Golden Retrievers are one of the favorite service dog breeds.
Their intelligence, trainability, stability and loyalty help them perform their special tasks flawlessly.
There are actually many types of service dogs.
These dogs are specially trained to help physically, mentally and emotionally disabled individuals live fuller, more independent lives.
Some of these include:
Acting as a handicapped person's eyes, ears, or as a helping hand takes a special kind of dog.
Golden Retrievers are particularly well suited to "the caring professions" due to their gentle disposition.
Click here to share a story and photo about your own Golden Retriever service dog--or one that you know--and read stories from others about their Golden service dogs, too!
The Golden Retriever's ability to adapt to new situations makes him one of the ideal service dog breeds.
These special dogs must be able to enter any situation or environment and ignore all distractions.
Service dogs of any type are allowed in all public and private facilities when accompanying their disabled handler.
Having a service dog brings an incredible amount of independence and freedom to disabled people.
All service dog breeds are highly trainable, which makes them ideal for their special mission in life.
Different disabilities require different amounts of training.
Guide dog training schools prepare these special dogs to safely guide their blind masters.
Other service dogs, like therapy dogs, simply receive instruction from independent dog trainers or even from their owners.
Animal assisted therapy is one area of volunteer work that utilizes these gentle, friendly therapy dogs. Pet therapy is another type of volunteer work.
The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require certification of service animals. However, voluntary registration and identification from a reputable organization might be a good idea anyway.
It just makes life easier when dealing with accessibility to public places, private housing with no-pet policies, lodging, and public transportation.
The service dog registration procedure varies a bit among the different organizations.
Most of them offer an official-looking service dog certificate along with a photo ID badge.
That helps avoid any possible problems when you show up with your Golden Retriever service dog (or any of the service dog breeds) at your local hotel or restaurant.
Young dogs may be released from a training program because they don't have quite the right temperament for the job. For example, an animal that startles easily or has a tendency to bark at strangers won't make the best dog for the blind.
A service dog may develop a medical condition that makes him unable to continue his work.
Age-related problems such as arthritis or failing hearing or eyesight can also make it impossible for a service dog to take care of his owner.
Still, a dog that can't quite get a sightless person across the street safely can be perfect for a family.
Rejected or retired service dogs make great pets. For one thing, they're often better trained and bred than dogs available elsewhere.
And these dogs will bond with you even if you get them when they're long past puppyhood, as dogs can form deep attachments at any age.
Most service dog breeds are available for adoption through organizations that train animals for the disabled. Those put up for adoption are usually housebroken and have had at least basic obedience training.
Some groups, such as Guiding Eyes for the Blind, have their own breeding programs and seek homes for puppies who don't pass their initial screening as well as older dogs that fail to make the final cut.
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