Service dogs are valuable companions to many, and there are a few different breeds of dogs that most of us are used to encountering as they perform service dog work. Golden retrievers, poodles, German shepherds, and labradors are among the most common types of service dogs due to their size, strength, temperament, and skill at learning even complex service dog tasks. However, other breeds of dogs are equally as well-suited to all kinds of service dog tasks, even if you don’t see them in this role often.
Our article tells you more about service dogs, what they do, and some uncommon service dog breeds you can keep an eye out for.
What Is a Service Dog?
A service dog is a dog that is trained to help with a person’s disability, whether this be a physical disability, a medical disability, or a psychiatric disability. Depending on their owner’s needs, a service dog may be trained to guide their handler, open and close doors, retrieve medications, check rooms or around corners, or alert their handler to the onset of blood sugar changes or seizures.
Every service dog is different, and every individual with disabilities may have varying needs, which leads to extensive training periods and time spent ensuring that service dogs are a perfect fit for the homes they are placed in.
Can Only Certain Breeds Be Service Dogs?
While we may see some breeds being used much more commonly for service dog work, it is not true that only certain breeds can be service dogs. Some breeds are naturally inclined to service dog work, which is something that makes them incredibly popular, but plenty of other dog breeds and mixed dogs may have the potential for learning service dog tasks and supporting their owners.
As long as your potential service dog has the right temperament for service dog work, meaning they are intelligent, eager to learn, and happy working alongside their owner, in addition to having the right size and strength for their given tasks, they can make a great service animal companion.
The following dog breeds might not be as commonly seen working alongside their owners as service dogs, but they are just as helpful and skilled at assisting their owners.
- Mixed breeds – as long as a mixed breed has the right temperament, they can be trained to help with whatever service dog task you need.
- Pomeranians – they may be small, but this dog is well-suited to medical alert service dog training.
- Corgis – these dogs are happy to work alongside their owner and can complete many different service dog tasks.
- Samoyeds – this large dog is perfect for guiding tasks and supporting those with mobility impairments.
- Border collies – these dogs are intelligent and love to help their owners, making them suited to many different service dog activities.
- Cocker spaniels – this dog is known for its sweet disposition, and they excel at being both medical alert or psychiatric service dogs.
Even when a dog is smaller, they still possess the ability to act as a medical alert dog or as a psychiatric service dog in some cases. The type of dog you adopt to be your service dog depends on your needs and the tasks you require assistance with, making it important to have these in mind as you work to adopt a service dog.
What Rights Does My Service Dog Have?
Service dogs have federally protected public access rights for the majority of places you might need to enter, including restaurants, businesses, and public or private areas. The main exception to your public access rights is religious spaces, where you might need to gain explicit permission for your dog to enter.
Keep in mind that you don’t need to identify your service dog beyond asking questions about whether or not they are a service dog and the tasks they have been trained to perform. However, many people choose to identify their service dog with a marked vest or leash to easily inform the public of their dog’s working status.
What If My Dog Isn’t Suited for Service Dog Work?
Sometimes, our dogs may provide us with companionship or comfort, but they don’t quite have the temperament to act as a service dog, or they might not have the size and strength needed to complete certain service dog tasks that are important to you. In this case, your dog might be better suited as an emotional support dog.
Emotional support animals are not trained in any specific way to help with their owner’s disability, though they can help relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and other negative moods with their presence. Your ESA will have fair housing rights that are federally protected, but they do not have the same public access rights that a service dog has.
The Right Service Dog For You
The process of adopting a service dog can be lengthy, especially if you are searching for a service dog that is trained from one of the most common breeds, such as a golden retriever or a German shepherd. Investing in an uncommon service dog breed can help you obtain the help you need much faster, and you may discover that these uncommon service dog breeds are more suited to your needs.
Speak to your medical provider about adding a service dog to your treatment plan and review our suggestions for uncommon service dog breeds as you start thinking about the type of service dog you need.
