If you’re looking to get a service dog for yourself, your child, or a community member, look no further than a mini sheepadoodle.
Do mini Sheepadoodles make good service dogs?
Yes!
But first, let’s take a look at what a service dog is.
What is a Service Dog?
The term ‘service dog’ can be confusing because it is an umbrella term.
It is important to note that, although service dogs receive specific training, some use the term interchangeably with psychiatric assistance dogs and emotional support animals. Here’s the difference:
Service Dogs
According to the American Kennel Club, a service dog’s purpose is to assist a person with specific tasks to lead a more independent life. A service dog would perform tasks such as crossing the street for a visually impaired individual.
Service dogs are trained by licensed professionals and protected under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). Service dogs are allowed everywhere their human can go. Some specifically trained dogs perform tasks directly with their person’s disability. These dogs include guide dogs for the visually impaired, hearing dogs for the dead and hard-of-hearing, mobility dogs for those in wheelchairs or walking devices, and medical alert dogs to signal medical issues.
Psychiatric Assistance Dogs
The purpose of psychiatric service dogs is to assist their handlers with mental disabilities. For example, someone may instruct their dog to intervene if they exhibit repetitive behaviors. Or to wake someone up with a sleep disorder after they’ve fallen asleep midday.
Like service dogs, psychiatric service dogs trained by a licensed professional dog handler have the same rights under the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Emotional Support Dogs
Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are technically not service dogs, but many refer to ESAs as such. ESAs do not require specialized training but need to be exceptionally well behaved and trained well to be in public spaces. ESAs can ease anxiety and stress, support trauma, encourage exercise and give companionship and love to those that need it most.
ESA pups are not required to wear specific vests, ID tags marking them as ESA, or harnesses. You need proof of your dog being ESA certified for apartment living or public transit. In that case, you’ll have to show documentation from a mental health professional.
Do mini Sheepadoodles make good service dogs?
Mini Sheepadoodles are incredible service dogs that make excellent companions. They are easily a favorite among the service dog community for many reasons. Let’s dig in. 
Size
Mini Sheepadoodles weigh less than 55 lbs and are less than 22 inches. That makes mini Sheepadoodles medium to large-sized dogs. Places such as hotels and restaurants often prohibit large dogs over 60 pounds.
The pups are also tall enough to help with things such as turning on light switches and carrying objects. Service dogs need to get something off the counters, tables, and refrigerators. Mini Sheepadoodles are tall enough to do all of this.
Energy Level
The Mini Sheepadoodle is the perfect service dog since it has a moderate level of energy. They do not demand too much exercise from their person, but they will encourage walks and getting out and about.
One of the benefits of having an Emotional Support Dog is that it will encourage you to be active. Taking daily 30-minute walks is a must for the dog and great for everyone’s health. Daily walks lower your blood pressure, increase your oxygen levels, and help with muscle and joint pain, along with a myriad of other health benefits.
Intelligence
Mini Sheepadoodles are an intelligent breed of pup. They get their smarty pants from their poodle parent, who also make excellent service dogs.
Having an intelligent pup makes training more manageable and gives the dog more intuition to help its human.
Easy Going
Old English Sheepdogs are extremely laid back, while Poodles are more hyper. Thankfully, mini Sheepadoodles often get their OES parent’s mannerisms and turn out to be easy-going pups.
Service dogs must be pretty laid back while waiting in a movie theater, at a restaurant, or just hanging around the house. They can’t be causing a ruckus or getting into trouble.
Hypoallergenic
Hypoallergenic dogs are preferred by many to be service dogs because they are non-shedding, non-drolling pets. Mini Sheepadoodles are an extremely hypoallergenic breed that even people with severe dog allergies can own.
While that’s great for the mini Sheepadoodles person, it’s also great for everyone around them. Service dogs go into public areas and interact with other people around them. A hypoallergenic dog will be more welcome in these areas, and more people will be willing to help if they ask for it. 
Social
Mini Sheepadoodles are extremely social pups who love to go out and meet new people. For a service dog, this is great because the dog won’t be afraid or aggressive to strangers.
Service animals also need to be able to go and get help if their person has a medical emergency. A social, friendly dog will have an easier time doing this and will be less intimidating to those it approaches.
Pet & Child Friendly
Among being social, mini Sheepadoodles love other dogs and children. Again, service dogs need to be able to any social setting, whether other dogs or playful kids are running around.
Mini Sheepadoodles often gently play with children and can even be a nanny dog to children in the family.
Loyal
Old English Sheepdogs, or a parent to the mini Sheepadoodle, are herding dogs. Herding dogs are incredibly loyal to their people because they see them as their flock. They will protect their people and stand by them.
Mini Sheepadoodles will stick with their people and form strong bonds with their family members.
Easy to Train
The high intelligence of a mini Sheepadoodle and its easy-going nature leads to easy and enjoyable training. Service dogs and psychiatric assistance dogs will be trained by a professional, and emotional support dogs will be easily trainable by their person. 
Fluffy
This may sound silly, but having a fluffy, soft pup is a beautiful quality for a service dog. Petting a dog can reduce your heart rate, lower your blood pressure, and decrease anxiety. That’s why mini Sheepadoodles make great Emotional Support or Therapy dogs.
But it’s a bit more than just being adorably fluffy. Mini Sheepadoodles have beautiful coats and are non-smelly. When you have a service dog, it’s nice to have a good-smelling, non-shedding, easy-to-care-for pup.
Final Thoughts
Mini Sheepadoodles are soft, cute, and well-mannered pups. They’re easy to train, and they are a perfect size.
Mini Sheepadoodles really do make good service dogs!
Are you ready to get your own mini Sheepadoodle? Click here to start an application today!