Assistance / Emotional Support Dogs
We are super proud that many of our puppies have gone on to be therapy dogs or emotional support dogs for both families with disabled members of the household and in various autism specialist schools around the UK.
Goldendoodle Assistance Dogs
Goldendoodle History
The original Goldendoodle was a hybrid cross of a golden retriever and a poodle. The exact date of conception is unknown, as a handful of breeders emerged in the late 1990s marketing this new breed. The idea was no doubt inspired by the creation of the Labradoodle and its success as a compatible dog for many people who experience mild allergies to dogs.
The gorgeous low- to no-shedding coats were attracting those who loved the temperament of the golden retriever but detested the amount of hair left behind or the allergy issues it presented.
As the breed continued to develop, requests for different sizes became common, and breeders answered. The public’s immediate adoration of the standard Goldendoodle (a standard poodle crossed with a golden retriever) led the breed originators to look at size variations to accommodate different lifestyles.
There are now four categories for sizes: petite, mini, medium, and standard. They also come in a variety of colors and coat patterns.
What makes a Goldendoodle a great assistance dog?
Friendly & Outgoing
The first reason that Goldendoodles make excellent therapy dogs is their friendly and easygoing nature. Goldendoodles get their friendliness from their golden retriever genes. These dogs may always be ready to greet people with a wagging tail and a sweet disposition. Goldendoodles can be great with people, dogs, pets, and small children.
Goldendoodles are also very easygoing and non-reactive. A good service dog needs to be calm in most situations, including crowded public areas, enclosed spots, and noisy outdoor spaces. They need to avoid reacting to loud noises, strangers, and unfamiliar smells and focus on their job.
Hypoallergenic
Another reason a Goldendoodle could be an excellent service dog is its coat. Poodles were originally bred with Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers to give people with dog allergies a way to have a service animal. The poodle’s curly coat made it the perfect candidate to cross with other breeds.
A Goldendoodle’s coat is also less likely to shed than other typical service animal breeds, such as German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, and golden retrievers. Goldendoodle owners have an easier time keeping dog hair off their furniture and clothes. Less dog hair can help make housekeeping much less of a hassle.
Easily Trained
This wonderful breed is also one of the easiest to train, which is essential when preparing an animal to do specific tasks. Goldendoodles are extremely intelligent and excellent listeners when learning commands. They can quickly associate the commands from dog trainers with a reward and a task. They respond well to prompts and can learn a variety of tasks.
Trainers can teach Goldendoodles to follow an owner without a leash. They aren’t known to try to escape their home/garden or wander off, so owners may be able to trust their pup a little more than some other dog breeds.
Capable of working long hours
This breed of dog can also work longer hours in many different climates. They have the stamina to work in stressful situations. They have lots of energy in their reserves, so they won’t get too tired from being an emotional support dog all day.
Goldendoodles can also be comfortable in different types of weather environments. They can be happy in warmer climates because they don’t get easily overheated. Their coat can also protect them in colder weather situations, so they are comfortable. Goldendoodles won’t need a dog sweater or jacket because of their thick, curly coat.
Enthusiastic
Goldendoodle emotional support dogs are also sweet and enthusiastic with their families. They enjoy playing with toys, playing fetch, and spending time with their owners and handlers.
They show unconditional love for the people in their family and are cute. They provide comfort for their owners when they’re struggling, like a big teddy bear
Intuitive Towards Handlers
Finally, Goldendoodles are extraordinarily loyal and attached to their handlers. A Goldendoodle makes an excellent and trustworthy companion for someone who has specific emotional and physical well-being needs.
These dogs have a natural intuition to help out their human companions due to their eagerness to please and natural retrieving abilities. They can easily pick up trained tasks to help protect someone with emotional or physical disabilities.
Provide Emotional Support
Goldendoodles are extremely loving, friendly, and loyal to their owners. These traits make this breed a great service dog because they won’t shy away from cuddling with their owner or providing comfort and closeness when they’re going through a hard time emotionally. While a PSD might not be able to talk or provide feedback to their owners’ problems, sometimes even their presence alone leaves a calming effect on their owner’s emotional state, so having them around can be crucial to the emotional stability of their owner. Oftentimes, Goldendoodles are even welcome at the foot of their owner’s beds or in their rooms at night for the added layer of comfort.
Provide Physical Support
Goldendoodles are relatively large dogs in size. This trait makes them excellent service dogs, as they can efficiently perform tasks, such as pushing a wheelchair or calming a person down with pressure, that smaller dogs wouldn’t physically be able to do. Well-trained Goldendoodles are also able to pull their owners with limited sight to safety, or retrieve items for owner’s with limited mobility. Depending on the Goldendoodle’s size, they might be able to help brace their owners to sit, stand, or even go up and down stairs. However the size of the Goldendoodle should be taken into consideration when assessing what task they can perform, as providing physical support for their owners can be hard on their joints as well.
What tasks can a Goldendoodle perform?
A Goldendoodle puppy needs to learn to perform tasks to help individuals with their daily routine. Here are some tasks that the Goldendoodle breed excels at
Finding Items
Goldendoodles have an innate instinct to fetch and retrieve items for their handlers. In a guide dog, this translates to finding medications or other essential items that help support the owner’s physical and mental health.
Guiding The Owner
Goldendoodle service dogs can help their owners by guiding them. Their service-dog training may help them learn how to guide their handler home safely, through crowded places, or to a safe spot away from hazards.
Alerting The Owner
Goldendoodle dogs may also provide services like medical alert dogs, such as diabetic alert dogs, when their owner’s blood sugar is low. Alert dogs may also notify the handler right before a seizure or a panic attack.
Providing Emotional Support
This breed of service dog also makes excellent emotional support animals. Goldendoodles can be a soothing companion to someone suffering from an anxiety attack or dealing with a stressful situation.
Performing Therapeutic Tasks
Goldendoodle support dogs are also a top choice for training as therapy dogs because their quiet and calm demeanor is the perfect personality for a hospital setting. Therapy dogs are often in Special Need’s Schools, a hospital or nursing home, providing entertainment and support to pupils, patients and nursing home resident
Helping Those Who Are Visually Impaired
Goldendoodles can be trained to alert a visually impaired person about people or things in their environment that may cause them significant harm. This can alert an owner if something is falling, if they’re about to walk into traffic, or if someone is approaching to harm them.
Alerting Others
Goldendoodles are great at alerting others if their owner is in danger. If their owner is diabetic, a Goldendoodle can obtain the proper medical supplies they need when their blood sugar dangerously fluctuates. For those with epilepsy, a Goldendoodle can detect an imminent seizure and get help by signaling emergency servicing. Goldendoodles can also alert someone with anxiety or PTSD to an imminent attack, get help, or provide deep pressure therapy during an attack.
"Why Doodle When You Can Poodle"
This is a statement we hear many times from Poodle Owner’s, and yes the Standard Poodle is a great dog, we have one ourselves and they play a 50% part in our breeding, however, there are some sound reasons why a poodle will not be suitable as a service dog.
Body Conformation. Poodle’s are slender dogs. Their skeleton and body frame would not be able to cope with the requirements of using a harness.
Temperament. Poodle’s can have a stand-offish temperament, sensitive to noise and stimulation which hinder’s their ability to be a successful service dog.
So, the answer is clear, the Goldendoodle, especially for service users sensitive to dog hair, is one of the best breeds available to become a life long, loyal, loving service dog.
