What are the best small breed service dogs? When most people hear the term “service dog,” images of big dogs like the German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, or Labrador Retriever may come to mind.

Nonetheless, small dogs can serve much of the same purpose. Most people have a conception of what it means to perform a service for someone who is disabled, thinking that it just includes things like moving a wheelchair or helping someone who is visually impaired.

Consider adopting a dog from a local shelter. See my article on Why Adopt a Dog for details.

Both large and small dog types are just as capable of accomplishing many tasks. Possessing a small dog breed as an emotional support animal has many benefits, but it also comes with some possible downsides.

In this article, we’ll talk about some of the best small breed service dogs, and we’ll assess what makes them stand out from other breeds.

What Exactly Is a Service Dog?

Service dogs are particularly trained to do certain activities for individuals with disabilities, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

These impairments can be physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or mental in nature.

They are many support systems to help those that need a service dog. These include traveling with your service dog on Amtrak or most airlines.

Poodle

Although it may come as a surprise to some, poodles may make best service dogs breeds and are one of the easiest small dogs to train.

Despite their cute appearance, these puppies are quite smart and easy to train. They are also incredibly social and have a fantastic sense of smell.

The capacity of poodles to detect food allergens is a game-changer for people with life-threatening allergies. A standard poodle, the largest of the breed, can carry and retrieve items for those who have mobility issues.

Although the miniature and toy poodles are smaller than the standard poodle, they are nonetheless well-suited for jobs that demand mobility.

Pomeranian

The Pomeranian is a toy breed that is often more than capable of completing duties related to service work, despite the fact that the vast majority of service dogs are on the larger side.

A Pomeranian is not the best choice if you need help with mobility or balance, but he may be taught to perform several tasks that don’t call for a lot of strength or bulk.

They are quite submissive to their masters, and most of them enjoy having work to do. You should seriously consider getting a Pomeranian as a service dog if you need one but don’t have the space or time to care for a large breed.

Pomeranians are so cute that you won’t have to worry about anyone being startled if you decide to take them out in public. They are also small enough to fit in a purse or a backpack.

Pomeranians are highly useful as psychiatric service dogs since they are one of the most emotionally attuned dog breeds. They are also have some of the small dogs with the least health issues.

Border Collie

In addition to its common use in herding animals and sheep, the Border Collie is also a popular competitor in dog obedience competitions. After all, this was their intended use from the start. It is more of a medium-sized dog but small enough for smaller homes.

While Border collies’ high levels of activity may be too much for some people, it makes them a great alternative for others. Border collies are eager to please their owners and can be easily trained to carry out a broad variety of tasks.

The Collie breed is highly recommended for the role of service dog due to its many useful traits. Dogs of this smart breed are often used to assist those who suffer from epilepsy because of their ability to sense when a seizure is about to begin.

Collies are a great alternative for assisting persons with PTSD and other psychiatric difficulties since they get along well with children and have a tranquil, optimistic personality.

Collies, in general, are regarded as exceptionally bright. This makes them prime candidates for careers as service or support dogs.

Border Collies make excellent service dogs, with the only possible negatives being their high activity level and tendency to shed.

Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terriers are known for their boldness, curiosity, and eagerness to try new things. This makes them a good option for a service dog in settings where rigorous exercise is not required.

The intelligence and selflessness of Yorkshire terriers make them useful in a variety of settings. This includes the recovery of medications during emergencies and the activation of alarms when they detect a critical problem.

The Yorkie is also known as one of the best small therapy dogs.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Another breed of canine that is considered to be among the best small breed service dogs is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

The breed’s name comes from the elegant aspect of its coats. While not the highest maintenance, they do require the occasional good brushing.

Even though they’re a smaller breed, these dogs are fully capable of performing the duties of a service dog and are known as one of the best service dog breeds.

The Cavalier King is also one of the easiest small dogs to potty train as well as training in general.

Corgi

Many people link the British royal family with the Corgi breed since Queen Elizabeth II has owned more than 30 of them during her life.

These cute small dogs can make even the gloomiest person smile. The Corgi is a breed that is known for its high level of intelligence as well as its high level of activity.

Because they are so good with children, they would be an excellent choice for a service dog to work in pediatric hospitals or elementary schools.

The Corgi also makes the list of the best small dog breeds for seniors and retirees.

Labradoodle

Labradoodles are a hybrid breed created by crossing Poodles and Labrador Retrievers.

These are two of the most popular dog breeds that possess the qualities of a trustworthy aid companion.

The Labradoodle breed is not commonly recognized as a breed of service dog. In reality, Labradoodles are excellent candidates for the role of service dogs for people of all ages. This is because they combine the trainability of a standard poodle with the intelligence of a Labrador retriever.

The Labradoodle also makes our list of cute small hypoallergenic dogs – poodle mixes.

Best Small Breed Service Dogs

The best small breed service dogs can compete with larger dogs and will be more suitable for those with small spaces and cannot handle a larger dog.

I hope you found this list of small breed service dogs helpful to decide for yourself or a loved one.

Please visit our link to service dog gear for a great selection of service dog harnesses, ID tags, collars, and leashes.

When Looking to travel with your service dog, please see my articles on Amtrak service dog guide for traveling by Amtrak with your service dog and Best Airline to Fly with a Service Dog.

Also please consider being a dog foster parent. See my article on How to Be a Foster Parent for Dogs for details.

As always, proper nutrition is also an important part of a dog’s health along with feeding the right amount.

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