Which Dogs Are Suitable as Guide Dogs

        Guide dogs must be gentle, intelligent, understanding, and fully adapt to living environments, making their selection quite challenging. To select guide dogs best suited to their national conditions, countries prioritize local dog breeds. The required nervous type for guide dogs is the calm type, which can almost lifelong retain learned abilities, making them the most suitable as guide dogs.

        Currently, the more commonly used guide dogs worldwide are Golden Retrievers and Labradors.

        Golden Retriever

        Also known as Golden Hunting Dog, it was previously used for hunting. Its height is 51cm-61cm, weight 25kg-34kg, and lifespan can reach up to 15 years. Golden Retrievers have high inherited immunity, robust body structure, and are easy to raise. They have a kind and friendly temperament and are very loyal to their owners. Golden Retrievers are also intelligent; under normal circumstances, they do not bark at other people or dogs, nor are they hostile. These factors make Golden Retrievers suitable as guide dogs. However, Golden Retrievers are prone to arthritis and osteoporosis, so it is best to avoid letting them sleep in cold places.

        Labrador

        Labradors have no other name. Their height is 54cm-62cm, weight 25kg-34kg, and average lifespan is 12 years. Labradors are intelligent, alert, and understanding. They have a gentle and stable temperament, being neither dull nor overly active. They are friendly to people and enjoy playing games. It is not hard to find that these characteristics are very similar to Golden Retrievers. Therefore, both are very suitable as guide dogs.

        Additionally, some countries use German Shepherds as guide dogs.

        German Shepherd

        Also known as Wolf Dog, their height is 55cm-56cm, weight 34kg-43kg, with an average lifespan of 10 years. German Shepherds have a strong and confident personality, stable nerves, and are not timid. Without stimulation, they are gentle, alert, and obedient. However, some people, especially children, may be afraid of German Shepherds, so they are less commonly used as guide dogs.