Service dogs are special animals that go above and beyond the normal love, affection, and protection that normal dogs are expected to have. Some breeds are naturally much better suited to being service dogs than others. Here are the best breeds for crisis response.
Labrador Retrievers
Labrador Retrievers make amazing service dogs. When responders arrived after the San Bernardino shooting, service labradors Wally and Giovanni gave victims and first responders emotional support. They reduced the stressful environment and stayed by FBI staff who were working long hours under a lot of pressure.
Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers are the ideal service animals when they need to be dispatched to disaster zones to provide relief. A search and rescue dog named Bretagne provided comfort to first responders as they searched through the rubble at Ground Zero during 9/11, looking for survivors.
German Shepherd
The earthquake in Nepal in 2015 trapped many people underneath the rubble. German shepherds were dispatched with one mission in mind – search and rescue. They assist in finding those trapped, which shows how competent these animals are in high-stress situations.
Great Dane
Great Danes are amazing at evacuating people with limited mobility during disasters and have been used in these situations. Their strength means that they can move their owners quickly and safely among chaos, such as hurricanes or wildfires.
Collie
Collies are highly intelligent animals when they are trained properly. They can even be trained to recognize impending medical emergencies. One collie guided their handler to safety during Hurricane Irma before noticing that they were going to have a seizure and staying by their side.
Poodle
During Hurricane Katrina, people who needed emotional support in some shelters were allergic to certain breeds, so poodles were dispatched to combat these challenges. The hypoallergenic coat ensured that everyone could get the support they needed.
Boxer
Boxers are strong dogs that have been used in disaster zones to help guide their handlers through debris and other hazards. They have also been used to help mobility challenged people to navigate dangerous situations.
Border Collie
Border Collies were dispatched during the 2010 Haiti earthquake. They were trained to search and rescue anyone trapped during the disaster. The service dogs worked long hours to try to rescue everyone as quickly as possible.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is an amazing emotional support animal that has provided comfort during hospital evacuations after natural disasters. They have been able to keep both staff and patients calm in stressful situations.
Beagle
Beagles are praised for the amazing ability to sniff out scents that for miles. They are often involved in locating missing persons or finding contraband. During the 2018 Kerala floods in India, beagles put their tracking to good use and located many missing people and aided in rescuing them.
Rottweiler
Rottweilers have been used in many police departments around the world and in search and rescue. They have saved the lives of their handlers during high-stress police operations and have also assisted in getting people out of dangerous wildfire areas where their strength aided in keeping individuals stable.
American Staffordshire Terrier
The American Staffordshire Terrier are used as therapy dogs and were dispatched after natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes. They have provided comfort to displaced families and first responders dealing with traumatic situations.
Dalmatian
Dalmatians are historically carriage dogs, which means they have unmatched endurance. They have supported firefighters during wildfires and provided therapy to evacuees after they were led to safety.
