10 of the Most Popular Service Dog Breeds

A service dog is a specially trained dog that assists people with disabilities. They can be trained to do tasks such as guide a visually impaired person, alert a deaf person to sounds, pull a wheelchair, retrieve items, alert to medical episodes like seizures or low blood sugar, and provide emotional support.

While any breed can be trained to be a service dog, there are some breeds that excel. This is because they are intelligent, easier to train, more disciplined and sociable.

The most common service dog breeds are:

1. Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers are exceptional service dogs due to their intelligence, trainability and friendly demeanour. Their calm temperament makes them ideal for diverse environments, while their strong work ethic ensures task reliability.

Labs are well known for being guide dogs for the visually impaired, but also excel as mobility assistance dogs for those with physical disabilities and medical alert dogs for detecting changes in blood sugar.

2. Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are beloved for their gentle nature and eagerness to please, making them excellent service dogs. Their friendly disposition and intelligence make them well-suited for various tasks.

They excel as guide dogs for the visually impaired and mobility assistance dogs for individuals with physical disabilities. Additionally, Golden Retrievers are effective as therapy dogs, offering emotional support and companionship in hospitals, nursing homes and schools.

3. Poodle

Standard Poodles are renowned for their intelligence and trainability, making them excellent candidates for service dog work. They also have hypoallergenic coats and are suitable for those with dog allergies.

Poodles excel as mobility assistance dogs, providing support and stability to individuals with physical disabilities. Additionally, their alert nature and strong bond with their handlers make them effective seizure alert dogs, detecting changes in their handler’s condition and providing timely assistance.

4. Border Collie

Border Collies are renowned for their intelligence, agility and strong work ethic, making them exceptional service dogs. Their sharp minds and quick learning abilities enable them to excel in various tasks.

Border Collies are often trained as emotional support dogs, providing comfort to individuals with mental health conditions such as anxiety or PTSD. Additionally, their herding instincts and focus make them effective seizure alert dogs, detecting changes in their handler’s behaviour and providing assistance as needed.

5. German Shephard

German Shepherds can be trained as service dogs due to their intelligence and ability to form a strong bond with their handler.

They excel as guide dogs, providing navigation assistance to the visually impaired and mobility assistance to individuals with physical disabilities. Additionally, their protective nature and keen senses make them effective service dogs for PTSD, offering comfort and support.

German Shepherds are also commonly trained as police dogs and military dogs, helping in tracking suspects, detecting explosives and providing protection to their handlers.

6. Bernese Mountain Dog

Bernese Mountain Dogs are cherished for their gentle demeanour and robust build, rendering them ideal service dogs and wonderful companions.

Excelling as mobility assistance dogs, they provide stability and aid to individuals with physical disabilities. Their calm temperament and unwavering devotion make them perfect for offering emotional support too.

7. Great Dane

Great Danes are well-suited for service dog work due to their gentle nature, large size and loyalty. Their calm demeanour and strong bond with handlers make them excellent companions.

Great Danes excel as mobility assistance dogs. Their large size allows them to provide stability and aid to individuals with physical disabilities. Additionally, their gentle disposition and sweet personality make them effective emotional support animals.

8. Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniels are prized for their friendly disposition, intelligence and adaptability, making them excellent service dogs.

Cocker Spaniels excel as therapy dogs, offering comfort and reassurance in hospitals and nursing homes. Their small size makes them less intimidating to people who aren’t used to interacting with dogs and makes them easier to transport to their therapy dog appointments.

Additionally, their keen senses and gentle demeanour make them effective hearing dogs, alerting deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals to important sounds.

9. Greyhound

Greyhounds, despite their reputation as racing dogs, possess qualities that make them excellent service dogs. Their calm demeanour and gentle nature means they are well suited to provide emotional support and friendship.

Greyhounds are often trained as therapy dogs, offering comfort to people who are sick or isolated. They make wonderful companions for the elderly or people suffering from PTSD.

10. Beagle

Beagles, known for their friendly disposition and keen sense of smell, make excellent service dogs. Their sociable nature and intelligence enable them to provide emotional support and companionship to individuals in need.

Commonly trained tasks include alerting to changes in blood sugar levels for diabetic individuals and providing mobility assistance by retrieving items.

Additionally, their exceptional olfactory abilities mean they can be trained to work as sniffer dogs. You will often see Beagles working at the airport for law enforcement officers, aiding in detecting narcotics, explosives or contraband.