Hi! I would need to know more about what kind of work/tasks and lifestyle this future dog would be expected to live with before I could give a hardy answer.
BUT going off of what you said (Large, Low-mid energy, Psych service) and adding in some baselines (good for first time trainers, good for no-yard living, not overly sensitive, willingness to work/learn, loyal to a person, no guard instinct, relative easy of obtaining) I think I can help you out.
1) Service bred Labrador or Golden - Note here that I said service-bred. These are hardy, emotionally balanced, and literally bred for this work. A more balanced energy need puts most of them at a mid-energy range but some can be low-energy by the time they hit mid-adulthood. This is the kind of dog I am working with, though he is a 4 month old puppy so his energy level is not representative of the adult baseline but for a lab of his size it is miraculously manageable. These dogs are great, but expensive since you will likely need to go through a service company. A lot to think about. If you want to talk to someone who has an adult retired program Lab SD Iād suggest @chronicallykail .
2) Companion bred Labrador or Golden- More of a mixed bag. You really have to talk to the breeder (or foster, etcā¦) to know what you are getting and should be sure that each puppy has been temperament tested or be able to learn how do do this yourself. I would talk toĀ @humblehouston about this option (think he was not service bred?).
3) Goldendoodles and Labradoodles - A lot of the same deal as companion Labradors, but with the added bonus of being largely āhypoallergenicā compared to 99% of other dogs. Sunny personalities, willing to please, and not as hard to obtain as some breeds UNLESS you go for a company-bred dog. Then the wait list is pretty long. I would talk to @servicedoodle about labradoodles in specific.
4) Standard Poodle - Very smart. Like, crazy smart. But, according to my company, theĀ āwash rateā of purebred poodles is higher than doodles because they can have less steady personalities. They have a higher chance of being antsy or nervous than other dogs of gundog origins, but when you find the right one they are very attentive and fast learners. Iād talk to @thepoodlepack āsince I am not that knowledgeable in their energy levels.
5) Greyhounds and Whippets - Similar enough to be in the same bullet. The most trainable of easily obtained sighthounds, these are not common service dogs but a select few have great serviceable personalities. Greyhounds, when let run in a fenced in yard, are surprisingly low energy and can even adapt to apartment life. Whippets are a bit more suited to new dog owners because of their slightly smaller size but they are less likely to adapt to a small apartment. I would talk to @cosmiccritters about their cutie of a longhair whippet.
1) ANY HERDING BREED -Ā Despite being very serviceable if you can not exercise a dog daily then steer clear of a herding breed. Youāll thank me later.
2) Scenthounds -Ā There is a reason there are few scenthound service dogs that utilize public access. They are hard to focus and tend to be very very hard to get one with the right personality for the job.
3) Nordic breeds - Similar to the herding breeds. If it looks like it would be at home in the snow it will likely need too much run time.
discoholicmusic
dededos
ellievsbear
kaledo-art
vaporwave
andulkaphoto
