What is the difference between a service dog and an assistance dog?

Many people and organizations use the terms service dog and assistance dog interchangeably. However, at Eyes Ears Nose and Paws, we do distinguish between the two terms.

At Eyes Ears Nose and Paws, a service dog is a type of assistance dog that is trained to work with individuals with mobility impairments. Many of these individuals are wheelchair users.

"Assistance dog" is a general term we use to refer to any dog that assists an individual with a specific task or tasks. Types of assistance dogs include guide dogs, hearing dogs, service dogs, and medical alert dogs, among others.