This is from a blog post by Kea Grace, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer that specializes in training working canines. In her post, Grace outlines ten characteristics that would make a dog unsuitable for training and use as a service dog.
In my opinion, this list is one of the reasons why working with an accredited service dog agency to obtain a service dog is so important, as they know what to look for and what to look out for when selecting a dog for service dog work. The fact is, few dogs qualify to be service dogs. Here Grace’s list. For an explanation of the list, I encourage you to read Grace’s entire post at http://www.anythingpawsable.com/10-things-make-dog-unsuitable-service-dog-work/#.VtMcWvkrI-U
- Structural Imbalances or Issues
- Genetic Illness
- Vision or Hearing Problems
- Unsuitable Size
- Overweight or Obese
- Timidity
- Reactivity
- Aggression
- Excessive Drive and/or Energy
- Aloof, No Desire to Interact or No Focus
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