Top Service Dog Breeds: Your Ultimate List
Service dogs are highly trained animals that perform tasks related to an individual’s disability. These assistance animals uphold various duties, from fetching medication and retrieving objects to providing deep pressure therapy.
A service dog can be of any breed, but some breeds are more appropriate for the title. For example, a Chihuahua may not be able to assist someone with a physical disability as effectively as a bulky Bernese mountain dog.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the top 10 service dog breeds, covering a wide range of breeds suitable for different types of service animal work. Read on to learn the best service dog breeds renowned among professional dog trainers for their trainability and reliability in assisting individuals with a disability.
Service Dog vs. Emotional Support Animal
Before listing the most popular service dog breeds, let’s break down the differences between service dogs and emotional support animals (ESAs). In a nutshell, Service dogs are trained in a particular task to help a person with a disability. As for emotional support animals, they are not trained to actively assist people suffering from psychological issues; they are just there, offering their company.
As a result of the varied manner in which they assist their handler, the Americans With Disabilities Act only allows service animals access to public facilities. This means that while a service dog can enter public spaces like restaurants and government buildings, an ESA dog must abide by the pet policy of the establishment.
Top 10 Service Dog Breeds
With the must-know differences between service dogs and ESAs out of the way, here are the top 10 service dog breeds. We will give a short summary of each of the service dog breeds and present the functions that they perform as service animals.
1) Labrador Retriever
Labs are highly trainable dogs with a strong work ethic and calm temperament. These qualities alone make the Labrador retriever an excellent service dog breed. The size and strength of the breed also make the Lab suitable for various types of service animal work, from guiding the visually impaired to autism assistance.
2) Golden Retriever
Their friendly disposition makes golden retrievers one of the highly sought-after breeds that are effectively used as service dogs. They are affectionate, highly intelligent, and active dogs that can work tirelessly alongside their handler. Like Labs, they can also be utilized for a wide range of service animal work.
3) Poodle
One of the characteristics that make poodles suitable as the best service dogs for those who suffer from allergies is their coat which is said to be hypoallergenic. Arguably the smartest dog breed, poodles can learn and execute all kinds of service animal tasks flawlessly. Coupled with their sizes that range from toy to standard, it is no wonder they are among the top service dogs.
4) German Shepherd
The German shepherd is most commonly associated with law enforcement agencies, but these dogs can be just as outstanding service animals. German shepherds are alert, courageous, and incredibly intelligent dogs that can assist individuals with disabilities in many ways, from guide work to allergy detection.
5) Great Dane
The ultimate gentle giant, the Great Dane, also has a place in the top service dog breeds. They are commonly utilized as mobility assistance dogs that provide stability and confidence to handlers with a physical disability. Also a fairly low-maintenance breed, the Great Dane makes a great service dog, particularly for the elderly.
6) Bernese Mountain Dog
The robust frame of the Bernese mountain dog, with their affectionate nature and high trainability, make the breed one of the best service dog breeds. These dogs can take on any service animal work that requires strength easily, such as pulling wheelchairs and providing momentum while walking.
7) Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Not all service dogs are bulky and strong – and don’t need to be. A prime instance of this type of breed is the cavalier king Charles spaniel. This breed is commonly utilized as a psychiatric service dog, where they interrupt harmful behaviors and provide deep pressure therapy to ease panic attacks.
8) Border Collie
Border collies aren’t only destined for herding livestock. The intelligence and physical capabilities of border collies, in addition to their never-ending desire to please, make these dogs a top service dog breed. Like many others on our list, border collies can be successfully trained for all kinds of service animal work.
9) Havanese
The smallest service dog breed on our list, the Havanese, is an excellent psychiatric service dog breed for those looking for a tiny assistance animal. Due to their small size, they can’t help someone with a physical disability as well as others, but the Havanese can be an excellent service dog for people with mental disabilities.
10) Miniature Schnauzer
The miniature schnauzer is an excellent breed for those looking for a small service dog other than the toy poodle or Havanese. They stand as tall as 14 inches at the shoulder and can learn any service animal work suitable for their size.
The Best Service Dog Breed for You
Determining the best service dog breed for your needs requires understanding the capabilities of different breeds. After all, not all dog breeds are suitable for every service animal work. You can’t expect a miniature schnauzer to pull a wheelchair, for example.
Once you know that the breed you’re looking for suits the tasks you need them to perform, such as alerting when someone rings the bell or retrieving objects from the ground, you can then consider your preferences to determine the best service dog breed for you.
If you’re unsure about what breed to pick, consulting a certified professional dog trainer should also be an option in deciding the most suitable breed.