Don’t Dig a Hole With a Spoon!

Hello everyone!

As I’ve been going through this service dog journey I’ve met so many people who comment about their own dogs and whether or not they would make good service dogs.

Personally, I love hearing about other people’s dogs! Others, though, may not. And considering people get service dogs to help with anxiety, too, please don’t automatically assume they’ll appreciate conversation. Here’s a hint: read the patches. I’ve seen some patches cursing people out, and others that have a bit more of a humorous bent. Either way, your job is to leave the team alone.

Then just don’t. Even if the patches aren’t as blatant as this, please be courteous and read the situation. The dog isn’t meant as an ice-breaker; they’re meant as medical equipment.

Now that I have that obligatory spiel out of the way, back to the topic at hand.

The ADA states that any dog can be a service dog. That doesn’t mean, however, that every breed–or every dog–is predisposed to do well as a service dog.

In fact, in the service dog world as well as the comic book and singing world, there’s what is known as the “Fab 4”.  These four breeds are the most commonly used and genetically apt for service–the right tools for the job, as weird as it feels to refer to a living creature as a ‘tool’. Of course, there are exceptions to any rule, and, within this world of unicorns, that couldn’t be more true. However, it is highly inadvisable to depend on that. Just like, technically, you could dig a hole with a spoon and eat with a shovel, but it’s far more advisable to eat with a spoon and dig with a shovel.

The Fab 4 are Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Standard Poodles, and Smooth Collies.

Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Standard Poodles are classified as Retrievers. And no, that’s not a typo–Poodles, though often underestimated as a breed on the whole, are Retrievers. It is dogs in this family that are most often hunting dogs. Collies are Herders.

Labs are very eager to please, versatile, and easy to train and handle. They are very social, as well. They are more likely to be high drive and energy–something great if you can keep up, especially in people looking for a running/walking/exercising partner. Their puppyhood is widely considered the hardest of the four, and people needing a service dog may not have the energy to keep up with such an active dog. When they hit maturity, however, they generally mellow out–though they still enjoy exercise and stimulation!–and make wonderful partners.

Golden Retrievers are generally quieter and a softer touch than labs. Whenever I would go to group outings with Scout’s Legacy, I was always amazed at the level of calm these dogs had and maintained. As a softer touch, they generally do well with a handle who is, in turn, softer than the other breeds may need. This makes them excellent PSDs as well as medical responders. Goldens, too, are eager to please and train. Though, if you have a problem with dog hair or doggie dandruff, I respectfully but adamantly suggest another breed. There were several times I saw a Golden get up from the floor and leave enough fur on said floor to make a whole other puppy. When they shed, they blow their coat. 🙃

Standard Poodles, unlike many breeds, are considered hypoallergenic because they have hair rather than fur. It doesn’t shed, but it does grow. Accordingly, Standard Poodles require more grooming than most breeds. They are extremely intelligent and will learn fast, for better or worse. On the whole, they’re a more independent breed, which, a good amount of the time, makes for better alert dogs as they’re not so heavily dependent on their person as to not have a mutually dependent relationship with said person. Due to their quick learning, independence, and preference for consistency, standard poodles do better with a non-indecisive handler. Standard poodles, like Labrador Retrievers, are extremely versatile in the abilities they’re able to perform. 

Smooth Collies’ coats are far low-maintenance than their Rough Collie brothers and Standard Poodles; thus, earning them the ‘smooth’ adjective, even though Rough Collies are, technically, the same breed. This difference makes them easier to take care of for handlers that may not have the ability to keep up with the higher grooming demands of other dogs. Smooth Collies are an exception to the general rule of thumb that herders don’t make good PSDs. Like Golden Retrievers, Collies are sensitive enough to do well with a softer-touch-human. Though, like Standard Poodles, they prefer consistency in the giving of commands and their overall training.

Is this the case with every dog of these breeds? No. Every dog is their own dog, and none of this is guaranteed–another reason to be sure you know what you’re getting into with whatever dog you choose–whether from a breeder or shelter or a rehoming. Labs have been known to be “too much dog” for some. Aggression can run in the lines of backyard-bred Goldens. Weak nerves are liable to be common in poorly bred Poodles. Collie lines can have genetic shyness within. Every dog has quirks and issues you get to work through, with certain pros and cons weighing in more heavily for different people. One of the reasons it’s the Fab 4 rather than the “Undeniable 1”.

That said.

Which breed is Cor?

Well, here’s Cor:

Here’s Daddy Blue:

And here’s Mama Duchess:

I never would’ve thought I’d get a Poodle, if I’m being honest. I hear ‘Poodle’ and I think the white, teacup variety with a pink bow and the stereotypical cut sitting in the lap of an old, town-scold type. Bonus points for a widow.

But I’m getting a black, Standard Poodle who will likely never have anything longer than a teddy bear cut.

Additionally, I never thought I’d have a blog, either.

Besides,

That looks different enough, right?

🤞

So. Why a Poodle?

Well, the intelligence for one thing. 

And the independence. Trust me, I’ll love having a buddy, but I tried the co-dependent model and… yeah, that was a bit much. Love Yaha though I do.

The hypoallergenic aspect is another huge plus. For a family with as many allergies as we have, let’s not run the risk of being allergic to our medical equipment, please!

The versatility is big, too. I’m going to have a foot in each of the seizure alert, seizure response, guide dog, hearing dog, and mobility dog pools. Ignoring the fact I’m short three feet, that’s a lot for a dog to do. Again, harkening back to intelligence. 

As for the amount of grooming necessary and that whole ‘non-indecisive’ thing… well, I’m a lot better at being decisive than I was. And I find it easier to be decisive with dogs than humans. Don’t ask me why, because 🤷‍♀️. Not to mention I’m going to need to put work in anyway. Might as well work on being confident in my decisions while I’m at it, right?

I don’t think I’ll mind grooming, in its turn, either. As long as Cor doesn’t hate it. One would think that comes with training, though, too. And I can do training. 🙏

So. I’m getting a poodle from a breeder and recording the adventure on a blog. My younger self likely would’ve been appalled and would’ve wanted to ask when the amnesia hit. 

*visibly tries to move past that*

💜 You were not born to fail! 💜

Lauryn