Service Dogs/Therapy Dogs:
This type of dog is either a service dog and works with a disabled handler or is a therapy dog that visits people in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. Both types have similar requirements including:
• Soft demeanor: By this I mean a softness about them that encourages people to interact with them. These are not stand-offish dogs, although a service dog should never be pet while working or without permission.
• Highly biddable: The more biddable the better. These are the dogs that have a higher drive to please their person or family.
• Food motivated: Food is the primary motivation and training tool used for service dogs, so the level of toy/prey drive does not particularly matter in these dogs.
• Unflappable: It’s crucial to have a temperament that is not rattled by sounds, sights, places, people, etc. This is shaped through on-going socialization to novel environments, but a dog with any level of fear or anxiety will be very stressed on the job and does not make an ideal partner.
• Highly social: Especially in the case of a therapy dog, the dog needs to crave attention and enjoy a variety of people.
