Excited to get my First pup and looking for input

[Erosanagape]

So, for backstory on me a little bit, I am 27 / F (Biologically); I have lived with 3 or so dogs for the past 9 years or so; taking care of them when their real owner couldn't be fucked about them. I raised a litter of pups from birth to eight weeks and dealt with the puppy stage due to the 2 of the 3 dogs mentioned before. I grew up with only cats but for months now I've been considering buying a pup next year as a working dog for myself. Now I'm not going to go into too much detail about me personally, but I will state that I have Spinal Issues that cause me severe pain, Cognitive issues (Adhd, Anxiety, Panic Disorder, and a few other undisclosed) and most importantly, PTSD from the very same living situation stated above. I am in a better place now so that is why I am considering getting a puppy NOW because I'm safe and I can actually focus on what the pup at hand needs.


Ideally, I would love to have this puppy be trained in Service Dog work for PTSD and Anxiety Attacks along with doing some moderate Obedience training. I want this pup to not end up like those 3 dogs (They only saw me, my sperm donor excuse of a father and my cousin and no one else causing socialization issues that their owner will not fix and refuses to take them on walks too.).

I'll be buying the pup mid-December of next year due to me having possible 2-3 surgeries to try and fix some of my health issues and doing a possible international trip next year. Working type training wouldn't start until Mayor July of 2024.

Even if I went on like a trip somewhere in late 2024-2025, I would either take them with me or leave them at a trusted boarding facility who also does extra training and socialization because I don't want the second person in the house to take care of him (They have their own health issues that I will not state here at all).

I do plan to crate train the pup. I also don't plan on neutering him until 2 OR even when he gets to two I probably won't if he does not medically need it.

Here are the top breeds that I am Considering:
Rottweiler
Staffy
Cane Corso
Great Dane
English Mastiff

I am kind of coming on here to get advice from owners and people who have experiences with puppies and in general as well. Kind of take what you can get and I want an outside view as well. Plus, I kinda wanted to share my excitement of getting my first dog.

 

[Cowboi69]

Most of those are fighting/guarding breeds not suited for service. Great Dane would be the best option out of the 5.

 

[egoldstein]

I'm with @Cowboi69 , I would rexeamine what you're hoping for as you primary reasons for a dog and select based on that criteria. I think most of the ones you listed would not likely be good choices and your odds of getting a dog capable of being a good service dog would not be good.

There are plenty of books written on the subject and it's something a dedicated individual can do with enough knowledge and planning. I expect a lot out of my dogs, so I know what a person can reasonably accomplish if they put forth the effort.

 

[knottman]

dont let people tell you “fighting” breeds arent good service dogs. figting breeds dont exist… shitty people do. GUARDIAN breeds are some of the best all around dogs. All the dogs you listed would work great, if anything danes and english mastiffs are lazier and slightly less intelligent.

^ I can tell they’re trying to help but i can tell you they just jerk off to pics of those dogs and have no real experience with the breeds? I have owned a rottie in the past and he was a great service dog and I own a cane corso who would walk circles around any lab or golden retriever you want to slap a vest on

 

[egoldstein]

dont let people tell you “fighting” breeds arent good service dogs. figting breeds dont exist… shitty people do. GUARDIAN breeds are some of the best all around dogs. All the dogs you listed would work great, if anything danes and english mastiffs are lazier and slightly less intelligent.

^ I can tell they’re trying to help but i can tell you they just jerk off to pics of those dogs and have no real experience with the breeds? I have owned a rottie in the past and he was a great service dog and I own a cane corso who would walk circles around any lab or golden retriever you want to slap a vest on

These breeds are not typically bred for such tasks and as such the typical example of most of those breeds are not particularly good at service tasks. Can they do it? Usually, but with some caveats. The big fault I tend to see with several of these breeds is their response to unknown events and surprises. You absolutely do not want the dog guarding you from getting medical assistance, for instance. As I stated, one can find examples of just about any breed that is capable, but one needs to select carefully for a compatible lineage.

I've worked with many of the breeds on the list and they're great dogs, but not what I'd be picking if I wanted the kind of dog OP describes.

Edit: And just because someone slaps a vest on a dog doesn't make it a service dog. The dog needs to perform a vital function and it absolutely must remain under handler control at all times. These aren't trivial things to train, they're not especially hard either (especially with a dog who's well suited), but well beyond what I see from the vast number of people who state they've trained a few dogs. As I said in my first post on this thread it's possible to do it, but it takes a lot more effort than most people are willing to invest, either in themselves to learn how, or in the dog to condition and proof.

And looking at your post history, I can see why you might think others "just jerk off to pics of those dogs and have no real experience"

 

[knottman]

These breeds are not typically bred for such tasks and as such the typical example of most of those breeds are not particularly good at service tasks. Can they do it? Usually, but with some caveats. The big fault I tend to see with several of these breeds is their response to unknown events and surprises. You absolutely do not want the dog guarding you from getting medical assistance, for instance. As I stated, one can find examples of just about any breed that is capable, but one needs to select carefully for a compatible lineage.

I've worked with many of the breeds on the list and they're great dogs, but not what I'd be picking if I wanted the kind of dog OP describes.

Edit: And just because someone slaps a vest on a dog doesn't make it a service dog. The dog needs to perform a vital function and it absolutely must remain under handler control at all times. These aren't trivial things to train, they're not especially hard either (especially with a dog who's well suited), but well beyond what I see from the vast number of people who state they've trained a few dogs. As I said in my first post on this thread it's possible to do it, but it takes a lot more effort than most people are willing to invest, either in themselves to learn how, or in the dog to condition and proof.

And looking at your post history, I can see why you might think others "just jerk off to pics of those dogs and have no real experience"

what makes you think guardian breeds take more effort to train as service dogs than any other breed? My personal experience tells the exact opposite

 

[egoldstein]

what makes you think guardian breeds take more effort to train as service dogs than any other breed? My personal experience tells the exact opposite

I did't say they would take more effort, though they might depending on the tasks required.

If one needs a dog for scent work, you don't typically pick from one of the brachycephalic breeds, you pick one that's bred for nosework. Can you find other dogs who can do a decent job? Sure, I can recall a pitmix who was a fine cadaver dog and he was good at it, but he was the only one who showed promise from the entire facility. I've dealt with malinois, labs, goldens, etc who were unsuited to service work, fine dogs, but not stable enough for reliable work. You can teach a Saint Bernard to fetch, but if you want a dog who fetches they're not a good breed to base your search on; you might get lucky, but the chances are you'll have a dog who fetches poorly compared to one for whom that kind of task is inherent.

It's about playing the odds, most individuals don't have the time and resources to evaluate hundreds of dogs for the task, nor to train as many as they can to find the few who pass muster, so you're better off choosing a breed that's the most compatible for the task to increase your odds.

Stop at any dog show and you can find examples of most breeds capable of obedience, rally, nosework, etc and those are fine foundations, but a service animal takes more, they need to react appropriately for an unpredictable environment.

 

[xtylerider]

So, for backstory on me a little bit, I am 27 / F (Biologically); I have lived with 3 or so dogs for the past 9 years or so; taking care of them when their real owner couldn't be fucked about them. I raised a litter of pups from birth to eight weeks and dealt with the puppy stage due to the 2 of the 3 dogs mentioned before. I grew up with only cats but for months now I've been considering buying a pup next year as a working dog for myself. Now I'm not going to go into too much detail about me personally, but I will state that I have Spinal Issues that cause me severe pain, Cognitive issues (Adhd, Anxiety, Panic Disorder, and a few other undisclosed) and most importantly, PTSD from the very same living situation stated above. I am in a better place now so that is why I am considering getting a puppy NOW because I'm safe and I can actually focus on what the pup at hand needs.


Ideally, I would love to have this puppy be trained in Service Dog work for PTSD and Anxiety Attacks along with doing some moderate Obedience training. I want this pup to not end up like those 3 dogs (They only saw me, my sperm donor excuse of a father and my cousin and no one else causing socialization issues that their owner will not fix and refuses to take them on walks too.).

I'll be buying the pup mid-December of next year due to me having possible 2-3 surgeries to try and fix some of my health issues and doing a possible international trip next year. Working type training wouldn't start until Mayor July of 2024.

Even if I went on like a trip somewhere in late 2024-2025, I would either take them with me or leave them at a trusted boarding facility who also does extra training and socialization because I don't want the second person in the house to take care of him (They have their own health issues that I will not state here at all).

I do plan to crate train the pup. I also don't plan on neutering him until 2 OR even when he gets to two I probably won't if he does not medically need it.

Here are the top breeds that I am Considering:
Rottweiler
Staffy
Cane Corso
Great Dane
English Mastiff

I am kind of coming on here to get advice from owners and people who have experiences with puppies and in general as well. Kind of take what you can get and I want an outside view as well. Plus, I kinda wanted to share my excitement of getting my first dog.

Wish you can carry on this plan. Congrats!