Trainer Names Five Dog Breeds Often Used for Emotional Support

Evan Doggett, a certified dog trainer, told Newsweek that five breeds are commonly chosen to assist owners managing anxiety. He emphasized that dogs are not a substitute for professional treatment but can provide routine and physical contact that some owners find helpful.

Newfoundlands are described as calm and strongly attached to people, traits Doggett said make them frequent therapy dogs. Their thick coats require regular grooming. Labrador retrievers remain one of the most popular breeds in the United States and are widely used in service programs.

Doggett noted that “field” lines can have energy levels roughly ten times higher than therapy-bred dogs. Golden retrievers are characterized as gentle and emotionally attuned. Doggett said “red goldens almost always mean a field dog,” which owners should consider when selecting a companion.

Both standard and miniature poodles can serve as therapy dogs, according to Doggett. He observed that once trained, poodles often stay close to owners in busy settings. Retired racing greyhounds are reported to be calm at home despite their speed. Doggett said they typically form close bonds with one or two people and sleep 18 to 22 hours a day.

Doggett stated that rescue dogs, especially mixed breeds aged five to seven, have performed well in his experience. He added that dogs spayed or neutered before eight months can show increased anxiety without extra nutrition, and those altered before four months may remain anxious for life.

Nutrition was also mentioned. Dogs fed balanced, lightly cooked or raw diets tended to be calmer, Doggett said. The article concludes that while dogs can complement anxiety-management strategies, they do not replace professional mental-health care.