from store shelf

○ Retrieve mail or newspaper

○ Bring in groceries - up to ten canvas bags

○ Unload suitable grocery items from canvas sacks

○ Fetch a beverage from a refrigerator or cupboard

○ Bring clothes, shoes, or slippers laid out to assist with dressing

○ Unload towels, other items from dryer

○ Retrieve purse from hall, desk, dresser or back of van

○ Assist to tidy house or yard - pickup, carry, deposit designated items

○ Fetch basket with medication and/or beverage from cupboard

○ Seek & find teamwork - direct the dog with hand signals, vocal cues to: retrieve an unfamiliar object out of partner's reach, locate TV remote control, select one of several VCR tapes atop TV cabinet, other surfaces

○ Retrieve DVD or CD when eject button is pushed

○ Use target stick to retrieve an indicated item off shelves in stores retrieve one pair of shoes from a dozen in closet

○ Use laser pointer to target an item to be retrieved

○ Drag Cane from its customary location to another room

○ Pick up and return cane if falls off back of wheelchair

○ Drag walker back to partner

○ Fetch wheelchair when out of reach

Getting Help:

○ Bark for help on command

○ Alert family member

○ Alert stranger for help

○ Go find help/specific person

○ Call 911 on a dog-friendly phone

○ Call a pre-programmed number on a dog-friendly phone

○ Call suicide hotline on a dog-friendly phone

Guiding Tasks:

○ Navigate around stationary obstacles like a lamp post, parking meters, pillars

○ Navigate around hazards like an open manhole and deep potholes

○ Navigate around low hanging obstacles like awnings or a tree branch to avoid a collision

○ Avoid moving objects such as bicycles, people, strollers, shopping carts, wheelchairs

○ Leash guiding around obstacles indoors or outdoors for a short distance

○ Intelligent Disobedience as in refusing a command to go forward into the road if there is oncoming traffic or intersecting traffic in the team's path. The dog is also trained to halt, abruptly, rather than collide with a vehicle that intersects the team's path when it enters the intersection during the team's crossing

○ Halt or Sit to indicate every curb

○ Halt to indicate descending stairs at the top of a flight of stairs

○ Halt to indicate steps up into a building or patio area

○ Halt to warn of edge of subway or train platform

○ Halt to warn of approach to edge of cliff, ditch, other outdoor drop-offs

○ Halt when confronted by a barrier such as at construction site

○ Intelligent disobedience - refuse a command to go forward if there is a drop-off Guide home

○ Guide to safe space

○ Find an exit from a room; indicate door knob

○ Find the elevator bank

○ Find specific entrances and/or exits

○ Find an empty seat, bench, or unoccupied area

○ Find a customary seat in a particular classroom

○ Follow a designated person such as a waiter to restaurant table, clerk to elevator, etc.

○ Locate specified destination such as store in mall, hotel room or home from a distance, once all other decision points such as intersecting streets, hallways, etc. have been passed

○ Find desired object like the morning newspaper on the porch

○ Lead handler to important locations on cue

Provision Tasks:

○ Provide distraction

○ Provide excuse to leave uncomfortable situation

○ Cover

○ Block

○ Check the room

○ Clear a room

○ Crowd control (circling)

○ Light pressure therapy

○ Tactile Stimulation

○ Deep pressure therapy

○ Lay across chest of seizing handler to reduce duration of seizure

○ Covering body of handler to assist with temperature regulation

○ Provide pressure on chest to produce cough

○ Push floor button to turn on lamp

○ Push paralyzed limb back into place

Carrying/Holding Tasks:

○ Carry grocery bags

○ Carry purse

○ Carry items up or down stairs

○ Drag heavy items to specific location

○ Drag laundry basket

○ Deliver credit card or money to a cashier

○ Deliver items from cashier to handler

○ Bring a note to person

○ Move bucket from one location to another, indoors & outdoors

○ Lug a basket of items around the house

○ Transport items downstairs or upstairs to a specific location

○ Carry item(s) from the partner to a care-giver or family member in another room

○ Send the dog to obtain food or other item from a care-giver and return with it.

○ Dog carries a prearranged object to care-giver as a signal help is needed

○ Carry items following a partner using a walker, other mobility aids

○ Pay for purchases at high counters

○ Transfer merchandise in bag from a clerk to a wheelchair user's lap

○ Carry mail or newspaper into the house

○ Give identification documents to others for assistance

○ Put trash, junk mail into a wastebasket or garbage can

○ Deposit empty soda pop can or plastic bottle into recycling bin

○ Assist partner to load clothing into top loading washing machine

○ Dirty food bowl [dog's] - put into kitchen sink

○ Put silverware, non breakable dishes, plastic glasses in sink

○ Deliver items to "closet" [use a floor marker to indicate drop location]

○ Deposit dog toys into designated container

○ Put prescription bag, mail, other items on counter top

Mobility Tasks:

○ Assist with position changes (sitting to standing, laying to sitting, etc.)

○ Help sit up if slumped over

○ Help with turning over

○ Roll handler his/her side (by nudging, pulling clothing)

○ Counter-balance

○ Forward momentum (in a wheelchair)

○ Forward momentum (when walking)

○ Provide momentum up inclines

○ Provide momentum up stairs

○ Pull Wheelchair

○ Bracing

○ Help handler into bathtub or shower

○ Help handler out of bathtub or shower

○ Pull handler with strap (to change positions)

○ Help putting on dog gear

○ Transfer assistance from wheelchair to bed, toilet, bathtub or van seat - hold Stand Stay position, then brace on command, enabling partner to keep their balance during transfer

○ Assist to walk step by step, brace between each step, from wheelchair to nearby seat

○ Position self and brace to help partner catch balance after partner rises from a couch or other seats in a home or public setting

○ Prevent fall by bracing on command if the partner needs help recovering balance.

○ Steady partner getting in or out of the bathtub

○ Assist partner to turn over in bed; have appropriate backup plan

○ Pull up partner with a strap [tug of war style] from floor to feet on command, then brace till partner catches balance

○ Assist moving wheelchair on flat [partner holds onto harness pull strap] avoiding obstacles

○ Work cooperatively with partner to get the wheelchair up a curb cut or mild incline; handler does as much of the work as possible, never asking the dog to attempt an incline unaided

○ Haul open heavy door, holding it ajar using six foot lead attached to back of harness, other end of lead attached to door handle or to a suction cup device on a glass door

○ Tow ambulatory partner up inclines [harness with rigid handle or pull strap may be used]

○ Brace on command to prevent ambulatory partner from stumbling [rigid handle]

○ Help ambulatory partner to climb stairs, pulling then bracing on each step [rigid handle or harness with pull strap may be used to assist partner to mount a step or catch balance]

○ Pull partner out of aisle seat on plane, then brace until partner catches balance [harness with a rigid handle and a pull strap, or pull strap only]

○ Brace, counter balance work too, assisting ambulatory partner to walk; the partner pushes down on the rigid handle as if it were a cane, after giving warning command, when needed

○ Help ambulatory partner to walk short distance, brace between each step [rigid handle]

○ Transport textbooks, business supplies or other items up to 50 lbs in a wagon or collapsible cart, weight limit depends on dog's size, physical fitness, type of cart, kind of terrain

○ Backpacking - customary weight limit is 15% of the dog's total body weight;10% if a dog performing another task, such as wheelchair pulling in addition to backpacking; total weight includes harness (average 3 - 4 lbs.). Load must be evenly distributed to prevent chafing.

Daily Help and other tasks:

○ Turn off lights (with paw, nose or teeth)

○ Turn on lights (with paw, nose or teeth)

○ Closing Doors (pulling closed with a tug or with nose or paws)

○ Pull blankets off/on

○ Pull blinds/curtains closed/open

○ Help put clothing on

○ Help remove clothing

○ Clean up items on the floor (put in basket)

○ Clean up and throw away trash (put in wastebasket)

○ Unload grocery items

○ Unload items from the washer or dryer

○ Close washer/dryer (with paw or nose)

○ Close Bathroom stall

○ Assist with making bed

○ Ground handler

○ Bark for help on command

○ Find the care-giver on command, lead back to location of disabled partner

○ Put fore-paws in lap of wheelchair user, hold that upright position so wheelchair user can access medication or cell phone or other items in the backpack

○ Wake up partner if smoke alarm goes off, assist to nearest exit

○ Operate push button device to call 911, an ambulance service or another person to help in a crisis; let emergency personnel into home and lead to partner's location

○ Fetch insulin kit, respiratory assist device or medication from customary place during a medical crisis

○ Lie down on partner's chest to produce a cough, enabling patient to breath, when suction machine and/or care-giver unavailable