Assistance Dog or Service Dog?

Following on from a comment by Kim in response to my Confused? entry, I thought I would try and explain the difference in terminology here.

One of the common differences between the UK and USA is the terminology used to describe the dogs that help humans with disabilities. In USA it is commonplace to call those that are not guide or hearing dogs, service dogs. Although in the UK we do have guide dogs, hearing dogs and dogs for those with other disabilities, the generic term here is "assistance dog". Some still persist with "guide and other assistance dogs" but the generic term "assistance dog" is becoming more commonplace.

Whilst I can see the merit in calling those dogs which are not guide and not hearing dogs, service dogs, it would never work here. Principly because here in the UK "the services" usually refers to the armed forces and a service dog is one who is connected with the armed forces. For example, in parts of London, these signs are quite common.