Falls and Service Dogs: Essential Considerations for Trainers

While service dogs are trained to assist in many ways — retrieving items, performing alerts, opening doors and turning on lights — helping a person safely get up from a fall involves some unique risks to both the dog and the handler. It’s important for service dog trainers to understand the important complexities involved with this task.

Getting Up from a Fall Is More Complicated Than It Seems

While it might seem intuitive that a service dog should be able to help their handler rise from a fall, this process requires a thorough understanding of the individual’s disability, human movement and safety considerations. The best way for an individual to get up from a fall varies depending on the unique needs of the person with the disability; this is why working in consultation with the person’s healthcare provider, such as their physical therapist, is so important.

Although it goes against people’s instincts to stay down after a fall, getting up isn’t always the best immediate action. Trying to stand too quickly could exacerbate dizziness, cause a second fall, worsen injuries or lead to new injuries. In some cases, it may be safer to stay on the ground and wait for help. In these cases, the dog can remain with the handler and be prepared to respond to cues to help.

Other Ways Service Dogs Can Help If Their Handler Falls

While many people assume that it makes sense to have a service dog assist their handler in standing back up after a fall, there are a wide range of other ways the dog can help.

• Retrieve a phone: If the person has fallen and is unable to reach their phone, the dog can simply bring it to them.
• Bring mobility aids closer: In some cases, the dog can retrieve items like a cane, walker or wheelchair, giving the person the tools they need to safely stand up.
• Bring furniture closer: A person who has fallen can use a chair or even a small table as support and a safe place to sit after a fall. The service dog may be trained to bring the item closer to the person so they can use it to help themselves up.
• Get help: While barking is not usually encouraged, a fall may be one exception. The dog may also be able to alert caregivers to their handler’s fall in a different way, such as by nose-nudging them and then leading the caregiver to the handler.
• Retrieve medication: In some cases, it may be safer for the person to remain on the ground and take medication before trying to stand up again. The service dog may be trained to retrieve medication and a drink if needed.
• Provide comfort and support: If it’s best for the person to wait for help, the service dog can provide company and comfort.
• Do deep pressure therapy (DPT) and/or offer warmth: In some cases, the person may need to rest before trying to stand up and may benefit from DPT or warmth from the dog’s body during this time.

The task of getting up after a fall is more complex than it first appears. Deciding which tasks a dog should perform after a fall requires careful consideration and understanding of both the handler’s abilities and the dog’s physical limitations.

Why Dogs Aren’t Always the Best Support for Standing Up

While service dogs can certainly provide incredible assistance in many ways, using a dog as a physical support system to help a person stand is not always advisable.

• Dogs are not stable platforms:
  Even when standing still, a dog’s body is not a firm surface. Dogs’ skin and muscles shift, and they may shift their weight even without moving their feet in response to pressure. As a result, depending on the dog’s size and strength, relying on the dog for support could risk the client’s safety.
• Risk to the dog’s health:
  It’s easy to assume that a strong dog can handle a person’s weight, but the weight of the handler, combined with factors like the dog’s age, breed and physical condition, can impact the dog’s ability to help. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to determining whether a dog can safely assist their handler in this way, and trainers should work closely with veterinarians or orthopedic specialists to assess each dog’s ability.

The Best Approach to Getting Up After a Fall

If it’s safe for the client to get up, the process should always be gradual and carefully considered. Rushing the process could result in another fall or injury. Again, there is no “one correct way,” as this will vary depending on the person’s disability, but this is how a slow and controlled approach might look:

• Pause to assess for injuries:
  The person first assesses whether they are hurt and then decides if they feel like they are able to get up safely.¹
• Carefully roll to their side and knees:
  If the person can carefully change to a seated position, they can then look to see if there is furniture nearby that they can use to brace themselves against or sit on.¹
• Slow, gradual movement:
  If the person can safely get onto their knees, the next step is to slowly and carefully rise while using the dog for balance. The dog may assist by bracing or providing a point of contact with the person’s hand. For some individuals, even just touching lightly may be sufficient.
• Find a safe place to sit:
  Either with the dog’s help for balance, or walking independently, the person can find a safe place to sit right away after they have gotten up.

Service dog training is a collaborative effort, and when it comes to falls, it’s important to work with the whole team — the dog, the handler and the healthcare professionals — to ensure safety and success.

Resource

1. “The Safest Way to Get Up From a Fall”: Colino, Stacey. December 19, 2023, AARP. https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2023/how-to-safely-get-up-from-falls.html