If you’ve started your own search for a dog, service-related or otherwise, you know that this is easier said than done. Briards are adorable -- but labs are more traditional. What about German Shepherds? I’ve ALWAYS wanted a German Shepherd! But, of course, like any wise owner, you start doing research, and ruling things out. Which is both heartbreaking and rewarding. It’s an emotional roller coaster.
Before I settled on a game plan, I did some research. And some common-sense-ing.
Common-sense-ing number one: my current dog, Bryn, would be no use to me as a service dog. She’s a sweet heart, highly intelligent, and sooper dooper fluffy, but she’d make a horrible service animal. She’s got absolutely the wrong personality for it. She’s a border collie mix (heavy emphasis on the border collie; so much so that we’ve never been able to figure out what any other possible influences are) and it shows: she’s got the obsessiveness, the high energy, and the impatience. Plus an abusive past which means that, though we’ve done endless amounts of training together from the day I got her (and she’s unrecognisable as the quivering little fluff-ball she used to be), she’ll always be shy or standoffish with strangers and wary around some larger dogs. Plus she’s waaay too small. She’s my baby and I love her, but she’s not a practical option, and thinking she is would be a waste of her sanity and mine. Which brings us to the first thing I learned while researching, something that you’ve probably heard over and over and over again, if you’ve done any research yourself: be realistic with your choices. Look for a dog that’s suited to the task, because if you try to force a square dog into a triangular job, it’s gonna end in tears. Some dogs are just not meant for service work. Like Bryn. Who’s far more suited to lounging on the couch and grudgingly accepting my cuddles.
Common-sense-ing number two: there are reasons that some breeds are favoured over others for service work. The professionals have tested and perfected their methods, and we don’t have to use them exactly, in my opinion, why not learn from them? Why should I make a difficult job even more difficult? ESPECIALLY as a first-time owner trainer. When I’ve done this once, and I’m confident in my skills, that’s a whole ‘nother story. But right now? I’m looking for every possible way to help this dog succeed. The breeds used by organisations have traits that work well for service: intelligence, willingness, charisma and trainability among others. So I immediately ruled out breeds like dalmatians (even though they’re SO CUTE AND SPOTTY) and airedales (my heart broke a little bit. It’s still mending). I started looking at breeds with the above traits, as well the more commonly used service breeds: Golden Retriever? Nah. Gorgeous, but not for me. Lab? Too much shedding. Plus, there’s no way I could resist those gigantic pleading eyes under the dinner table. German Shepherd? Possibly. Probably not.
I scoured service dog forums, looking for opinions on breeds. This didn’t take long: there are all of two SD forums. Both of which are practically dead. I searched regular dog forums and had a bit more luck. I read article upon article, and they wound up saying basically the same thing: it’s all personal preference. Prospects will be easier to find in more commonly used breeds like labs and goldens, because there are people breeding them specifically for service. But there’s no reason you can’t work with a breeder to find the Italian Greyhound that suits your needs perfectly!
Which all sounds great, but when your me, hunting down obscure resources for THE PERFECT DOG, all you do is angry growl and shake your fist at the monitor. I was looking for a more definitive and concrete answer, and I wasn’t getting one. My problem is I’m absolutely terrified of doing things wrong; I’ll ask for reassurance a thousand times, I’ll never play Pokémon without a walkthrough (despite the fact I’ve been playing it since I was in lower school), and if I wind up off the beaten track, I start to panic. I like clear cut answers, people telling me exactly what to do and how to do it so I have absolutely NO chance of getting in trouble, because if I do, I freak out and it ruins my whole day. It took me ages to accept the fact that the answer to the “which breed” question wasn’t clear cut. When I finally did though, it made my life a whole lot easier.
I finally narrowed it down to two breeds: a scotch collie or a standard poodle. I love collies, have always wanted one, and from the books and articles I’ve read on them, they’re generally low-key dogs, which I love. The standard poodle though? They’re pretty high energy dogs, (despite what the AKC breed standard says) not generally suited to flat life (which would mean I’d have to lease a house with a garden), and have astronomical grooming bills.
It took me forever to decide, and at the end of the day, it lead to...
Common-sense-ing number three: which would better fit my lifestyle? This is a MASSIVE consideration; don’t let a breed’s looks ensnare you! For example, I REALLY want a Malinois. But there’s no way I could give one the appropriate amount of exercise required to keep a Mal puppy from turning my couch into the Elephant Graveyard from the Lion King. My cousin however (who’s also owner-training his service dog) is an ex-marine and runs ten bajillion miles a every morning, so he’d be perfect for a Mal. Me? Not gonna happen. Collies on the other hand, are mellow indoors, and while they do need adequate exercise, they’re probably not gonna eat my door frame if I don’t take them for a 90 minute walk one rainy day (looking at you Bryn). Meanwhile, I’ve heard some standard poodle breeders won’t even consider you as a home for their pups if you don’t have a garden. Next consideration: grooming. Did I mind brushing and scraping and trimming and snipping? The poodle needs to be brushed almost daily to keep from matting, and because of their constantly growing hair, they’re one of the most expensive dogs to take to the groomer (which should be done at least once a month apparently). Collies need a good hour of brushing once every two weeks. Smooth collies even less. The list of comparisons was long.
At the end of the day, the collie makes more financial sense. But there were a number of other factors for me: did I mind the grooming? Not really. I brush Bryn at least once a week. I give her a full bath and trim her legs, toes, pads, tail, and golf pants (because border collies don’t have fur on their hind legs; they have hairy trousers). I cut her nails, and we both weep for an hour. So I figure I’m happy to devote the time to shaving a poodle’s face and paws every two weeks, and touching up it’s clip once a month. Thus Grooming is no longer a factor, as the dog will likely be groomed professionally every three months, (maybe) and I’ll do it the rest of the time. Same with the collie. Then there’s the fact that I’ve only met two or three collies in my life. They’re beautiful, sweet dogs, but I have loads more experience with poodles.
Coming to a conclusion was not easy; I STILL second guess myself, and occasionally look up breeders for both just in case I change my mind. But I made my decision, and I’m sticking to it. I’m getting a poodle.
A few things I left out...
Because this was written at two in the morning, I definitely forgot some very important factors, which @pre-url was nice enough to point out! Other important things to consider when choosing a service breed:
Breed Health. This is a very important factor. No matter what breed you’re considering, KNOW their health problems! Know them well enough to be able to distinguish a good breeder from a bad one, and to be able to ask a breeder about them in future. Collies are prone to eye problems (so much so, that it’s called Collie Eye Anomaly or CEA) and Multi Drug Sensitivity. Whereas standard poodles are more prone to thyroid diseases and Addison’s. All big dog breeds are prone to hip dysplasia and bloat. So do your homework! Know the illnesses, know the breeders, and help yourself in future by finding a puppy from a reputable breeder. It may cost more up front, but the idea is your saving money you’d be dishing out for future illnesses, and the grief of loosing a puppy to illness three weeks after you’ve brought him home.
Longevity. Remember, it takes a good 2 years to train a service dog, from the day you bring home the puppy to the day he’s ready to work full time! It also costs money, which nobody likes to think about, but them’s the facts. Having a dog with a longer life means more years of service. A Great Dane service dog may seem like a great idea, but the breed is prone to ill health, and their lifespans average 7-8 years, if I’m remembering correctly. A poodle’s averages 12-15 years, a collie 14-16 years. These are probably the kind of dogs that will benefit you the most in the long term.
GOSH he looks the part! Something we have to worry about as service dog handlers is accessibility. No matter who you are or where you’re from, you’re gonna get shite for bringing a dog into a restaurant at some point. A more typical-looking service dog will be less likely to be questioned, mostly because people are stupid and that’s what they expect. This may not be something that matters to you, but it’s good to take note of!
