service dog

Noun

service dog (plural service dogs)

1. A dog which assists the work of military or law enforcement officers.
   • The German Shepherd probably is the top all-round service dog. He had an enviable record with the K-9 Corps during World War II.1959 August 6, Walter R. Fletcher, “Specialty Club German Shepherds' Best Friend”, in New York Times, page 23
   • A suspected burglar was tracked down by a police service dog and bitten early today.1991 March 20, “Dog tracks, bites suspect in burglary”, in The Press-Courier, USA, retrieved 05 Dec 2011, page 11

   Synonyms:

   assistance dog, aid dog

2. (Canada, US) A dog which assists a person who has a physical disability or a mental disability such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
   • A spinal cord injury will confine him to a wheelchair for life. […] He has a service dog and lives alone in a one-bedroom apartment, although there are relatives nearby.2007 April 18, Rita Healy, “Echoes of Columbine”, in TIME, archived from the original on 26 Jan 2012
   • Reggie was a “release” from Guiding Eyes; he kept leading his trainers into light poles, so he was deemed temperamentally unsuited to be a service dog.2011 June 11, Robin Finn, “Sunday Routine: Jessica Walter”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 18 Sep 2023, retrieved 05 Dec 2011

   Synonyms:

   assistance dog, aid dog, helper dog