What Breeds Do We Use As Service Dogs?

At W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, we exclusively work with what we refer to as "soft expressioned" dogs. These dogs have muzzles that are more rounded rather than pointed, and ears that are rounded and floppy. Fluffier dogs with soft expressions are often considered more approachable and less intimidating. When our children take their service dog with them to school or out into public, the soft expressions of our dogs makes it easier for weary classmates and other individuals in public who may be timid of dogs to be comfortable in the dog's presence.

In addition to having soft expressions, the breeds that we work with have to be loyal, smart, and eager-to-please. The breeds that we we work with include:

• Golden Retrievers
• Labrador Retrievers
• Poodle Mixes
• Standard Poodles

The American Kennel Club (AKC) describes Golden Retrievers as "friendly," "intelligent," and "devoted." Golden Retrievers are incredibly popular in the United States and are considered the third most popular dog breed in the nation, falling just behind the German Shepard (ranked #2) and the Labrador Retriever (ranked #1).

These dogs are very versatile and can excel in many different jobs and master a number of tasks. Physically, Golden Retrievers can meet the needs of our children who need a mobility service dog. They are large enough to provide someone with physical support, and strong enough to pick up and carry certain objects to their handler.

Golden Retrievers often get along with the whole family, making them ideal dogs for W.A.G.S. 4 Kids families. With Golden Retrievers, we rarely have to worry about the dogs not getting along with their child partner's siblings, be them younger or older.

This breed is inherently loyal, sensitive, and trustworthy, making them wonderful partners for children who have special needs.

Labrador Retrievers have consistently been among the most popular breeds for Americans. They are outgoing, friendly dogs that thrive when given the chance to be active. Working as a service dog stimulates labs both physically and mentally, satisfying their need for activity and their eager-to-please nature.

Like Golden Retrievers, labs are strong and sturdy enough to help support the needs of our children who are seeking a mobility service dog. And, as their name suggests, they are adept at retrieving objects. This trait can be highly beneficial for children that have mobility disabilities by offering them more independence.

Labrador Retrievers are sociable and kind dogs that can show a fierce loyalty to their family members. This loyalty and friendliness are great qualities for service dogs. At W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, we love working with labs because of how willing they are to serve their handler, and because of the amazing relationships they are always able to form with their child partner.

While Poodles aren't in the top three most popular breeds of dog in the United States, they do come in at a respectable seventh place, and they are one of our favorite dogs to work with at W.A.G.S.. Poodles come in three sizes: standard, miniature, and toy. We work with standard and miniature Poodles, the largest and second largest of the three sizes.

Poodles are highly intelligent, making them a preferred breed to train and teach tasks to. The AKC describes poodles as "active," "proud," and "very smart." Despite the stereotype that Poodles are "prissy" or "prudish," this just isn't true of the breed.

Poodles have a non-shedding coat, meaning that they don't shed hair and will create less pet dander than other dogs. This is highly beneficial for families and children that we serve who may be allergic to pet dander. While Poodles aren't completely allergen-free, they are often far more tolerable for those who are allergic to pets.

Poodles are very loyal and obedient. These traits, combined with their intelligence and ability to learn quickly, make the Poodle an ideal autism spectrum or mobility service dog.

There are over 40 variations of Poodle mixes (referred to as Doodles), but at W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, we most often train Labradoodles and Bernedoodles to become service dogs. The Labradoodle is a mix between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle, which often results in the dog containing traits of both breeds.

The Labradoodle comes in a variety of colors and sizes, and are often energetic and intelligent. Labradoodles enjoy having a purpose, which makes them very suited for service work.

Labradoodles are often smaller than Standard Poodles, making them well suited for some of our younger children. They can also inherit the trait of shedding less often from their Poodle parent. They are companion dogs, and love being with people, which is ideal for a service dog - we want the dog to love their child partner as much as the child loves them!

Bernedoodles are a mix between a Poodle and a Bernese Mountain Dog. They are known for being gentle, smart, affectionate, and very friendly.

Bernese Mountain Dogs are known for their kind temperament and are known to be good with other dogs and children. Bernedoodles tend to be social dogs who love to spend time with their humans, and they are incredibly loyal to their service partner.

Because Bernedoodles are taller dogs that tend to stand at 23-29 inches at the shoulder, we tend to place our Bernedoodle service dogs with our children who fall into the young teen to teenager age range.

While we work with Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Poodles, and Poodle Mixes for their breed traits, every dog that goes through our program has their own personalities and strengths. We take special care to accurately assess our dogs and their personal attributes before they are placed with their child. We want to make sure that the dog and the child are well suited for one another - that their personalities compliment each other.

For example, some children might be more active and require a dog that can keep up with their specific high activity levels. Other children might require a dog that is "low and slow." A few months before placement, our trainers touch place with the child and their family, and then evaluate which of our service dogs in training will best meet that child's need, be it a Golden Retriever, Poodle, Labradoodle, or Labrador Retriever.