What makes a good service dog candidate?
While under ADA law any breed of dog can be a service dog, not every individual is up for the job. What are some things we look for in service dog candidates?
Aspects of temperament matter!
- High biddability: A strong desire to please a handler.
- Low sensitivity: A "bombproof" temperament. Not easily spooked by sound, touch, environment, emotion, or novel stimuli.
- forgiveness and fast recovery: It is easiest to work with a dog who is forgiving of handler mistakes and fast to recover if something goes wrong!
Drive is another aspect of temperament that matters.
- mid to high food drive: A strong desire to work for food.
- good work drive: A desire to work for work's sake will help service dogs get through long days and challenges.
- don't bite off too much: High drive dogs can be intense to work with, especially for novice disabled handlers. Work with you breeder & trainer to ensure good fit!
in addition, one needs to consider their lifestyle.
- Grooming needs: A handler must be able to groom (or pay someone to groom) their dog at the required frequency.
- Energy needs: A handler must be able to adequately stimulate their dog. The vast majority of service dogs spend most of their time working laying still. They will need other stimulation!
- Size: Certain tasks need a large sized dog, while others are easily performed by a smaller one. The larger the dog, the larger food and vet bills!
this brings us to… The golden two! Labrador and golden retrievers have the highest rates of success within service dogs programs. Bombproof dogs with balanced drives and energy levels are common throughout the breed. They will fit the needs of MOST service dog handlers.
However, service dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Working with a qualified trainer, as well as respectable breeders or rescues, is a good idea to determine your best fit!
ID: An illustration of a light yellow Labrador in a purple vest, and a golden retriever in a pink vest, accompany the text of the graphic.
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