| Sumario: | Purpose: The objectives of this study were to (1) describe the sociodemographic profile of service dog users, their physical disabilities, main occupations, living environment, and use of technical aids in daily life and (2) evaluate the impact of service dogs on wheelchair travel and picking up objects. Method: Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected and various mobility tests were conducted in the service dog users' home environment ( n = 199). Results: The service dog users had injuries to the central or peripheral nervous system (55%), spinal cord (33%), or musculoskeletal or orthopedic system (12%). In the wheelchair travel on flat terrain test ( n = 67), users travelled a longer distance in a shorter time, improving their average speed to 1.28 m/s with the service dog compared to 0.75 m/s without ( p < 0.001). In a wheelchair propelling up a slope, 42% improved with the service dog ( n = 60). Mounting a threshold/curb in a wheelchair, 41% improved with the service dog ( n = 39). In a test where walkers and wheelchair users picked up three objects off the ground, 44% improved with the service dog ( n = 164). Conclusion: Service dogs significantly improved wheelchair travel speed and distance on flat and ascending terrain, mounting a threshold/curb and picking up objects off the ground.
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