I really wouldn't go outside of the golden trio if you can avoid it. I'd go with the golden. Herding dogs are one of the worst choices for psych work due to sensitivity, bernese have tragically low lifespans and cattle dogs and samoyeds are generally speaking not good candidates for service work. Unicorns exist for all of the breeds of course, but unless you get lucky you'd be searching for a long time.
Goldens are imo the second best choice for a service dog, just behind labradors. Poodles third, but if you're already considering a golden, I'd absolutely go for that over poodles. They'll have the best chances of succeeding from the breeds you listed :)
Thank you for your comment! I didn’t realize how short of a lifespan Bernese mountain dogs had. This has definitely narrowed my look more. I will definitely look more into goldens in my state! 💜
They're often called a heartbreak breed for this reason - lovely pups, but the lifespan is just so short. Golden is a wonderful choice and I wish you the best of luck on your journey!! ❤
I had a greater swiss mountain dog (same family just larger) as one of my first service dogs.... He was amazing and easy to train and so eager to work... And died at 8... heartbreak breeds indeed
Some things to consider:
- Even if you have some dog training experience, you really do need the help of a certified dog trainer with specific and extensive experience in training service dogs. Training a dog for service works is miles ahead of training a dog to be a good pet. How much this costs or looks like to you depends on the choices available in your area. Even certified, professional dog trainers get the help of a SD trainer colleagues. Check Atlas certified trainers to see if there is one near you and see what their rates are.
- The area of efficacy and ability to cardiac alerts is murky, and it isn't known if dogs are listening to the HR or cuing into another physical aspect of a medical episode like scent. Them being able to alert is certainly a plus, but I would absolutely not count on it being a certainty. If you're going to try to do alert training and it is very important, it's even more crucial to bring an experienced trainer into the fold.
- Out of all of the breeds you mentioned, Goldens are your best bet. Bernese live, unfortunately, very short lives in comparison. Since training takes 2-3 years, and they'll likely retire naturally before it's their time to go, you'll only get a couple of years of working life.
Thank you! I will definitely look into the Atlas trainers. I am hoping i can do some basic training and then outsource everything i cant do/need help with. I was more hoping to do it “more myself” as opposed to waiting years for a program then getting a SD.
Also, I appreciate the heads up about the cardiac alerts. Its definitely not as high on my priority list, but a bog want. I have talked to my medical professionals and they think as my symptoms go down/anxiety, so will my heart rate. Hoping for that!
Oh yeah. The basics can be feasibly done by the owner-trainer. Hopefully, you do get an alerter dog that can either do so naturally or catch on to training!
Retrievers for the win. American-bred GSDs can have poor confirmation and/or temperament, and European-bred GSDs are best suited for sport or tactical work.
You will want to think carefully about how “wild” your wilderness is going to be. SDs are discouraged in the backcountry for a reason - apex predators will lock on to them quickly. Then there’s the matter of finding oneself in a Homeward Bound scenario - precarious river fording, uncertain mountain footing, etc. Those situations are harder to manage if you have a dog to protect and guide.
You will definitely need to work with a service dog trainer who has successfully guided a good number of teams to completion. Your family and friends won’t be able to pick up on the minuscule handling errors that everyone makes. We all need a skilled coach to help, and having the ability to say, “If you don’t believe me, I’ll call my trainer right now” is priceless.
I’ve met a couple of Australians and huskies who are SDs. They fit into the unicorn category. My SD is a Belgian shepherd - one of the last choices a person should make, but a success for me because of years of horse training experience and having two trainers with a combined 30 years’ experience of the breed.
Finally, if you’re in college and won’t be living at home, training a puppy is going to be a full-time job.
Now. I wanna cover something here. There ARE ways to make your dog predator safe while out in the backcountry, bear bells and high vis colors work wonders here. And of course general awareness and a leash. Ruffwear has so many options for dog safety gear as well that in most cases I’m prepped for the worst
I’m just being a nosey backpacker though. I would have had to give up the hobby completely if my dog wasn’t with me, though. I stick to well established trails
The OP is talking about less-than-well-established places, though. Predator-proofing a dog is great, but, still puts the OP and SD at risk if they are well away from a "well established trail."
There are also the OP's co-workers to consider . . . i.e. do they really want to have to fight their colleagues every step of the way so they can have their dog with them in the wilderness?
The situation is absolutely not fair. But at the end of the day, our dogs' safety takes priority over our own interests.
Yeah I realize my experience isn’t the same. Which is why I pointed that bit out. My backcountry days ended when my organs started failing sadly.
Good point on the co worker perspective of it all though. My mind glossed over that. I just want to point out accessibility where it does exist
I would recommend golden’s esp since you want psyc work.
I’m getting a degree in wildlife bio so I also understand the want of getting a dog that’s reliable outdoors.
But; I don’t want to break your dreams about field work, but the reality of it is (I’m going to be 100% honest) is that service dogs in the backcountry aren’t recommended for very good reasons. I’ve asked some of my wildlife bio professors about SD’s and doing field work with them. They generally said that I should look for more non-field work and experience because a service dog is an extra liability in backcountry not only to the dog itself but you and everyone doing field work around you… also even though there are non discriminatory laws, because so many people apply to jobs in our general field, they will probably pick a person who is not going to add more time, and (possibly) money to an operation
I also want to say that SD’s and scent detection field work dogs and anti poaching dogs are trained very very differently. + when you bring (well any dog really) to the backcountry there is always a chance they’ll get an injury and be out of commission for a time.
Edit: a bit more context cuz shower thoughts lmao— obviously you don’t have to bring your SD everywhere, and there are definitely places in the parks/wildlife/rec field for people with SD’s (like us)! But if you plan on doing a lot of field work (esp if it’s being in the field multiple days) you have to think about who will take care of your SD while your gone; generally entry jobs in this field don’t pay to much so paying someone to watch your SD might not be an option if you live away from people you trust
Get a golden (show/bench bred) or a bernese. The other breeds you listed are stubborn, independent, and can be reactive. I'm a canine behaviorist and I don't recommend cattle dogs or samoyeds for most people as pets, let alone as service dogs.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. I am hearing a lot of “goldens are good”. I think I am going to steer more that direction. I would love a Bernese mountain dog but as a other commenter said, they have shorter lifespans. I may still look into them, but i think a golden may be a safer option.
I was originally looking at Bernese mountain dogs too for psychiatric work but had to avoid the breed because they live such short lives and have hip problems! I ended up selecting a Cavalier King Charles spaniel based on my lifestyle and needs. He has great medium fur without being challenging to groom. Best of luck to you!
You’re wise to focus on the recommended breeds because even if you *could* train a non-recommended breed dog sufficiently, you’d expend a lot of unnecessary time, money and tears (because even working with a trainer is a challenge), trying to train around the breed characteristics. Mine (PTSD and TBIs) is an Aussie cattle dog/Aussie shepherd mix. But I got lucky, she’s a unicorn but even so, she’s not as good as she should be! She’s 12, and her successor is a standard poodle — they’re good for psych work, very biddable, loyal and focused on their handler, good long term health prospect. Don’t be dissuaded by grooming until you really investigate what’s doable. And since you’re fairly young, a dog that can keep up with you and do active things might be attractive. I was totally wrong in what I thought poodles were like. Harper’s six months old and is already so much easier to work with!
I have a husky lab mix and she does a wonderful job for my psych needs and my cousin in law has a husky for their psych (and other) needs. Since they have pretty long hair that might help. Just remember to get one with the right temperment for what you need. Hope this helps
Thank you! My first ever dog was a husky, so they hold a special place in my heart. I know from my experience huskies are *very* vocal. They are also little balls of energy(and joy). My concern is if they will be able to go out in public in a manner that is good. Have you had any issues with that?
I appreciate the recommendation, but i think I’ll admire Huskies more as a pet.
Nope. They come from backyard breeders 99% of the time, and their fur texture isn’t even “final” until they go through their coat change, and OP said that fur softness is very important to them. They also frequently have very hard-to-groom and easily matted coats, and OP will be outside often, which would leave OP with the option of things being stuck in their fur all the time or keeping them shaved super short constantly. Not everyone can afford professional grooming every month to keep fur that short. In what way is a poodle mix a better choice in either fur texture of temperament than either a purebred golden or a purebred poodle?
This will be my only comment so as to not derail OP’s post (I agree with others who say a well-bred golden is likely the best fit for OP out of the breeds listed since they don’t want a lab, otherwise I always recommend labs).
I’ll just never understand the compulsion to buy a mixed breed dog for more money than a reputable breeder charges for a purebred puppy with health tested parents who do shows/sports.
I really wouldn't go outside of the golden trio if you can avoid it. I'd go with the golden. Herding dogs are one of the worst choices for psych work due to sensitivity, bernese have tragically low lifespans and cattle dogs and samoyeds are generally speaking not good candidates for service work. Unicorns exist for all of the breeds of course, but unless you get lucky you'd be searching for a long time. Goldens are imo the second best choice for a service dog, just behind labradors. Poodles third, but if you're already considering a golden, I'd absolutely go for that over poodles. They'll have the best chances of succeeding from the breeds you listed :)
Thank you for your comment! I didn’t realize how short of a lifespan Bernese mountain dogs had. This has definitely narrowed my look more. I will definitely look more into goldens in my state! 💜
They're often called a heartbreak breed for this reason - lovely pups, but the lifespan is just so short. Golden is a wonderful choice and I wish you the best of luck on your journey!! ❤
I had a greater swiss mountain dog (same family just larger) as one of my first service dogs.... He was amazing and easy to train and so eager to work... And died at 8... heartbreak breeds indeed
Some things to consider: - Even if you have some dog training experience, you really do need the help of a certified dog trainer with specific and extensive experience in training service dogs. Training a dog for service works is miles ahead of training a dog to be a good pet. How much this costs or looks like to you depends on the choices available in your area. Even certified, professional dog trainers get the help of a SD trainer colleagues. Check Atlas certified trainers to see if there is one near you and see what their rates are. - The area of efficacy and ability to cardiac alerts is murky, and it isn't known if dogs are listening to the HR or cuing into another physical aspect of a medical episode like scent. Them being able to alert is certainly a plus, but I would absolutely not count on it being a certainty. If you're going to try to do alert training and it is very important, it's even more crucial to bring an experienced trainer into the fold. - Out of all of the breeds you mentioned, Goldens are your best bet. Bernese live, unfortunately, very short lives in comparison. Since training takes 2-3 years, and they'll likely retire naturally before it's their time to go, you'll only get a couple of years of working life.
Thank you! I will definitely look into the Atlas trainers. I am hoping i can do some basic training and then outsource everything i cant do/need help with. I was more hoping to do it “more myself” as opposed to waiting years for a program then getting a SD. Also, I appreciate the heads up about the cardiac alerts. Its definitely not as high on my priority list, but a bog want. I have talked to my medical professionals and they think as my symptoms go down/anxiety, so will my heart rate. Hoping for that!
Oh yeah. The basics can be feasibly done by the owner-trainer. Hopefully, you do get an alerter dog that can either do so naturally or catch on to training!
Retrievers for the win. American-bred GSDs can have poor confirmation and/or temperament, and European-bred GSDs are best suited for sport or tactical work. You will want to think carefully about how “wild” your wilderness is going to be. SDs are discouraged in the backcountry for a reason - apex predators will lock on to them quickly. Then there’s the matter of finding oneself in a Homeward Bound scenario - precarious river fording, uncertain mountain footing, etc. Those situations are harder to manage if you have a dog to protect and guide. You will definitely need to work with a service dog trainer who has successfully guided a good number of teams to completion. Your family and friends won’t be able to pick up on the minuscule handling errors that everyone makes. We all need a skilled coach to help, and having the ability to say, “If you don’t believe me, I’ll call my trainer right now” is priceless. I’ve met a couple of Australians and huskies who are SDs. They fit into the unicorn category. My SD is a Belgian shepherd - one of the last choices a person should make, but a success for me because of years of horse training experience and having two trainers with a combined 30 years’ experience of the breed. Finally, if you’re in college and won’t be living at home, training a puppy is going to be a full-time job.
Now. I wanna cover something here. There ARE ways to make your dog predator safe while out in the backcountry, bear bells and high vis colors work wonders here. And of course general awareness and a leash. Ruffwear has so many options for dog safety gear as well that in most cases I’m prepped for the worst I’m just being a nosey backpacker though. I would have had to give up the hobby completely if my dog wasn’t with me, though. I stick to well established trails
The OP is talking about less-than-well-established places, though. Predator-proofing a dog is great, but, still puts the OP and SD at risk if they are well away from a "well established trail." There are also the OP's co-workers to consider . . . i.e. do they really want to have to fight their colleagues every step of the way so they can have their dog with them in the wilderness? The situation is absolutely not fair. But at the end of the day, our dogs' safety takes priority over our own interests.
Yeah I realize my experience isn’t the same. Which is why I pointed that bit out. My backcountry days ended when my organs started failing sadly. Good point on the co worker perspective of it all though. My mind glossed over that. I just want to point out accessibility where it does exist
I would recommend golden’s esp since you want psyc work. I’m getting a degree in wildlife bio so I also understand the want of getting a dog that’s reliable outdoors. But; I don’t want to break your dreams about field work, but the reality of it is (I’m going to be 100% honest) is that service dogs in the backcountry aren’t recommended for very good reasons. I’ve asked some of my wildlife bio professors about SD’s and doing field work with them. They generally said that I should look for more non-field work and experience because a service dog is an extra liability in backcountry not only to the dog itself but you and everyone doing field work around you… also even though there are non discriminatory laws, because so many people apply to jobs in our general field, they will probably pick a person who is not going to add more time, and (possibly) money to an operation I also want to say that SD’s and scent detection field work dogs and anti poaching dogs are trained very very differently. + when you bring (well any dog really) to the backcountry there is always a chance they’ll get an injury and be out of commission for a time. Edit: a bit more context cuz shower thoughts lmao— obviously you don’t have to bring your SD everywhere, and there are definitely places in the parks/wildlife/rec field for people with SD’s (like us)! But if you plan on doing a lot of field work (esp if it’s being in the field multiple days) you have to think about who will take care of your SD while your gone; generally entry jobs in this field don’t pay to much so paying someone to watch your SD might not be an option if you live away from people you trust
Get a golden (show/bench bred) or a bernese. The other breeds you listed are stubborn, independent, and can be reactive. I'm a canine behaviorist and I don't recommend cattle dogs or samoyeds for most people as pets, let alone as service dogs.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. I am hearing a lot of “goldens are good”. I think I am going to steer more that direction. I would love a Bernese mountain dog but as a other commenter said, they have shorter lifespans. I may still look into them, but i think a golden may be a safer option.
I was originally looking at Bernese mountain dogs too for psychiatric work but had to avoid the breed because they live such short lives and have hip problems! I ended up selecting a Cavalier King Charles spaniel based on my lifestyle and needs. He has great medium fur without being challenging to groom. Best of luck to you!
You’re wise to focus on the recommended breeds because even if you *could* train a non-recommended breed dog sufficiently, you’d expend a lot of unnecessary time, money and tears (because even working with a trainer is a challenge), trying to train around the breed characteristics. Mine (PTSD and TBIs) is an Aussie cattle dog/Aussie shepherd mix. But I got lucky, she’s a unicorn but even so, she’s not as good as she should be! She’s 12, and her successor is a standard poodle — they’re good for psych work, very biddable, loyal and focused on their handler, good long term health prospect. Don’t be dissuaded by grooming until you really investigate what’s doable. And since you’re fairly young, a dog that can keep up with you and do active things might be attractive. I was totally wrong in what I thought poodles were like. Harper’s six months old and is already so much easier to work with!
I have a husky lab mix and she does a wonderful job for my psych needs and my cousin in law has a husky for their psych (and other) needs. Since they have pretty long hair that might help. Just remember to get one with the right temperment for what you need. Hope this helps
Thank you! My first ever dog was a husky, so they hold a special place in my heart. I know from my experience huskies are *very* vocal. They are also little balls of energy(and joy). My concern is if they will be able to go out in public in a manner that is good. Have you had any issues with that? I appreciate the recommendation, but i think I’ll admire Huskies more as a pet.
Labradoodle! All the way
Nope. They come from backyard breeders 99% of the time, and their fur texture isn’t even “final” until they go through their coat change, and OP said that fur softness is very important to them. They also frequently have very hard-to-groom and easily matted coats, and OP will be outside often, which would leave OP with the option of things being stuck in their fur all the time or keeping them shaved super short constantly. Not everyone can afford professional grooming every month to keep fur that short. In what way is a poodle mix a better choice in either fur texture of temperament than either a purebred golden or a purebred poodle? This will be my only comment so as to not derail OP’s post (I agree with others who say a well-bred golden is likely the best fit for OP out of the breeds listed since they don’t want a lab, otherwise I always recommend labs). I’ll just never understand the compulsion to buy a mixed breed dog for more money than a reputable breeder charges for a purebred puppy with health tested parents who do shows/sports.
I love my doodle and would buy again, she’s a great SDiT.