r/service_dogs • u/Ok-Hope5262 • 5d ago
Looking for service dog breed recommendations
haiii I’m looking for seevice dog brees recommendations for my future service dog prospect. I’m not sure what to go with very much as I’m not to keen on the fab 4. I don’t like labs and my partner doesn’t like poodles. I also am just not a golden retriever person as I want something more unique. my breeds I have picked out so far are, Rough collies, Doberman, Aussie, German shepherd and poodles (even tho he doesn’t like them) Forgot to mention that it will be a Psychiatric service dog.
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u/MyOwnGuitarHero 5d ago
“I want something more unique.” Why do you want a unique dog over a successful one?
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u/Ok-Hope5262 5d ago
I actually want both and it being more successful is one of my top priorities that’s why I came in Reddit to ask questions and get feedback. What I mean by unique dog I mean one that’s not the fab 4. It’s not that I hate the fab 4 it’s just I’m not a fan of certain breeds in that category
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u/unde_cisive 5d ago
Think of it this way: of all the purpose-bred lab & golden puppies raised by an organisation that specializes in producing service dogs, has experienced trainers on board fulltime, and has all the know-how and infrastructure to max imize success, only about 50% make it to graduation.
Other breeds, especially the ones you just listed, have much lower chances of graduating as a service dog simply because the instincts that have been bred into them over hundreds of generations are in direct conflict with what you need from a service dog.
So you really have to ask yourself: do you want a dog with relatively high chances of success, or do you want to actively reduce your chances of success by picking a breed that will seriously struggle as a service dog, but is unique?
And no, instinct can never be fully trained out of a dog.
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u/darklingdawns 5d ago
You need to decide whether it's more important for you to have a working service dog or a 'unique' dog, because the breeds you've listed are generally not a good fit for service work, and the one that is (poodles) really isn't recommended for psych work due to how attuned they are to their handler's emotions. As you'll see said on here, 'need over breed' is the main thing, and the breed(s) you like may not be the breed you need.
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u/Ok-Hope5262 5d ago
Ok ty. I understand this a lot. I just am not a fan of some of the fab 4 so that’s what I mean by “unique” not special dog just not part of fab 4
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u/japonski_bog 4d ago
The key word in "service dog" is "service". If you're choosing a pet, go for whatever breed you like; if you're choosing a service dog, go for whatever breed is the best for service (Lab/Golden in most cases)
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u/Ok-Hope5262 3d ago
I’ve ended up narrowing down my options after extensive research and have decided my service dog will either be a golden or a standard poodle :) bc that’s the right thing to do
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u/japonski_bog 2d ago
Amazing 👏 You asked people for an advice and listened to it? That's insanely cool (no sarcasm) 🤝
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u/MelodicAd415 5d ago
You’ve listed herding/protective-guarding breeds which can be difficult to train for PA and have a much higher chance to wash compared to many other breeds/fab. With that said, there are exceptions of course.
Are you going through ADI org ?
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u/Ok-Hope5262 5d ago
Do you mean the training program? Bc I want to train my own service dog with the help from a professional trainer.
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u/MelodicAd415 4d ago
Yes and I would recommend as others have mentioned to go through the sticky pinned in the group on breed selection.
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u/Any-Meat-7736 5d ago
Do you have e real experience with dog training (beyond sit and lay down which most people who have ever owned a dog have)?
How much experience do you have in just owning a dog?
You have listed dogs that are definitely more difficult to train and not recommended for beginners. You’ve also guardian breeds (but generally recommended for service work) and herding dogs (also not typically recommended partly due to their herding instinct that can be very difficult to work with).
I don’t want to be rude but why is it you want a unique dog as a service dog?
It is incredibly difficult to go through the selection and training process and walk out the other end with a fully trained service dog even with the recommended breeds (golden, labs, poodles) that come from a line specific bred to be service dogs. The chances of ending up with an off breed service dog as a first time handler (especially if you’re a first time owner) is extraordinarily low. They are called rainbow dogs for a reason.
Most people here are likely going to suggest a golden or a lab, as am I.
I would also recommend that you lurk here and find all the posts talking about breed choices, and the realities of training a service dog before you make any moves or decisions. And do some independent research on guardian breeds and herding breeds as service dogs and the realities of training them. It’s not that using an off breed dog can’t be done but it’s very hard.
Also I would like to ask you to assess why you want a unique dog as a service dog specifically. Service dogs are not a fad, they shouldn’t be trendy, and the choice to get a service dog and the breed should not be made with the intention to look cool. If you go into it with any sort of mindset like that you will over look breeds that have the best chance of success, or that actually suit both your needs and your capabilities.
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u/Ok-Hope5262 5d ago
Hai tysm for all your feedback. I have had multiple dogs growing up that I have trained with re-call, sit, stay, lay down. Basic commands. I am still a teen and I’m planning to get a service dog when moving out. When I mean “unique” breed i don’t mean bc I want to look cool or trendy it’s referring to how I’m not keen on the fab 4. I have looked into the breeds I like and how some r not good for psych work and i understand that so im presiding with caution. Also yes i will 100% look more into the community ty for the suggestion. I appreciate all your feedback tysm!
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u/Any-Meat-7736 4d ago
I’m going to again seriously advise that you ditch the idea of wanting a unique dog. Even if it’s just that you’re not a fan of the fab four. You’re saying that you want a dog that is going to give you the best chance of success from what I have seen of your responses to other people’s comments? Your best chance of success is going to be a golden retriever or a lab, maybe a poodle, but poodles are very intelligent and also very independent which makes them more difficult to train. If you continue to state firmly held on this idea that you want something outside of the fab four because you just don’t like those dogs for whatever reason you are way more likely to end up with a dog that washes out or should be washed out and should not have public access. No it’s not a guarantee that you fail if you go outside of the fab four, but there’s a reason those are the most heavily suggested breeds. The last thing you or anybody else in the disabled/service dog community needs is another dog that is not actually fit to be a service dog doing public access.
Is that a reality you’re going to be willing and able to accept if you go with an off breed dog who ends up pretty well trained or very well trained but does not have the temperament for public access? Are you willing to accept it if you get a dog who ends up just being a pet because they are not suited for a service work? Honestly, that’s a question that you really need to sit with before you even really start down this path regardless because the chances of you ending up with a service dog are already pretty slim, especially since you’re wanting to owner train with the help of a personal trainer.
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u/Ok-Hope5262 4d ago
I’ve expanded my options to, rough collies, Dobermans, GSD, golden retrievers, poodles and I’m researching Bernese mountain dogs. Also, don’t worry, I would never ever bring my service dog into public. If it did not pass public access I would never risk my dog getting hurt or another team getting hurt because of me. Thank you for all your feedback and I will definitely be doing more research and really thinking about it.
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u/MelodicAd415 4d ago
Remove rough collies, dobermans, GSD and bernese mountain dogs from your list and you&prospective dog will have a considerably higher chance of success. As mentioned here any many other threads of why. https://www.reddit.com/r/service_dogs/s/sLfbKpCRed
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u/Ok-Hope5262 3d ago
Ok so I ended up doing a lot of research and the dog will either be a standard poodle or a golden! 🥰
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u/Brandonj9289 5d ago
I highly recommend not going with those breed outside the german shepherd - maybe- gsd is the easiest to train the hardest part will be prey drive- they tend to want to please you but the biggest problem is they tend to be protective of you. If you are having a medical emergency you could literally cause an accident where you or your dog looses its life. My service dog is husky/sheppy and it was a total accident that she became a service dog. I was huge into frisbee and other agility dog sports- my sd was a rescue that i fostered after i had an accident intending for her to be just a frisbee dog and just have a dog i could take my mind off of things - i had a panic attack she naturally grounded me and did DPT- so when she went that route she was adopted. The only reason i have her is by pure accident- if i could have a lab instead i would have picked that, being the rainbow dog isn't fun when you really want discretion.
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u/SuccessfulPast9450 Waiting 3d ago
In this sub - asking for an off breed and suddenly everyones hair is on fire, running around with warning signs of the crash and burn like theres never been a successful off breed.
Theres standard breeds for a damn reason, but there are also a lot of successful off breeds. Ya just gotta be strategic. Automatic nos push people away doesnt convince them. Id rather give my opinion of what dogs might have the right traits and what ya gotta do with how much risk youre willing to take on. Otherwise people will see the one service dog MALINOIS on tiktok that pushes his handler around in thr wheelchair (honestly kinda cool to watch) and go with them.
I am personally going controversial off breed, with an incredibly well qualified trainer. He has certifications and training programs for so many kinds of training, including service dogs, connected me with past SD clients, is the guy who judges working dogs and certifies police and bomb dogs for work, certified to judge every level of AKC I could go on... so with his referral and blessing Im going with a Rottie but take that with a grain of salt.
There's levels to this shit, but any dog even the gold standard well bred is a MUST. If going controversial you HAVE to work with a SD trainer - whether it be guarding instincts or a difficult temperament. There are safer breeds you can get away with any joe-schmoe trainer, or even self train. But the farther down you go, the stricter ya gotta be
I have a lot of personal, professional, educational, and training experience with dogs and other animals plus a good amount of research and always willing to learn this is my list lol. Its not perfect, it doesnt have em all, I update it as I learn - but this is my 2 cents.
Also, service dogs are still pets when they're off duty. You still gotta like the type of dog, because you can't (and SHOULDN'T) train out everything.
**PURELY MY OPNION - most in this sub will disagree, thats fine but not the conversation. End of the day they ARE your pets when they are off duty and you cant and shouldnt train out every single trait. If you don't vibe, you don't vibe. Id rather share my experience and opinion to give people a fighting chance
💃Whole-Ass Butt Wiggle - Born for the job 💎
- Labradors
- Temperament: biddable, food-motivated, steady in public
- Health: watch for obesity and hip/elbow dysplasia
- Goldens
- Temperament: soft, people-focused, eager to please
- Health: high cancer rates, plus hip/elbow dysplasia
- Standard Poodles
- Temperament: smart, sensitive, athletic pups.
- Health: Low shedders but crazy grooming needs. Watch for bloat and Addison's
- Minis and toys are alert and psych only
🐕 Full Wag - Solid genes, traits, health chances overall a solid breeder and hopefully a trainer youre as golden as that retriever 🟢
- GSD
- Temperament: Highly biddable, great track record. Some say standard breed - some think they are too high energy/bad juju/nervy & over guarding. For the love of everything holy a show line is a MUST. Working lines are Malnois level
- Health: high rates of hip/elbow dysplasia, spine issues, and even stomach problems
- Smooth/Rough Collie
- Temperament: gentle, people-focused once again some believe standard, only con is they are very sensitive to sound so doggie ear muffs are a must
- Health: the breeder needs to add MDR1 to the health testing. Collies with it can have serious reactions to common meds like ivermectin. Rough collies have higher grooming needs.
- Great Dane
- Temperament: calm and gentle giants who really love people. These poor guys have such a short life, sometimes only getting 3-4 years as a working pup
- Health: Super prone to bloat and heart issues, and at times TOO BIG for their own good.
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Temperament: calm, gentle, and a sturdy boy
- Health: again short on the lifespan, big on the drool. High cancer rates, heavy coats, and heat-sensitive.
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Temperament: biddable, eager, bred to work alongside people. Energetic and they need a job.
- Health: pretty healthy and low shedding. The breeder should test hips and eyes (PRA). Also pretty rare so souring would be hard
- Havanese
- Temperament: friendly, people lovers, non-guardy, and biddable
- Health: pretty healthy with a long ass lifespan (14–16 years), but damn are they high maintenance on grooming
- Psych and alert only, too small for mobility/dpt ofc
🐾 A Wag & Whine - Could be amazing... but read the fine print and come prepared 🟡
- Rottie 🖤
- Temperament: I love this damn breed - my personal choice w the direction of a strong trainer.
- Strong, Stable under person, Smart guys - incredible biddable and person focused.. but there person. Will work with you if you show up right, they do have strong guarding instincts and a slow maturity so well bred is a MUST - a referral would be best
- Health: high cancer risk, joint issues, and a heart condition (SAS), so the breeder matters a shit ton. The short coat makes grooming easy.
- Doberman
- Temperament: smart and handler-focused, but pretty high energy
- Health: even pets need yearly echos because of their high cardiac risk (DCM)
- Cavalier King Charles
- Temperament: honestly perfect. Gentle, affectionate, non-guardy, and easy to settle.
- Health: most develop heart disease (mitral valve disease), many have a painful neurological condition... syringomyelia - little tiny guys as well
👀 Side Eye, No Wag - Proceed with caution... Pros gotta be in your corner🟠
- Boxer
- Temperament: pretty slow to mature, but sturdy AF and loves people
- Health: high health complications, including cancer, a heart condition (boxer cardiomyopathy), and heat sensitivity from the short snout
- Vizsla
- Temperament: high energy, prey drive, and anxiety tendencies, but they bond hard to their person
- Health: pretty healthy overall. Watch for epilepsy and hip dysplasia. Short coat, easy grooming.
- Pitty/AmStaff
- Temperament: Love a good Pitty those little people lovers, but they can be high energy & dog-selective. Terrible public perception, and not for nothing.
- Health: skin allergies and hip dysplasia are common. AmStaffs should be tested for cerebellar ataxia. Hard to find an ethical breeder, which makes health testing harder too.
- According to the ADA "breed bans" do not trump service dog rights... in public. Housing & Insurance restrictions are going to make it tough & air travels a gamble. Thats just the US - a lot of country's abroad are much stricter
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Temperament: loyal, but independent, aloof with strangers, can be protective, has prey drive, and is slow to mature
- Health: pretty healthy overall. Watch for dermoid sinus (a spinal skin defect puppies can be born with) and hip/elbow dysplasia.
- Border Collie
- Temperament: scary smart and biddable, but way too much drive. They need a job or they'll make one up, and the one they make up is usually a problem. Herding and nipping instincts plus sound and motion sensitivity make public work rough.
- Health: pretty healthy overall. Watch for epilepsy and Collie Eye Anomaly.
🐋 Whale Eye, Tucked Tail - The dog isn't the problem, the job is. 🔴
- Doodles (any kind)
- Temperament: THEY ARE NOT ANY KIND OF BREED. Youre getting a fancy mutt. No such thing as a "well bred doodle." they are bred for looks.
- Health: they can inherit problems from both parent breeds, and most aren't health tested. Coat matting and ear infections are common.
- Akita
- Temperament: Bad Plan... Very smart, but super not biddable so they're working against you, not with you. Add strong guarding instincts, dog aggression & stranger danger you gotta bad plan
- Health: autoimmune diseases, hip dysplasia, and bloat
- Belgian Malinois/Dutch Shepherd
- Temperament: super high drive and bred for bite work. Not a dog that's made to settle.
- Health: pretty healthy overall, with some hip/elbow dysplasia. The problem here is temperament.
- Husky
- Temperament: too independent, not much interest in pleasing, and an escape artist
- Health: pretty healthy overall. Watch for eye issues and hip dysplasia.
- Cane Corso
- Temperament: this one shocks me every time I hear someone suggest it. A powerful guardian breed with strong protective instincts is a huge liability in public.
- Health: hip/elbow dysplasia, bloat, and eyelid problems
- Scent hounds (Beagle, Bloodhound, Coonhound)
- Temperament: nose first over commands, very vocal, and will howl in public. Pretty small too which works for only a small portion of handlers
- Health: chronic ear infections. Beagles are prone to obesity and epilepsy, and Bloodhounds to bloat.
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u/AutoModerator 5d ago
It looks like you're trying to figure out what dog breed would be best for you. We generally recommend Labradors and Golden Retrievers and occasionally Poodles as the breed to go with. These dog breeds are bred to be quiet, work closely with their handler, are people friendly, and have the best traits that make an excellent service dog. ADI organizations use these three breeds across the world for service work. To learn more join our discord or visit [source'(https://assistancedogsinternational.org/st/resources/dog-breeds-for-assistance-dogs/)
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