From Labradors to Golden Retrievers, assistance dog breeds offer an invaluable service to those with mobility impairments. Acting as loyal companions, these pups can help ease feelings of loneliness, break down barriers and make everyday jobs a little easier.
"Aside from love, companionship and focus, the main benefits we hear from our clients are that our dogs provide them with more confidence and independence which can be life-changing," a spokesperson from Dogs For Good tells Country Living. "Our dogs are trained using positive reinforcement methods only and see the task work they undertake as games that they enjoy doing and get satisfaction from completing."
As well as providing friendship, these assistance dogs practically help people with tasks including unloading the washing machine, opening and closing doors, retrieving or fetching items, and removing various items of clothing. Through carrying out these simple tasks, these dogs can preserve energy for people less able and help them to do things they enjoy.
To mark the launch of our Access for All campaign, we have spoken to the experts to learn more about the best service dog breeds. Take a look at the full list below...
1. Labradors
Friendly Labradors are brilliant assistance dogs to those with physical disabilities, thanks to their kind-hearted, sociable and playful nature. They are also incredibly easy to train, making them wonderful family life-changing assistance dogs.
"The Labrador is a member of the gun dog group, which was originally bred to find and retrieve shot game," a spokesperson from Dogs For Good says. "This means Labradors are often highly motivated to hold objects. From a young age they will pick up and carry their toys (very cute). This natural desire to retrieve is particularly useful as assistance dogs as our clients may need help to pick things up or to retrieve important items like a phone."
Kat, a Dogs For Good trainer, tells us: "All you have to do is look at a Labrador and they wag their tail! They have a friendly nature and enjoy being in the company of their human handler. They're an intelligent breed and enjoy training. They look for human interaction, so training is the perfect way to do this. They have the energy needed for a working dog, but also have the ability to be calm as a family dog."
2. Golden Retrievers
Sociable Golden Retrievers have several strengths that make them perfect partners for people with disabilities. From their good manners to being steady on the lead, they are a very popular choice when it comes to service dogs. According to Dogs For Good, they are very motivated to pick up and carry things in their soft mouths and can deliver items gently without marking or damaging them.
Dog trainer Clare adds: "From a training point of view, a Goldie needs to be made to feel that everything you're asking them to do is their idea. You need to make things a lot of fun, so they don't 'know' they're in a formal training session. Also ensure that you don't ask them to learn lots of different things in one go. Teach them one thing at a time, to the point of success, and you'll have a happy, motivated Goldie."
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3. Labrador Cross Golden Retriever
"The Labrador Cross Golden Retriever tends to be steady on the lead, has a strong sense of smell, and an incredible visual memory," says Dogs For Good.
"Both breeds are confident and tenacious, which serves them well as they learn to be responsive to their human. They make fantastic companions because they are even-tempered and enjoy work. It's one of the reasons they make such great assistance dogs for us! Also, because they're happy to retrieve and carry out tasks they make reliable partners to provide greater independence to disabled people."
4. Cockapoos
According to Dogs For Good, cuddly Cockapoos are also brilliant assistance dogs for those with physical disabilities. These pups are often highly devoted to just one family member, making them excellent choices for creating a spectacular bond with someone who needs it.
The team explains: "Cockapoos are small, so can be homed in any type of accommodation. It's one of the (many) things we love about them in our work as they give us more partnership options than we might have with a larger breed of dog. Because the cockapoo is a hybrid dog, you'll see a variety of different traits and personality types. But they're all intelligent and loyal."
For more information about choosing the right assistance dog, head over to dogsforgood.org.
13 dog shampoos to tackle dry skin, shedding, odour and more
No, you can't use regular shampoo on your dog. But you can use Fur Bébé by luxe Parisian haircare for humans brand Ouai. After all, why shouldn't your dog enjoy the same sleek, shiny tresses you do? And on that note, with its notes of lemon, rose, jasmine sambac, iris, lily and white musk, you might actually be tempted to use this doggy shampoo yourself!
Black dogs need a shampoo which is going to give their dark, richly-toned hair some proper shine. This is a pricey one, but it's full of natural ingredients, including chia seed extract and hemp oil, that wash away dirt and impurities, add strength and keep fur shiny and well-kempt.
Here's a lovely natural option from Swedish dog care brand WAP. If your dog has sensitive skin, it's likely a good option – it's been designed to offer anti-inflammatory properties while minimising irritation and dryness. The formulation includes tea tree, which has antibacterial properties, and lemon to help boost circulation and give that fresh, zesty scent.
There's really not much worse than having your dog roll in animal faeces! This duo pack of deodorising shampoos will swiftly remove the evidence – and any lingering smell.
Dirty Dawg is a mild no-rinse dog shampoo spray that helps to effectively remove dirt and odour from your dog's coat. Ideal for use as a 'spot cleaner', the spray is great for use on the go or for a quick clean between washes. Simply spray it on your dog's coat and groom it through.
Curly Coat is a shampoo specifically designed for curly-coated dogs. Enriched with conditioners, oatmeal and shea butter, it helps to remove knots from your dog's coat and improve overall appearance. It's 100% vegan.
Are you looking to treat your dog for fleas without damaging his coat or skin? This dog shampoo has a gentle pH balanced formula, based on pro-vitamin B5 and tea tree oil, to ensure it is compatible with all skin types. This tick remover shampoo also helps eliminate ticks and fleas from the thickest coats, while providing a soothing, calming effect on the irritated, bitten skin.
This product works as a shampoo and a conditioner to give you the best of both worlds without compromising on quality. The ultra-gentle, pH-balanced buttermilk and linseed oil formula will clean your dog and leave their coat feeling soft.
Does the sound of running water in the bathroom give your dog anxiety? This shampoo uses commonly used aromatherapy scents to help pets relax. It can be used on any breed for a soothing experience, and is enriched with relaxing lavender and mint for a clean, happy, fresh-smelling pet. It's also a great product for older pets, to help soothe away those aches and pains.
FURminator shampoo and conditioner offer ingredients that help reduce and control excessive shedding. Using this omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, calendula extract and papaya leaf-infused shampoo once a month will leave your dogs coat looking and feeling as good as new.
Is your dog prone to jumping in puddles and rolling in the mud? Maybe it's about time you invest in an industrial size bottle of shampoo. This vegan-friendly product comes in a 5L bottle so you will be ready for bath-time at the drop of a hat. Plus, it's PH balance makes it suitable for all breeds and coat types from Poodles and Cockapoos to Bulldogs and Labs. You can also use this shampoo on puppies over eight weeks.
The specially formulated shampoo is ideal for combatting issues that go deeper than just a bad hair day. This product will help relieve skin scaling caused by seborrhea and relieve mange and parasitic infections. This medicated dog shampoo works fast to relieve symptoms including inflamed scalp, greasy or waxy skin, red skin rashes, bald spots, itch, and flaky skin associated with seborrhea, mange, and parasitic issues.
Give your dog’s coat a quick refresh with this no-rinse dog grooming spray. Formulated with chamomile flower extract and glycerin, this freshly-scented formula helps spot clean and deodorize pups on the go.
