In Japanese law concerning assistance dogs for the disabled, it is required to accept service dogs in public places and transportations. However, there are still many acceptance refusal cases, and various medical facilities are included. In this study, we conducted a survey on the awareness of medical and veterinary nursing students concerning service dogs. Three hundred and ten students (104 medical nursing students, 107 veterinary nursing college students, and 99 veterinary nursing vocational school students) answered the questionnaire. All veterinary college students took the classes about service dogs as an academic training, but these classes were not in the vocational school. The veterinary nursing students exceeded about the knowledge of service dogs than the medical nursing students. Further, veterinary nursing college students sufficiently understood service dogs than the vocational school students. That means, the lecture in formal education was effective for the understanding about service dogs. In addition, because all students have low interest about sanitation management and toilet support about service dogs, it is suggested that education raising awareness in these is necessary.

Currently 74 service dogs are working in Japan (as of Aug. 1, 2015). This number is far less than that of potential users. One of the reasons for the discrepancy is the poor awareness about service dogs among potential physically disabled users. Educating the young physically disabled about service dogs as one of the helps for independence and social participation may lead to an increase in future service dog use. In this study, therefore, we conducted a survey on the awareness of service dogs among the teachers of schools for physically disabled children - possible future service dog users. The result showed that most of them lacked correct understanding and specific image of service dogs though they knew the presence of the dogs through media coverage. In addition to our current promotion method of hosting events at the Service Dog Training and Rehabilitation Center in Aichi Prefecture, to improve our promotion methods, distribution of the brochures and the demonstration and the lecture by service dog users held at the schools should be provided.