Sourcing dogs for Assistance Dogs

Seeing a Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Standard Poodle, or German Shepherd working with in public their partner is a familiar experience as these breeds are renowned for their intelligence, loyalty, and versatility in assisting individuals with disabilities. Many of these dogs have been purpose-bred by assistance dog organizations to have the temperament and physical attributes necessary to effectively assist individuals with disabilities with the confidence to handle public environments.

Assistance Dogs International has its own breeding program, the International Breeding Cooperative (IBC), to collectively improve member access to reliable puppy supply while also improving the quality of these puppies specific to assistance dog work. This cooperative helps organizations source purpose-bred puppies, potentially without having their own breeding program, which can be a very costly and time-consuming process.

However, not every ADI organization chooses to exclusively use purpose-bred puppies. Some accept public donations, buy dogs from private breeders, or work with owners and their own dogs. Another source of future assistance dogs are rescued dogs from shelters. One ADI organization, Service Dogs UK solely uses rescue dogs to shape and train into qualified assistance dogs and they do so with a lot of success.

Today, more than ever, Garry Botterill, Executive Director of Service Dogs UK, says the shelters are overflowing with dogs. Part of this is because when COVID struck, many people purchased dogs, having the time to look after the dog and wanting the pleasure of having company at home. Once COVID restrictions were lifted, people had to return to work, and many were hit with a cost-of-living crisis resulting in several of these dogs ending up in shelters. Also, most recently, the XL Bully ban in the UK has resulted in many more dogs being relinquished to shelters. This has put a lot of pressure on shelters.

Service Dogs UK is proud to primarily use dogs from rescue, working closely with Dogs Trust to source those dogs. They recently were invited to a meeting at the Houses of Parliament with their “Ambassadogs” Poppy and Deputy, both rescues, proving these dogs can be very successful assistance dogs.

Although all dogs have some incredible skills, some characteristics of certain breeds make them prime candidates to succeed in specific facets of assistance dog work. For instance, while there is a misconception that only large breeds can be assistance dogs, the reality is that size does matter for certain tasks. Some dogs need to be of a certain size to effectively guide, retrieve or provide physical support, however, dogs whose trained tasks are scent or sound based, do not require a specific size.

The role of mixed-breed dogs in assistance work is also gaining recognition. Mixed breeds may offer benefits from diverse genetic backgrounds, which might result in healthier and more adaptable assistance dogs. As ongoing studies uncover the intricacies of determining suitability for various assistance dogs, mixed-breed dogs are becoming increasingly valued in the assistance dog community. There is a growing trend of utilizing crossbreeds within the purpose-bred realm. A recent study highlighted significant findings, showing that Labrador Retrievers crossed with Golden Retrievers had the highest probability of becoming guide dogs. This blend leverages the gentle nature of the Golden Retriever and the willingness of the Labrador Retriever, resulting in a highly favorable and successful crossbreed (Marcato et al., 2022).

There is considerable variation in the success rates of both purpose-bred and non-purpose-bred dogs in the literature. Studies around the world, of various populations of dogs, often glean inconsistent information. For instance, a study conducted in Belgium reported a success rate of 60% among a small sample of 5 general population dogs, while a study spanning 13 years in the USA outlined a 43% success rate in a purpose-bred population (Marcato et al., 2022). 

Regardless of the breed, the importance of selecting the right individual candidate for assistance dog training cannot be overstated. Specific traits such as intelligence, trainability, temperament, size, and suitability for the tasks they will perform are paramount in ensuring the success of assistance dog partnerships. The next time you see an assistance dog that is not of the usual breed, remember that assistance dogs come from many different sources, each with their unique qualities and abilities.

Marcato, M., Kenny, J., O’Riordan, R., O’Mahony, C., O’Flynn, B., & Galvin, P. (2022). Assistance dog selection and performance assessment methods using behavioural and physiological tools and devices. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 254, 105691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105691 

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 Sydney Bolak has been involved in service dog training since 2011 and completed her B.Sc. in Animal Science with various service dogs in training in tow.  She completed a 3-year apprenticeship to become a service dog instructor and holds a CPDT-KA certification. As a subject matter expert responsible for curriculum development, Sydney was an integral part of the launch of a 2-year diploma program in service dog studies. Sydney is a college instructor and currently holds the position of Chair of the Program Advisory Committee. Sydney is establishing a service dog organization in Nova Scotia, offering program dog and owner training streams. Dedicated to continuing education, she focuses on force-free training, handler education, and cooperative care, staying current with the latest research in dog training and animal welfare.

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