Golden Retrievers Service Dogs (Everything To Know)

Sometimes, people confuse service dogs with therapy animals.

Unlike therapy animals that can belong to any species and help people regain their mental well-being, service dogs are trained to assist people with disabilities in performing daily tasks.

Service dogs have more legal protections than therapy animals, but the qualification requirements for service dogs are also higher.

If you need assistance performing essential tasks, learn about the qualities of a service dog, the training requirements, associated costs, and limitations before choosing your companion.

What Makes a Good Service Dog?

Can any dog be a service dog? Not really. To understand why golden retrievers are so popular as service dogs, we should first outline what makes a great service dog.

Dogs must pass temperament evaluation to be approved as service dogs. Service pets should be calm, sociable, friendly, eager to please, and outgoing. They shouldn’t get easily distracted from their task and shouldn’t be aggressive towards strangers.

Of course, a service dog must be intelligent and trainable to perform complex tasks. Dogs with phobias aren’t a good fit for a service dog position because dogs are exposed to various noises and distractions on duty.

Service dog trainers typically assess how a dog reacts to pain. It can yelp, but it shouldn’t run away or attack a person who caused the pain.

The dog’s size also matters. Small dogs can be service dogs, but their physical capacity is limited. A bichon can’t press an elevator button, bring groceries from the store, or take keys from the kitchen table.

Golden retrievers and other large breeds make excellent service dogs because they can reach elevations and even support the owner with their weight.

Lastly, a service dog should have an essential document package, including a registration certificate and health clearance.

Why Are Golden Retrievers Good Service Dogs?

Golden retrievers are one of the best trainable dog breeds. Like any hunting breed, they are bound to be obedient, intelligent, and eager to please.

Golden retrievers are sociable and friendly, always up for a play, and never aggressive towards strangers. However, some goldens are too energetic and require intense training to remain calm on duty.

Without sufficient activity, a golden retriever can display mischievous behavior and develop health conditions, so owners must ensure their dogs exercise for at least an hour daily.

This could be a problem for physically impaired people who don’t have caretakers.

Goldens are confident and fearless, so loud noises and unfamiliar environments don’t scare them. They don’t bark for no reason, which is an excellent trait for a dog that spends a lot of time in public spaces.

Golden retrievers are moderately protective. They won’t behave aggressively towards someone approaching their owner but are ready to stand up for their favorite human in the case of a real threat.

These traits make golden retrievers one of the most popular service dog breeds. No breed is perfect, but with proper training, a golden retriever can make an excellent companion for people with special needs.

Which Tasks Can Golden Retrievers Perform?

The tasks golden retrievers can perform as service dogs are nearly unlimited.

Thanks to their large size and powerful musculature, golden retrievers can assist owners in changing their body position, balancing when standing, walking, and even pulling the wheelchair.

Bred to retrieve waterfowl, goldens have developed a soft bite that doesn’t damage the object. Consequently, golden retrievers can safely bring their owner’s phone, clothes, TV remote, and other items.

A golden retriever can close doors, turn on and off lights, push elevator buttons, drag heavy items to specific locations, and carry moderately heavy bags up and down the stairs.

These wonderful, intelligent dogs can be trained to find a restroom, assist visually impaired people in crossing the road, and carry dirty clothes to the laundry basket.

Holden retrievers can also alert others about the owner’s emergency or call 911 on a dog-friendly phone. A well-trained service dog can save the owner’s life.

How Much Does a Service Golden Retriever Cost?

Golden retrievers aren’t cheap, and service golden retrievers come at a hefty price tag. Even a mixed-breed service dog costs at least $15,000 because of the training involved.

According to the National Service Animal Registry, the cost of training a service dog can exceed $40,000, but many organizations assist people with special needs with funding. Unfortunately, such programs typically have long waitlists.

The cost of a service golden retriever typically ranges from $20,000 to $50,000. The price includes the initial cost of a golden retriever puppy, expenses related to training, and follow-up support for new owners.

One can save a ton of money by buying a puppy and finding a trainer themselves instead of getting a ready-to-go service dog. Some dog breeders happily provide a discount on puppies intended for servicing.

The cost of a service dog depends on more factors than the training duration and dog’s breed, though. The price can vary based on location, particular tasks a dog is taught to perform, and organization.

Where To Get a Service Golden Retriever

When considering where to get a service golden retriever, you have three options: buy a fully trained dog from an organization, have your dog trained by an organization, or train your dog yourself.

The first option is foolproof because a dog trained by professionals and selected according to your unique needs is guaranteed to become an excellent companion. However, it’s the most expensive option.

If you’re looking for a trained dog, contact a service dog organization and share details about your condition. The trainers will then assess your situation to find the best suitable dog.

If you already have a dog and consider it suitable for the role, contact an organization specializing in training service dogs to have them train your pet.

Such service is commonly referred to as “board and train” because your dog will need to stay at the training location for a while.

The advantage of board and train programs is that you can get a service dog much sooner. The training takes six months on average as opposed to several years of waiting for a dog provided by an organization.

Furthermore, it’s your dog. It already loves you and will do anything to help its favorite human. The only drawback of this option is that not every dog passes the assessment and gets accepted to the training school.

If you’re physically capable of training your dog or have a helper, have experience with dogs, and don’t want to spend much money, consider the third option.

Don’t underestimate the learning curve that comes with training a service dog. It isn’t the same as training a dog to sit and stay.

However, training your dog yourself has a significant advantage – you learn to be a better handler of your pet.

People with disabilities are not legally required to have their dogs trained by professionals. Registration is optional but can help prove your dog’s right to enter public places.

Service Golden Retriever Registration

To get the legal protections associated with service dogs, you should be able to prove your dog’s role.

Contrary to a popular misconception, service dogs don’t have to be registered or undergo a temperament and training assessment by third parties.

You can register your dog as a service dog through a third party to obtain a registration card to present in public places, but it isn’t required under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A self-assessment of a dog’s behavior and training performance and a document proving your disability is sufficient.

Legal Protections

Service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This law defines a service animal as a dog or miniature horse trained to assist people with special needs in daily tasks.

Service dogs are allowed to accompany the owner in any public place without an extra fee, even if the site has a no-dog policy.

Property owners, employers, and other individuals can’t discriminate against people who need a service animal.

However, every law has exceptions. Service animals may be denied entry to a public space if they pose a threat to others or if the tasks they perform are unclear to service providers.

Allergies and fear of dogs aren’t valid reasons for denying a service dog entry.

Traveling With a Service Dog

Service dog legal protections also apply to traveling. A service dog is allowed on board, provided the owner can prove their disability and explain which tasks the dog performs.

The documentation required for traveling with a service dog varies by airline. Typically, the dog needs to have a registration certificate, health clearance, and vaccinations.

Service animals can travel free of charge. However, even a service dog must be able to sit on the owner’s lap or on the floor below the seat and not obstruct the way.

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