7 Service Dog Breeds That Are Born to Help and Protect

When we say that dogs are humans’ best friends, it is not just about cuddling and having fun with our furry friends. Dogs can be trained to assist humans with disabilities in their daily tasks or keep company with people needing psychiatric support. To be able to perform these tasks, these ‘service dogs’ are provided special training. All dogs serve their humans in some way or the other, but service dogs are required to possess specific traits to ace their work. That is why, some dog breeds perform better as service dogs. So, which are good service dog breeds? Let us find out.

Keep reading to learn about service dogs and the 7 best service dog breeds that help people with disabilities lead a better life.

What is a service dog?

A service dog is a specially trained canine that assists people with different types of disabilities. These dogs are provided special training to guide visually impaired people, alert deaf persons to sounds, pull a wheelchair or retrieve items for mobility-impaired people, alert people for medical episodes, like blood sugar spikes or seizures, provide emotional support to people in need, etc.

Any dog can be trained to be a service dog. However, some breeds stand out in this job due to their physique, intelligence and easy trainability, friendly temperament and protective nature.

7 Best service dog breeds

Here are the seven dog breeds that are most compatible to be trained as service dogs:

1. Labrador Retriever

Labs make exceptional service dogs due to their intelligence, easy-going and eager-to-please nature and sturdy structure. These dogs are attentive and have a strong work ethic which makes them easy to train. Labradors are famous for being good guide dogs for the visually impaired. Their strong physique helps them keep up with their handlers throughout the day. Labs are also known to have ‘soft mouths’, meaning they are gentle while retrieving items. This also makes them a great companion for mobility-impaired persons.

2. Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are equally friendly and easy to train as their Labrador cousins. These dogs are good at guiding visually impaired people and helping individuals with mobility issues. They are naturally calm and excel at assisting individuals recover from PTSD. Golden Retrievers are preferred for providing emotional support to mentally ill patients in hospitals and nursing homes.

3. German Shepherd

German Shepherds are intelligent, fearless, loyal, and form strong bonds with their human companions. They have a large stature, which helps them assist people with physical disabilities. GSDs also help provide navigation assistance to visually impaired individuals. Their protective nature and keen senses make them a first choice for providing comfort and support in handling PTSD. German Shepherds can also quickly notice the change in their handlers’ moods and detect anxiety.

GSDs can be trained easily for a wide variety of tasks. They are exceptional police dogs and ideal for tracking suspects or detecting explosives.

4. Bernese Mountain Dog

These gentle giants are a combination of large physique and friendly demeanour. They can pull a wheelchair and are strong enough to carry mobility-impaired people out of tough situations and can pull a wheelchair. The breed is intelligent and can be trained for fetching items. Their calm nature and love for their humans make Bernese Mountain dogs a good choice for providing emotional support to people.

5. Poodle

Poodles are intelligent, cheerful and easy to train. Standard Poodles are large and can provide support and stability to people with physical disabilities. Toy and Miniature Poodles can assist in physically less demanding tasks. Poodles have a hypoallergenic coat, making them a suitable option for people prone to allergic reactions. They are known for their life-saving talent as they can detect allergens to save people suffering from deadly allergies. Due to their alert nature, Poodles can also detect changes in their handlers’ condition quickly and can provide them with timely assistance. Additionally, Poodles are very effective seizure-alert dogs.

6. Pomeranian

Pomeranians are intelligent and alert. They are known for alerting their humans to symptoms and complications associated with diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and asthma. They are good at assisting people with hearing and mental disabilities. The compact size of Pomeranians also makes them easier to take to places where their larger canine counterparts cannot travel.

7. Border Collie

Border Collies are agile and intelligent. They have a sharp mind and can learn quickly. These dogs can be trained to sense seizures and can work as excellent epileptic service dogs. Their calm and cheerful personality makes them a suitable choice for providing comfort to people with conditions like anxiety, PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.

Before we part

Dogs are the best companions for humans. When trained to provide specific support, dogs can help assist people with disabilities. While all dogs can be trained to assist humans, certain dog breeds are more suitable for the task due to their sociable and friendly temperament, physique, and intelligence. The information provided in this blog gives you an idea about the dog breeds that can work as excellent service dogs and make a difference in their human companions’ lives.