Tomoe Yazawa knows about the particular needs of her clients. The service-dog trainer, who raised Japan's first four-legged helper for the physically disabled, worked as a home care-giver before she took up her current position.

"We don't use physical contact to communicate with dogs during the training. All instructions are given verbally, because most prospective users cannot use their arms," said Yazawa, of the Support-Dog Association, a Tokyo-based volunteer organization that trains such dogs.

But not all trainers are as well-versed as Yazawa. She and other promoters of service dogs claim the lack of a national standard to certify such helpers has led to the proliferation of "dishonest trainers," who do not provide sufficient training while trying to cash in on the desperate need of the disabled.