Guide Dog Breeds - The Ultimate Service Dog For The Blind

Long gone are the days when only German Shepherds were used as seeing eye dogs for the blind. This article will explore the best guide dog breeds used today, along with some general information about how guide dogs are selected and ways to get involved in training these hard working canines.

Qualities of the Best Guide Dogs

Guide dog breeds for the blind are chosen based on having certain qualities that play a vital role in servicing the needs of their blind charges. These qualities include:

Selecting the Best Guide Dog Puppies

Although breed does offer some indication of a dog’s natural tendencies, individual personality in canines still plays a role in selecting the best dogs for this important service work. In addition, the personality of a dog plays a big role in determining the fit when matched to their person.

Choosing individual dogs that are likely to succeed in the lengthy and expensive training programs used to build a guide dog for the blind has been the subject of a good deal of research. However, different studies have looked at different aspects of puppy behavior as predictors of success.

While no standard behavior test has yet been agreed upon, experienced guide dog trainers use a mix of research and experience when looking for the best puppies to include in the extensive training programs on the way to becoming a service dog for the blind.

In addition, trained “Puppy Raisers,” that is, volunteers who take the first leg of training with new candidates also look for a variety of behavioral markers for choosing the best dogs to move on to the next round of training.

Seeing Eye Dog Breeds

Although certain breeds have become iconic as guide dogs, the types of guide dogs by breed is actually a fairly diverse field these days. There are several breeds that seem to naturally embody many of the qualities covered above. They each have some unique benefits and drawbacks, as we will explore below.

German Shepherd Guide Dog

The very first breed used as Seeing Eye Dogs were German Shepherds. Germans, who had been successfully using these dogs in military service, began to train these dogs to help WWI veterans in their country.

It took almost a decade for the use of German Shepherds as guide dogs for the blind to spread across Europe and the United States. In 1929 The Seeing Eye school in Nashville, Tennessee was opened in the U.S. and German Shepherds were used exclusively for many years to come.

However, as iconic as the German Shepherd guide dog for the blind may remain in the public imagination, the truth is that have fallen somewhat out of favor as other breeds such as the Lab and Golden retriever have become more popular as service dogs.

Golden Retriever Guide Dog

To address some of the temperament and health downsides that can come with German Shepherds, other breeds have gained popularity as service dogs for the blind. One is the Golden Retriever. With a bit more of a laid back personality, the Goldie gets big praise for being easy to work with while still providing a recognizable presence when working in public.

Labrador Retriever Guide Dog

The Labrador Retriever isn’t just the most popular dog in America according the AKC, it is also the most popular breed for seeing eye dogs. With their excellent temperament and strong trainability, the main downside of this breed is that they have fairly high energy needs, particularly when young. They can make a great fit for a very active charge, however.

Golden & Lab Mix Guide Dogs

The two most popular breeds used as guide dogs include the Lab and the Goldie, and more and more breeding programs are crossing these breeds for a lab/golden hybrid that is showing a lot of promise in seeing eye dog training programs.

Poodle Guide Dog

Poodles rank among the most intelligent dog breeds. They are easy to train and quick to please. And, thanks to the fact that they are hypoallergenic, they are making headway as guide dogs for blind people who are allergic to dogs.

A potential downside of this breed is that many in the public may be so surprised by the use of a Poodle as a guide dog, they may rush over to pet or otherwise interfere with her work.

Border Collie or Australian Shepherd Guide Dogs

Here are two breeds that share many characteristics: They are both highly intelligent, easy as pie to train, able to understand and complete very complex tasks, and have a very high level of focus when working.

However, despite their popularity as competition dogs in the agility ring, these two breeds are only rarely found as guide dogs in service to the blind. That being said, for the right charge, these intense and hardworking dogs can be a great fit – as long as the person is highly active and able to meet the high exercise and mental stimulation needs of these intense herding breeds.

Best Guide Dog Breeds

Do you have experience with one of the guide dog breeds mentioned in this article? Or, perhaps you have trained or worked with another breed that you find has made an ideal service dog for the blind? Please feel free to join in the conversation by leaving a comment below.