Picking a Breed
[edited out because of length]
Hi! I’m looking at owner-training myself because of the lack of programs for my disability.
I know you’re maybe-decided right now so I wanted to give my input because you’ll probably flip flop sometimes.
-Consider health. Collies are pretty notorious for having eye problems, and poodles do have hereditary issues with their eyes. While you could theoretically have a blind service dog, it will make some tasks impossible. I would make sure to talk to the breeder about the health of their animals overall but specifically that and epilepsy. A dog can’t take care of you if it’s having a grand mal.
-Grooming may want to be adjusted. I’ve spoken to quite a few SD handlers with poodles who have been closely trimmed, and they only trim the coat once every 6-8 weeks. If you don’t mind brushing a longer coat, I’m sure you could do just fine letting it grow out more before a trim. With a collie (as with all double coated breeds), you’ll have to increase the amount of grooming you do when they blow coat so they’re not leaving puffs of fur in businesses. -Life span. Scotch collies have the (mild) advantage here at between 12-14 years, while poodles average 11-13. Of course, poodles being a rather popular breed has affected this, and going through reputable breeders will increase the chances of a longer lifespan. it’s something to consider when you’ll be spending roughly the first 2 years training and tossing more than a few thousand dollars their way.
These are all fantastic points Pre-url! Thank you! These are tremendously important, and definitely something I considered heavily while making my choice (and completely forgot to take note of).
- Luckily the health factor (while always a wildcard with any living, breathing thing) can be minimised by finding the right breeder; thus the desperate hunt for health tests, reviews from other owners, etc. No matter what breed you’re looking at, it always pays off to find someone who breeds for soundness, because particularly with mobility service dogs, these babies are gonna need hips of steel.
- Grooming is another great point. They can always be shaved, and if one learns how to do it oneself, that’s a lot off the bill. After all, it’s a service dog, not a show dog. You don’t need a perfect continental. As for the collies, I’m very familiar with the double coated blow out; it’s a pain, but I just wind up brushing Bryn every day rather than every 3-7. All the same, blowing a coat SUCKS.
- Another good point! However, chances are your dog is probably going to retire between the ages of 8 and 10 anyway, from what I’ve heard, so lifespan doesn’t make too much of a difference in my book, especially with their expected lifespans so close. This would make a bigger difference when considering something like a Great Dane as a service dog, as I know some people do, but the down side to them is that their lifespan is 7-8 years or something ridiculous like that, with health problems in between, so you’d only be getting a few years out of your fully trained service dog.
