Big dog little dog
From Service Dog Training
How big should a service dog be? There can be benefits to both smaller and larger dogs.
The size of your dog may be defendant on your needs. If you need a dog that is able to balance you while you walk or pull your wheelchair, you will need a larger dog, with the exact size dependent on your size. I'm about 110 pounds and I would not use a dog less than 55-60 pounds for balance and walking support. If you are larger, you should consider larger dogs. At the same time, you should keep in mind that an unnecessarily large dog can make using public transportation and airplanes difficult. Consider both your needs and practicalities of everyday life when selecting a large dog for balance and mobility.
For other tasks, the size of the dog may not matter at all. A hearing dog or medical alert dog can be any size. A small dog is easier to transport, fits just about anywhere and is generally cheaper to feed and maintain. If the dog's temperament is sound and the personality fits what you need, there is no reason to exclude a smaller dog. However, you should keep in mind that when the general public thinks of a service dog, they think of a larger dog, generally a Golden Retriever, German Shepherd or Labrador Retriever. If you choose to work with a smaller dog, you should be prepared to deal with a great amount of skepticism about the capability of your dog to do any sort of useful work. If you prefer a small dog and are willing to deal with a certain amount of disbelief, there is no reason to get a larger dog. However, if the size of the dog does not matter to you, you may experience slightly less access problems with a larger dog. I might note here that if you choose a non-traditional breed of dog, whether large or small, you will likely experience more problems as well.
There are some cases also where a smaller dog may be preferable. There is a growing trend in laptop service dogs for power chair users, where a small breed of dog is trained to retrieve items and perform tasks from its handler's lap or a basket on a powerchair. These small dogs can retrieve keys, medication or other items, call for emergency assistance, hop on a store counter with money or a credit card and turn on lights and open automatic doors while standing on their handler's lap. If this type of service is what you need, than a small dog would be your best bet.
In many cases, the decision for a large or small dog will be determined by your needs. However, if you have the pleasure of selecting the size you want, it can be a lot of fun selecting exactly the size of dog that fits your preferences.
