Please read the blog post on August 30, 2019 prior to this one to learn how more about our temperament testing.
A solid beta is the ideal dog for therapy. This is a dog that tests with mainly 4’s and has a moderate energy level. A dog that test’s with mainly 4’s can have a higher energy level and still do well as a therapy dog. A therapy dog can also test with a mixture of 3’s and 4’s as long as they present with a low to moderate energy level and they have a type A owner. A beta-omega with high to moderate energy can also be a great therapy dog, but socialization is the key to this guy. He will need to make new encounters with other people quite often before he is 16 weeks old.
A service dog is quite different than a therapy dog. A service dog needs a higher energy level and should have a good instinctual work ethic. An ideal service dog should test with a mixture of 3’s and 4’s and have a moderate to high energy level. They all should “fetch” during the temperament testing. A service dog potential can also have scores of mainly 3’s but a moderate to lower energy should be present. A solid beta (one that tests with mainly 4’s) with a high energy can also be a great service dog. These personality types are work minded, smart and wanting to help their person. They develop deep bonds with their owners and have a drive to assist. Goldendoodles do amazingly well as service dogs because they possess the whit, statue, temperament and right energy to do the job well.
A companion dog is a dog that does not work, as a service dog or therapy dog. Not because they wouldn’t be good at it, but mainly because they are providing only companionship as a pet, rather than usefulness by doing specific tasks. Many of the miniatures are used only for the pleasure of their company. They are friendly, reliable, trustworthy, and well-rounded. They are stable in most situations and environments, particularly with children, elderly, and the disabled, and they are consistent with that which is required to perform as a trained service and therapy dog.
Testing may be predictive and should not be construed as absolute given an animal's behavior ultimately depends upon internal, external, and environmental factors. And, the extent to which nature vs nurture influence and effect the ultimate behavior outcome irrespective of preliminary test results from a given point in time and the animal's life.