Most dogs are pets, but some dogs have a very important job: they help people with disabilities live more independently. These dogs are called assistance dogs.
The best-known assistance dogs are guide dogs. They help people who are blind or cannot see well to walk safely in the street. A guide dog stops at the edge of the pavement, walks around obstacles and helps its owner find doors and steps. However, the dog does not decide when to cross the road. The owner listens to the traffic and gives the order.
Other dogs help in different ways. Hearing dogs tell deaf people about important sounds, such as a doorbell or an alarm. Some dogs help people in wheelchairs by picking up things from the floor or opening doors.
Training an assistance dog takes a long time. In the United States, as in many other countries, puppies first live for about a year with volunteer families. There they learn to stay calm on buses, in shops and in crowded places. Only then do they begin their professional training.
If you see an assistance dog in the street, remember that it is working. Don't pet it, feed it or call it without asking the owner first. A dog that is distracted may make a dangerous mistake.