Best Breeds as Service Dogs

Best Breeds:

• • All Rounders: Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Golden/Lab mixes, Standard Poodles
    • These breeds are multifunctional. They are easily trained, have the height and strength to guide, are easier to train fetch than other breeds for retrieving and picking up objects, there is a reason why these breeds are used by Guide Dogs for the Blind.  Why aren’t German Shepherds on the list.  German Shepherds take a long time to mature and it can be hard to find one with a “Service Dog” temperament.
  • Dogs for Allergies: Springer Spaniels, Papillons, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Poodles, Sporting Breeds
    • These dogs have exceptional sniffers and are still easy to train. Why aren’t Beagles and Basset Hounds on the list?  They are harder to train and can be hard to live with.
  • Dogs for pain management: Xolos, Chinese Crested, Whippets, Boxer, Retrievers.
    • These breeds can provide the same warmth as a heating pad for relief of chronic pain. Due to their hairlessness, the dogs’ heat is easily felt.
  • Dogs for help with balance: Great Danes, English Mastiffs, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Golden/Lab mixes, Standard Poodles

  A word about “Doodles”.  Doodles are very popular and unfortunately when a breed gets popular it is subject to being overbred for financial reasons only.  The Doodles that end up in Rescue have less then desirable temperaments and health issues.  Beware when purchasing a Doodle (or any breed) that you meet the parents of the puppy, and that all health tests have been performed on the parents.  I get a lot of calls about Doodles that have gone awry.

  A word about Pit Bulls.  I have trained some amazing Pit Bulls.  They are smart and can be very affectionate.  But I probably get 3 to 4 calls a week from people that want their Pit Bull trained so they can pass as Service Dogs.  Most of these dogs have issues, usually with aggression toward other dogs.  The public perception of Pit Bulls is that they are killer dogs.  Pit Bulls were bred to be affectionate family dogs, but unfortunately, they were also bred as fighters.  Pit Bulls are not a great choice if you’re looking for a dog you can take everywhere.  You will have to constantly prove that your Pit is a Service Dog and you still probably will not be believed.  There are too many people out there that are trying to pass off their untrained, dog aggressive Pit as a Service Dog.  So, beware if you are purchasing a Pit Bull strictly to be your Service Dog.