why is golden labrador the most frequent breed used for service dog?

Question

and GSD most frequently used as police and military dog. Why not other breeds?

Answer 1

First of all, there is no breed named the Golden Labrador. If you mean,"Why are Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers most often used...", then I can give you an idea.



The first guide dogs used in modern times have been GSDs. The most common reasons they were preferred was because they were great problem solvers, cared about helping humans, had the ability and will to make independent decisions, and were the ideal size for the job.



Before guide dogs came into common use, and before the guide dog users and trainer convinced law makers to provide access rights to the blind; guide dog users were mostly determined, courageous, and physically energetic.



But now many people of all walks of life use guide dogs and service dogs. Many do not have the will to manage a GSD, nor the physical ability to walk at the speed a GSD walks. So gradually retrievers were used more and more to accommodate those who were not well matched with a GSD. The retriever breeds are almost as capable as GSDs in the characteristics I named above, with the additions of being easier to handle plus less intimidating to the public. Trainers, who were less experience could follow a lesson plan which used rote training and succeed with training many retrievers, while training a GSD took a trainer who could out think the dog and understood the strong pack mentality of GSDs. Also, if the training wasn't made challenging enough, GSDs became bored and troublesome.



Then there was the PR advantages of retrievers. First was the misconception that GSDs were more prone to hip dysplasia (HD) than other large breeds. This misconception came about because it was GSD breeders who pushed for and initiated research into HD. The OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) was founded by both GSD breeders and one or more vets. But in actuality, HD is more prevalent in retrievers, especially Golden Retrievers than in GSDs. Though it is a problem in all large breeds. (I don't know how common it is in the GoldenXLabs that many programs have been breeding in recent years.)



Second was the perception of GSDs as being a guard and police dog and therefor seen as more aggressive. This was complicated by the breed becoming so popular that unscrupulous breeders bred anything for a buck and turned out dogs with bad temperaments. As breed specific legislations began to crop up in many places, GSDs were often affected. But now due to their high popularity, labradors have fallen the to the same fate that previously befell GSDs. They have had the highest incidences of aggression on humans for several years. Higher than pit bulls type dogs. Golden's bite reports have recently been climbing rapidly in rate. But though they both are more often involved in bites, their former reputation for gentleness still affects peoples perceptions of retrievers, so they have not suffered as much from bad PR.



Third, many programs like the quicker time to maturity of the retrievers. They can be working at a younger age than GSDs, and more can go through the process of raising and training in the same amount of time as GSDs can.



As for why GSDs are most often used as police and military dogs, I can't give a better answer than Les for that. But will add that the GSD is probably the most versatile breed of dog, and is also very adaptive. By being adaptive, they can both form a strong bond of loyalty to their handler, yet be able to re-bond to a new handler if necessary. This is latter characteristic is highly valued in the military especially, as it is more likely to be needed.

Answer 2

I think the golden retriever is better just because they are more loving, more loyal not as protective as a lab so there wouldn't be much aggression issues, they are much more gentler to little kids and other animals where as a lab is boisterous, stubborn, more protective, sometimes aggressive, most of the time good with children and some can't tolerate other animal whereas a golden can. Golden have more of a personality and understand you more than any other dog breed in the world. They are the ideal dog and that's why you hardly find them in shelters or pounds because of their sweet nature. Also labs shed more than golden star, surprsingly but labs are lower maintenance than a golden retriever. I'm not saying the lab isn't a great dog, they're awesome, but they're second to the golden retriever. Thank you.

Answer 3

Dog training are excellent and very helpful to build you a stronger relationship with your dog. Read more https://tr.im/gsrNo



After I started training my dog, he became very attached to me and loves to stay by side as long as he can. But just going to them won't help. You have to practice what they teach you outside of the class and you need to keep up with it at least every now and then after the class ends otherwise they'll just go back to previous habits. This course is a really good place to go for dog obedience classes. It get's your dog around other people and dogs to socialize while getting the training you need. As for electric collars, I would say to not get one. In my experience, they're only a negative effect on your dog. I mean of course you're going to need to correct your dog, but being positive and encouraging your dog works a lot faster and easier.



Every dog is different, so unless you have a german shepherd or a really smart dog, it might take a while to train her. You might get frustrated with her, but go easy. She's still a puppy and has a lot of energy. A backyard or somewhere to run will help her get rid of a lot of energy that might cause her to misbehave from boredom.

Answer 4

The most frequently used is the Labrador (black, yellow or chocolate). Golden retrievers are also used. Golden/labrador crosses are only starting to become popular. GSDs are used frequently as guide dogs, in fact they were the original guide dog. According to two trainers at the Seeing Eye that I've discussed this with, more Labradors are placed as guide dogs because more guide dog owners aren't able to handle shepherds. Shepherds are smart. Sometimes too smart. They get into trouble if their owner can't keep ahead of them. Labs are less likely to get into that kind of trouble with weaker handlers. There's also a public relations issue. It's easier to work a Lab in public than a GSD because many people associate GSDs with police dogs.



But that's just guide dogs. A great many different breeds are used for other kinds of service work. Border Collie mixes, for example, tend to make great hearing dogs. Medium sized active dogs of any breed are usually a first choice for hearing work. Mastiffs tend to be good at heavy work, such as helping a person transfer from bed to chair. Small dogs of any breed might be used for medical dogs, particularly for psychiatric service dogs. I know people using Chessies, Dalmatians, mixes, Flat Coated Retrievers, Labradoodles, Chihuahuas, Papillions, Border Collies, Great Danes, Leonburgers, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Poodles, and many more breeds.



GSDs aren't the only breed used for police and military work. They also use Blood Hounds, Malinois, and Labradors among others.



Working dogs are selected for specific characteristics that make them suited for the job. When the desired characteristics coincide with a breed's characteristics, that breed is more likely to be chosen for that task. GSDs are popular for police and military work because they tend to have many of the desired traits, like courage, strength, high drives, a good nose, trainability, loyalty, and intelligence. Suitable dogs are abundantly available from breeders of Eastern line GSDs, so they're pretty popular for police work.



Edited to add:



Um, Naomi, German Shepherds are not wild dogs from the dawn of Europe. The breed originated from working sheep dogs in Germany and was formally organized as a breed on April 3, 1899. They are bred for loyalty because a sheep herder working alone in the fields with his flock needed a reliable worker who would also defend him if he was attacked by thieves.



A well bred German Shepherd is not reactive at all. Fearful dogs are reactive and a proper GSD is far from fearful. Confident dogs are very level headed and think before acting.

Answer 5

Golden Retrievers and Labradors are used as Service dogs because of there placid temperments, calm demeaner, and friendly nature, plus there NOT too big for a person with disablity to control, and they can easily access things other breeds can't, as well as being intelligent.



For example a Rottweiler would pretty much suck as wheelchair assistant dog due to the fact there heavy build would likely pull over a wheelchair.



German Shepherd used as police dogs, because there strong, tough, intelligent, and can be a bit scary looking if it comes up and attacks YOU. You be very frightened.



Golden Retriever and Labradors generally won't be scary enough for police work. Lol my lab mix is actually very good at scaring people with the way she plays with other dogs. She screws up her face into a rotty type snarl without the snarl when playing and starts to bark. It sends most people running for cover!



Lol in australia i seen one odd guide dog it was Purebred Rhodesian Ridgeback! It was the typcically reddish brown colour of the ridgey and the classic ridge on it back, i wasn't very good on dog breed back then, so i didn't realise what was at 1st i though it was a funny coloured labrador., but then i had a look online at Rhodesian Ridgeback and the dog was exactly the same.



The dog was in the common guide dog harness, and the guy walking it was wearing the classic sun glasses.



Strange choice of dog for blind work.



They did try the Labrador x Poodle to create a low allergy dog for blind people it failed. 99% of dogs that came from this mix shed, and they weren't suitable for guide work. 1 did get through but it shed like the others. They had a whole litter of unwanted pups-that how the labradoodle came about in australia. to try and get them sold. Looks like that method gotten out of control now with all these designer named mutts!

Answer 6

• Guide Dogs:

Based on the experiences of a blind friend and of a professional trainer friend in the USofA, and of GSD breeders in NZ, it is that modern trainers are dedicated to "get paid as soon as possible" rather than "produce the best product for each client", plus that many of those trainers are prejudiced.



The blind woman had 4 inadequate guide dogs in a row - actually, the first was fine as a guide, but it was constantly too ill (allergies) to work so had to be retired very early. A blind person can stay dog-less for a LONG time before a replacement is available, and without a guide dog cannot perform much in the way of office-work, etc. And when a dog IS ready, the blind person must go live at the training school for a while to ensure that dog & human are working together - not the ideal situation for a mother of toddlers, or a person in paid employment!

She ended up choosing a young-adult GSD in a rescue group, and training it herself - with the help of a sighted friend for setting up "traffic" situations. And is VERY happy with what she has.



Apart from a few pets used as little more than "mobile canes" by a few blind people, the original guide dogs were ALL German Shepherd Dogs. See "First Lady of the Seeing Eye" by Morris Frank. See "The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior" by Clarence Pfaffenberger.

However, GSDs are rarely mentally mature before 3 years, AND (like Border Collies!) they get bored by constant repetition (ever worked on an assembly line?). So they DON'T suit trainers whose "method" is to repeat a single lesson 30 times in succession - whereas Retriever breeds lap up repetition.

In addition, not many blind people are suitable for a GSD first time up. People who've never owned a dog, people who are cowed by a dog's ENERGY, are unlikely to maintain the training consistency that a GSD needs. And especially: People who have become so unconfident about moving that they just shuffle gingerly along are NOT suited for the speed a GSD prefers to walk at.

And then there's prejudice - sometimes deserved! Because the GSD is so popular, far too many are produced from parents who should have been neutered (often by owners who should have been neutered! Better: Their parents should!), with disastrous effects on behaviour & character.

The imported trainers who set up my country's first guide dog school wouldn't have a bar of GSDs. A couple of our top show breeders had to donate GSDs, to "force their arm".



• Police Dogs:

Actually, the police use several breeds, depending on what's best for the particular task. But for patrol dogs - which is what you mostly see checking out a crime scene or being used to quieten an unruly mob - when properly bred the 2 Shepherd Dog breeds (Belgians & Germans) are supreme. Both are the ideal size-compromise between small-for-agility but large-for-power; both were selected to have initiative + responsibility so that they could be left in charge of the flock (and the unfenced crops!) while the human went off to do something else; both were selected to have courage so that they could stand up to a hungry ram or a hungry predator (2-legged or 4-legged); both were selected to have endurance plus great devotion to their human "pack". Therefore what makes for a competent boundary-patrolling herding dog also makes for a competent security/protection dog.

Les P, owner of GSD_Friendly: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GSD_Friendly

"In GSDs" as of 1967

Answer 7

Well, there is no such thing as a golden labrador, there are yellow labradors and golden retreivers. Both are very common in the feild of therapy dogs. The credit of development of these dogs is given to Lord Tweedmouth who wished to develop a dog that was loyal and kind, yet spirited and energetic, with a love for the water and an ability to retrieve. And he did just that, these dogs are characterized by there patience, willingness, intelligence, ability to learn, personality, and abilty to cope with high pain situations. This coctail is what makes them a high choice for therapy dogs. Other common working dogs are poodles and designer dogs such as goldendoodles and labradoodles. As for the german shepards, they were originally wild dogs but in the dawn of Europe were domesticated, usually by one man alone which is where they get their deep sense of loyalty. This breed is also very intellegent. However they are much more reactive and do not lack the athletic ability and stocky build that so many other breeds to. This is what makes them a hot topic for the legal working force today.

Answer 8

The Labrador Retriever is used, because of their easy to train, calm temperaments. My next dog will not be any retriever, because my harsh training methods will make it mentally shut down, and I personally do not like retrievers. I will be getting an Akita. And I will be training it for service dog work, among other things.



Edit: You know, I have NEVER seen a Chocolate Labrador used as a service dog... hmm.

Answer 9

Often its Golden or Black Labradors for their temperament and patience and nose power

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrador_Retriever#Use_as_working_dogs

and

Alsations - for locating and chasing

Springer Spaniels etc - for sniffer dogs

Answer 10

because both golden retrievers and labradors are smart and both are retrievers...as far as police dogs...i think it's because they are easier to train to protect than other breeds...i had a shepherd when i lived in the country he was given to me by a friend...she trained him herself no guy would get close to the house with him except my husband...we let him run loose at noght he was a guard dog..

Answer 11

they are very very smart dogs and they have some size to them to.