Breeds

The most common breeds used for dogs for the blind are Golden Retrievers and Labradors and their crosses. These breeds are chosen for their trainability and because they are not aggressive or excessively protective of their user. German Shepherds are also used but have the highest percentage of being “passed back” during training, to join other dogs at an earlier stage of training (Ennik et al. 2006). German Shepherds are much more protective of their user, which can be a problem. Dogs for the blind also have a size requirement. The dogs must be large enough for a harness and be able to effectively lead the owner around.
A wider range of breeds are trained to help people with other types of disabilities. For example, dogs for the deaf do not have the size requirement of other services and the users tend to be more physically fit. Dogs for the deaf can range from small breeds to large, depending on the user’s preference. This is not so for people with physical disabilities, where the dog must be able to lift things, open doors, and push buttons so they are restricted to larger breeds.