Master Service Dog Task & Indication List
Unified Reference for Tasks, Alert Styles, Responses, Complex Chains, and Approximate Training Time
Medical Alert, Dysautonomia, POTS & EDS Tasks
Heart Rate Alert and Response
Category: Medical Alert
Task: Alert and or respond to heart rate changes, tachycardia, autonomic instability, or pre-syncope symptoms.
Common Indications:
- Nose nudge
- Paw touch
- Chin rest
- Persistent stare
- Jump touch for urgent indication
- Bringsel or tug cue
- Bark alert in emergency-specific training plans
Common Responses:
- Guide handler to sit or lie down
- Retrieve water, medication, or phone
- Perform DPT after alert
- Find help or alert family member
Complex Chain: Alert → reposition handler → retrieve item → remain during recovery
Training Time: 100 to 250+ hours basic, 250 to 600+ hours for strong reliability.
Blood Pressure Alert and Response
Category: Medical Alert
Task: Alert and respond to blood pressure changes and autonomic episodes.
Common Indications:
- Nose touch
- Paw alert
- Head lean
- Persistent nudging
- Stare alert
- Retrieve-item indication
Common Responses:
- Prompt handler to sit, recline, or brace
- Retrieve medication or water
- Apply grounding pressure
- Get help if handler becomes nonresponsive
Complex Chain: Alert → sit or recline → retrieve medication → monitor recovery
Training Time: 120 to 300+ hours, often longer for subtle cue or scent-based work.
Fainting Alert and Collapse Response
Category: Medical Alert / Response
Task: Alert to fainting, pre-faint symptoms, instability, or respond after collapse.
Common Indications:
- Urgent pawing
- Repeated nose bump
- Jump touch
- Bark alert for emergency help-seeking
- Lead-to-seat behavior
Common Responses:
- Lead to safe place
- Retrieve phone, medication, water, or mobility aid
- Stay with handler
- Find another person for help
Complex Chain: Alert → guide to safe position → retrieve emergency item → get help
Training Time: 100 to 280+ hours basic, 280 to 500+ hours for advanced response chains.
Diabetic and Dangerous Medical Level Alert
Category: Medical Scent Alert
Task: Alert to high blood sugar, low blood sugar, or other dangerous medical levels such as cortisol-related changes when reliably trained.
Common Indications:
- Nose nudge
- Paw touch
- Jump alert
- Persistent stare
- Bringsel alert
- Retrieve glucose kit as signal
- Bark alert in emergency-only plans
Common Responses:
- Repeat alert until acknowledged
- Retrieve glucose kit, juice, or medication
- Retrieve phone
- Find caregiver or another person
Complex Chain: Scent detection → alert → retrieve emergency supply → find help if needed
Training Time: 150 to 800+ hours depending on scent reliability and proofing level.
Medication, Water, Equipment Retrieval and Pickup
Category: Medical Support / Retrieval
Task: Retrieve medication, water, electrolyte drink, phone, cane, walker, wheelchair accessories, and pick up dropped items.
Common Indications:
- Retrieve item to hand
- Retrieve item to lap
- Pick up and hold
- Tug a medical bag or pouch as signal
- Nose target to needed object
Common Responses:
- Retrieve medication pouch
- Retrieve water bottle or electrolyte drink
- Pick up dropped cane, phone, wallet, or device
- Bring mobility aid to handler
Complex Chain: Detect need or cue → locate item → retrieve → deliver to hand
Training Time: 20 to 80+ hours simple retrieval, 80 to 180+ hours for named object discrimination.
DPT, Position Change, Transfer and Stability Assistance
Category: Medical Response / Mobility
Task: Deep Pressure Therapy, assist with position changes, assist with transfers, wheelchair transfers, counter-balance, bracing, stabilizing, leg elevation setup, and wake handler.
Common Indications:
- Nose nudge before pressure
- Paws up to initiate support position
- Body placement into lap or against legs
- Chin rest to request readiness
- Touch cue followed by position support
- Licking, pawing, or nudging to wake handler
Common Responses:
- Apply pressure to chest, lap, or legs
- Stand in brace or counter-balance position
- Assist from laying to sitting or sitting to standing
- Support transfer setup
- Wake handler during episodes or routine needs
Complex Chain: Alert or cue → assume exact position → assist movement → hold until release
Training Time: 40 to 250+ hours depending on physical precision and safety demands.
Forward Momentum, Pulling and Wheelchair Work
Category: Mobility
Task: Provide forward momentum in wheelchair or while walking, assist up inclines or stairs, pull handler with strap, pull wheelchair, or help with position changes.
Common Indications or Start Behaviors:
- Harness pressure cue
- Line tension cue
- Touch cue then move into pulling position
- Position in front and wait for release
Common Responses:
- Controlled forward pull
- Steady pace up incline or stairs
- Wheelchair pull for short distance or setup
- Pull strap to help handler reposition
Complex Chain: Position → tension engagement → controlled forward movement → stop and hold
Training Time: 100 to 300+ hours after maturity, conditioning, and specialized harness training.
Auditory Support and Hearing Alert Tasks
Sound Alerts and Source Leading
Category: Hearing / Auditory Support
Task: Alert to smoke alarm, fire alarm, phone ringing, doorbell, door knocking, sirens, approaching people from behind, handler’s name being called, car horn, approaching car, and unheard dropped items.
Common Indications:
- Paw touch
- Nose nudge
- Jump touch
- Bark alert when specifically trained
- Look-back and lead
- Persistent stare until handler follows
- Bringsel or tug cue
Common Responses:
- Lead to sound source
- Repeat alert until acknowledged
- Lead away from danger if task plan includes safety routing
Complex Chain: Hear sound → locate handler → alert → guide to source or away from hazard
Training Time: 60 to 180+ hours for several sounds, 180 to 350+ hours for larger sound libraries and strong discrimination.
Psychiatric, Grounding and Crowd Management Tasks
Guide to Exit, Safe Place and Location Finding
Category: Psychiatric / Guiding
Task: Guide to exit, safe place, bathroom, assigned seat, empty seat, elevator, stairs, escalator, car, home, specific location, item, or trusted person.
Common Indications:
- Nose touch followed by lead-out
- Bringsel take-and-follow behavior
- Harness orientation and forward guide
- Persistent stare then movement toward route
- Paw touch then lead
Common Responses:
- Lead to exit
- Lead to car, bathroom, or seat
- Lead to safe or quieter place
- Guide to specific person or object
Complex Chain: Detect need → indicate → lead along route → stop at destination
Training Time: 50 to 180+ hours for known targets, longer for complex public routing.
Crowd Control, Blocking, Cover and Watch My Back
Category: Psychiatric / Environmental Buffering
Task: Crowd control by circling, block approaching people or animals, cover, watch my back, block movement toward danger, alert to people approaching from behind.
Common Indications:
- Body block in front
- Body block behind
- Circle around handler
- Stand in rear-watch position
- Orient toward approaching person
- Nose nudge as approach alert
- Low bark only when specifically trained for emergency indication
Common Responses:
- Create space in front
- Create space behind
- Maintain perimeter circle
- Lead out of crowded area
- Hold watch position until release
Complex Chain: Detect approach → indicate → block or circle → lead away if needed
Training Time: 40 to 140+ hours basic, 140 to 260+ hours for strong public reliability.
Interruptive, Grounding and Psychiatric Response Tasks
Category: Psychiatric Response
Task: Interrupt crying, dissociation, freezing, flashbacks, panic, anxiety episodes, harmful behaviors, scratching, skin picking, repetitive behaviors, and provide grounding or DPT.
Common Indications:
- Nose nudge
- Paw touch
- Licking face or hands
- Chin rest
- Jump touch
- Climb into lap or pressure position
- Retrieve grounding item
Common Responses:
- Interrupt behavior pattern
- Provide tactile stimulation
- Apply DPT
- Lead out of setting
- Alert family or go find help
- Wake handler from nightmare
Complex Chain: Detect escalation → interrupt → ground with touch or pressure → lead or retrieve support item
Training Time: 30 to 150+ hours depending on task complexity and proofing.
Medication Reminder, Routine Reminder and Wake Tasks
Category: Psychiatric / Daily Function Support
Task: Medication reminders, routine reminders, wake handler, provide excuse to leave uncomfortable situation, find handler, find disabled handler, and alert family members.
Common Indications:
- Nose touch
- Pawing
- Licking
- Persistent stare
- Retrieve medication pouch or gear item
- Lead toward exit
Common Responses:
- Wake handler from sleep or shutdown
- Bring medication or routine item
- Lead away from uncomfortable environment
- Locate or return with another person
Complex Chain: Time or cue association → indicate → retrieve or guide → repeat until acknowledged
Training Time: 20 to 120+ hours for basic routines, longer for chained location tasks.
Mobility, Transfer and Stability Tasks
Counter-Balance, Bracing and Stabilizing
Category: Mobility
Task: Counter-balance, bracing, stabilizing during standing, walking, or changing positions.
Common Indications or Start Behaviors:
- Paws up into support setup
- Stand and brace on cue
- Harness positioning
- Touch cue followed by exact stand placement
Common Responses:
- Hold stable position
- Provide counter-weight or balance support
- Assist with standing or walking transition
Complex Chain: Cue or detect instability → move into position → hold stable support → release cleanly
Training Time: 80 to 220+ hours, longer for advanced precision work.
Transfers, Sit-Up Help and Repositioning
Category: Mobility / Personal Response
Task: Assist with transfers, wheelchair transfers, help sit up when slumped, help turning over, roll handler onto their side, pull with strap to change positions.
Common Indications or Start Behaviors:
- Touch cue
- Take strap and hold
- Move into exact body placement
- Paws up or brace setup
Common Responses:
- Assist handler to sit up
- Help reposition body
- Support transfer setup
- Pull in a controlled direction using strap
Complex Chain: Position → engage support or strap → controlled assistance → hold until stable
Training Time: 80 to 220+ hours depending on safety sensitivity and physical precision.
Environment, Home Access and Safety Tasks
Doors, Buttons, Lights and Appliance Access
Category: Environmental Action
Task: Open or close doors, press disability buttons, close stall door, open sliding door, open and close cabinets, drawers, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer, dryer, turn lights on or off, push lamp button, pull blinds or curtains.
Common Indications or Work Behaviors:
- Nose target
- Paw press
- Tug and pull
- Push with nose or paws
- Hold heavy door open
Common Responses:
- Open accessible door
- Close door behind handler
- Press switch or button
- Manipulate household access points
Complex Chain: Move to target → manipulate object → hold or complete motion → reset position
Training Time: 20 to 120+ hours depending on number of fixtures and proofing level.
House Check, Room Clear, Danger Blocking and Emergency Phone Tasks
Category: Environmental Safety
Task: Check the house, clear a room, block from danger, answer the door, call 911 on a dog-friendly phone, dial a programmed number, call hotline on adaptive device, watch my back.
Common Indications:
- Lead and stop
- Look-back to handler
- Body block
- Bark alert if trained as emergency communication
- Nose or paw press on adaptive phone button
Common Responses:
- Check area ahead
- Indicate room condition
- Block access to hazard
- Activate adaptive phone device
Complex Chain: Go ahead → assess or signal → return or hold position → trigger assistance if needed
Training Time: 40 to 200+ hours depending on scenario complexity.
Carrying, Dragging, Cleanup and Household Transport
Category: Environmental Action / Retrieval
Task: Carry grocery bags or purse, carry items up or down stairs, drag heavy items, drag laundry basket, clean up items, clean up trash, throw away trash, unload groceries, unload washer or dryer, pull blankets on or off.
Common Indications or Work Behaviors:
- Retrieve and hold
- Tug and drag
- Pick up and deposit
- Nose target to dropped object
Common Responses:
- Carry to handler
- Carry to basket or wastebasket
- Drag to specified location
- Deposit into target area
Complex Chain: Locate object → pick up or drag → move to target location → deposit cleanly
Training Time: 30 to 140+ hours depending on object variety and precision requirements.
Interaction, Person-Finding and Delivery Tasks
Find Person, Deliver Item and Go Find Help
Category: Interaction / Response
Task: Bring a note to a person, deliver a card or money to cashier, deliver item to person, deliver items from cashier to handler, find a specific person, follow a designated person, go find help.
Common Indications:
- Retrieve and deliver
- Nose target person
- Lead to person
- Find-help bark if specifically trained for emergency response
- Jump touch to get attention when appropriate and specifically trained
Common Responses:
- Locate designated person
- Deliver item hand-to-hand
- Return with helper
- Escort handler toward person
Complex Chain: Search → identify correct person → deliver item or signal → return or lead back
Training Time: 40 to 150+ hours depending on person discrimination and route reliability.
Guiding, Navigation and Travel Tasks
Guiding Around Hazards and Safe Navigation
Category: Guiding / Navigation
Task: Avoid moving objects, guide home, guide to exit, guide to person, guide to location, guide to item, guide to safe place, indicate barriers, curbs, drop-offs, stairs, lead around hazards, and refuse unsafe forward motion.
Common Indications or Guiding Signals:
- Harness lead
- Forward orientation
- Stop at curb, drop-off, or obstacle
- Body halt at hazard
- Refusal to move forward when unsafe
- Lead and pause
- Look-back confirmation
Common Responses:
- Route around hazard
- Stop at obstacle or level change
- Lead to destination
- Refuse unsafe command path
Complex Chain: Travel → detect hazard → stop or reroute → continue once safe
Training Time: 150 to 800+ hours depending on whether the work is simple leading or advanced guide-style travel.
Retrieval Master Tasks
Named, Pointed, Dropped and Utility Retrievals
Category: Retrieval
Task: Retrieve clothing, dog bowls, dropped items, emergency medication, pointed-to items, juice, sports drinks, mobility aids, named items, phone, purse, wallet, shoes, tissue, towel, remote, vest, harness, leash, gear, water for medication, shelf items, mail, and newspaper.
Common Indications or Work Behaviors:
- Pick up and hold
- Retrieve to hand
- Retrieve to lap
- Retrieve and present by tugging upward
- Nose target to item before pickup
- Bring item as response to alert or cue
Common Responses:
- Fetch named object
- Retrieve dropped item
- Retrieve from another room
- Deliver directly to handler or another person
Complex Chain: Identify object → retrieve → carry safely → deliver accurately
Training Time: 20 to 160+ hours depending on number of objects, distance, and discrimination level.
Common Alert Styles and Their Typical Uses
- Nose Nudge: common for medical alerts, psychiatric interruption, waking, and sound alerts.
- Paw Touch: common for urgent alerting, hearing tasks, waking, and interruptive work.
- Chin Rest: common for calmer indications, grounding, and pre-escalation alerts.
- Persistent Stare: common for discreet alerting when repeated physical contact is not ideal.
- Jump Touch: used for high-urgency alerts when specifically trained and appropriate.
- Bark Alert: typically reserved for emergency communication or help-seeking tasks when specifically trained.
- Bringsel or Tug Cue: useful for medical alerts, sound alerts, and lead-follow responses.
- Licking: common in psychiatric interruption, waking, crying response, and tactile grounding.
- Body Block or Cover: common for crowd buffering, space creation, and danger interruption.
- Circling: common for crowd control and personal space support.
- Leading: common for exits, bathrooms, cars, seats, people, and safe place tasks.
- Retrieval as Indication: common when the alert immediately transitions into response work, such as bringing medication or phone.