The variety of service dogs

If you're a fan of Growing Up Guide Pup, you probably know a fair amount about guide dogs and their job. You know that Golden Retrievers and Labradors are the most commonly used breeds, with a smattering of German Shepherds.

However, a service dog can be any size or breed, as long as the dog possesses what it takes to do his or her job. And these dogs can help disabled people with a variety of challenges, not just visual impairment. I'd like to introduce you to some of the amazing dogs whose handlers I've gotten to know in my time in the service dog community.

Lucas

Age: 2.5 years

Breed: Rough Collie

Status: Fully trained service dog (owner trained)

Job Description: Mobility and life assistance

Favorite Task: Retrieving objects and getting items off of shelves

Favorite Off-duty Activity: Roughhousing with his brother, Soren

And, sometimes, dressing up like a bunny.

Naughty Moment: Lucas once got into his handler's makeup when he was off duty and chewed up all her lipstick. She came home to him covered in red. When he was younger, he also once ate all of her left shoes. 

Rico Suave

Age: 9 years

Breed: Papillon

Status: Fully trained service dog (owner trained)

Job Description: Medical alert & psychiatric service dog

Favorite Task: Leading his handler to exits

Favorite Off-duty Activity: Sleeping

Naughty Moment: When Rico was still in training, he once crawled under a bathroom stall divider and scared the woman in the next stall by looking at her. 

Gir

Age: 2 years

Breed: Shetland Sheepdog

Status: Fully trained service dog (owner trained)

Job Description: Medical alerts (including blood sugar, migraine, low blood pressure, and heart rate spikes). Psychiatric work such as deep pressure therapy, interrupting self-harm behavior, and response to panic attacks.

Favorite Task: Engaging with his handler to interrupt flashbacks

Favorite Off-duty Activity: Playing with a flirt pole

Naughty Moment: Gir enjoys counter-surfing for goodies.

Rory

Age: 2

Breed: German Shepherd/Newfoundland mix

Status: Service dog in training (owner trained)

Job Description: Mobility support and psychiatric tasks

Favorite Task: Retrieving objects

Favorite Off-duty Activity: Swimming

Parker

Age: 8 years

Breed: Rat Terrier mix

Status: Fully trained service dog (owner trained)

Job Description: Psychiatric support, minor mobility tasks, retrieving

Favorite Task: Searching rooms before his handler enters

Favorite Off-duty Activity: Killing and unstuffing squeaky toys

Doogan (Full Name: URO1 CH'PR'PPK's Sir Doogan Gooseberry CGC TT)

Age: 3.5 years

Breed: American Pit Bull Terrier

Status: Fully trained service dog (owner trained)

Job Description: Medical alert and mobility assistance

Favorite Task: Carrying all the things, no matter what the objects happen to be

Favorite Off-duty Activity: Posing for the camera and strutting his stuff in the show ring

Watson

Age: 2.5 years

Breed: Standard Poodle

Status: Fully trained service dog (owner- and program-trained by Dreamrun Dog Training LLC)

Job Description: Mobility/balance, medical alert & response, anxiety alert & response

Favorite Task: Finding "grandma" and picking things up

Favorite Off-duty Activity: Playing with his frisbee, flirt pole, or tennis ball launcher

Naughty Moment: Watson once destroyed his bed inside his crate.

Voltaire

Age: 2 years

Breed: Beauceron

Status: Fully trained service dog (owner trained)

Job Description: Mobility assistance and medical alerts

Favorite Task: Retrieving objects

Favorite Off-duty Activity: Playing ball, raising puppies, swimming, swimming while retrieving balls

Fun Facts: Voltaire is originally from Burgundy, France, and was able to fit under the airplane seat as an eight-week-old puppy. He is now over 100 pounds!

Voltaire with one of "his" puppies

Bruce

Age: 6.5 years

Breed: Doberman

Status: Fully trained service dog (owner trained)

Job Description: Psychiatric and light mobility assistance

Favorite Task: Deep pressure therapy and interrupting behaviors

Favorite Off-duty Activity: Running on the beach

Fun Fact: Bruce, being a Doberman, is pretty high maintenance when it comes to chilly weather. No matter how many layers he's wearing, though, he's always professional.

Colt