How We Evaluate and Match Dogs for Service Work

Finding the right service dog isn’t just about breed or obedience—it’s about partnership, purpose, and potential. At Alaska Dog Works, our mission is to create life-changing partnerships between well-trained dogs and individuals living with physical, neurological, or psychological challenges. But before a dog ever begins advanced training, the first and most crucial step is evaluation.

How do we determine if a dog has what it takes to become a service dog? And just as importantly, how do we match that dog with the right person? In this post, we’ll take you behind the scenes to understand the rigorous process of selecting and pairing dogs for service work.

Whether you’re looking for a service dog for yourself or your loved one, or you’re wondering if your current dog may qualify, this guide will help you understand how Alaska Dog Works makes these important decisions.

Why Evaluation Matters in Service Dog Training

Service dogs aren’t pets, they’re highly trained, working partners. They’re expected to perform specific tasks, remain calm under pressure, adapt to changing environments, and maintain focus in distracting situations. Not every dog is cut out for this demanding role.

At Alaska Dog Works, our evaluation process ensures that only dogs with the right temperament, health, and driveproceed into service work. This isn’t just about checking boxes, it’s about honoring the responsibility we have to both our clients and the dogs we train.

Step 1: Assessing Temperament and Personality

Temperament is the foundation of a great service dog. We look for dogs who are:

• Stable and calm in a variety of environments

• Confident but not dominant

• Social without being overly excited

• Motivated and eager to please

• Neutral or non-reactive to people and other dogs

We use a series of structured assessments, including the Volhard Puppy Profile Test and our own in-house protocols. These tests help us evaluate how a dog reacts to novel situations, sudden sounds, unfamiliar surfaces, and human interaction. For adult dogs, we observe behavioral history and perform temperament evaluations over time in real-world settings.

Some dogs are naturally suited to high-energy tasks, while others thrive in calm, therapeutic roles. We categorize them accordingly, for example, some dogs are best suited for mobility assistance, while others may excel in autism support, medical alert, or PTSD service work.

Step 2: Health and Structural Soundness

A service dog is an investment in your independence and wellbeing, and it’s one that must be reliable for years to come. That’s why we only train dogs with:

• Excellent overall health

• Strong genetic background

• No signs of joint issues or dysplasia

• Good gait and conformation

• Ages that align with training timelines (usually between 10 months to 3 years old for new candidates)

Each dog is thoroughly evaluated by a veterinarian and receives screening for hip and elbow dysplasia (via OFA or PennHIP), eye exams, and cardiac health checks. Dogs that don’t meet these strict health requirements are not moved forward for service work. Instead, they may be re-homed, placed in therapy dog programs, or enjoy life as active companions.

Step 3: Trainability and Work Ethic

Even if a dog has the right temperament and physical soundness, we won’t move forward unless they show a clear willingness to engage, learn, and work.

We assess:

• How easily the dog picks up on new cues

• Whether the dog enjoys working for rewards (treats, praise, toys)

• Their ability to recover from failure and continue trying

• How well they perform basic obedience

• Their response to redirection and correction

Dogs that are extremely independent or have low food or toy drive may not be suitable for service work. At Alaska Dog Works, we focus on cultivating canine athletes of the mind, dogs that live to solve problems and make their handler’s life easier.

Step 4: Real-World Exposure

Dogs may do well in controlled environments, but service dogs must operate in dynamic, public spaces, airports, stores, schools, public transit, hospitals, and more. During the evaluation stage, we expose dogs to:

• Crowded places with lots of movement

• Loud and unexpected noises

• Shopping carts, elevators, automatic doors

• Different types of flooring (tile, metal, stairs, grates)

• Interaction with adults, children, and other dogs

We take detailed notes about how the dog behaves, how quickly they recover from startling events, and whether they stay connected with their handler. Dogs who startle but bounce back and refocus quickly are good candidates. Those who shut down or become reactive are not.

What If You Already Have a Dog?

Many clients ask us, “Can my dog become my service dog?”

The answer is: possibly, but it depends.

At Alaska Dog Works, we offer an in-depth evaluation of your current dog to determine if they meet the strict requirements for service work. While we’ve seen some wonderful success stories with owner-provided dogs, we are also honest when a dog is not suited for this kind of work. It’s not a failure, it’s about finding the best role for your dog’s natural strengths.

Some dogs who aren’t suitable for full service work may still do well in our DAWGS Therapy Dog Program or as skilled companions.

Our Ongoing Commitment

Service dogs from Alaska Dog Works receive:

• Over 800 hours of hands-on training

• Public access and task-specific training

• Client education and support

• Re-certification and follow-up support

This isn’t a one-time transaction, it’s a long-term relationship. We are committed to every handler-dog team we place, offering continued guidance as life evolves.

Whether you’re seeking a dog for mobility support, PTSD recovery, autism assistance, seizure alert, or another specialized need, we are here to help you every step of the way, from first evaluation to lifelong partnership.

Success Story: Meet Raven and Emily

Emily, a young woman living in Anchorage, came to us with complex PTSD and anxiety. She had researched service dogs for years but didn’t know how to begin. After a strategy call and intake interview, we matched her with Raven, a Golden Retriever who had shown remarkable calmness and task focus in training.

Over several months, Raven was trained to:

• Interrupt anxiety episodes

• Wake Emily from night terrors

• Provide deep pressure therapy on cue

• Maintain a barrier in crowded spaces

Today, Emily and Raven are inseparable. Emily can now navigate public spaces with more confidence, attend therapy appointments consistently, and even volunteer part-time, all thanks to a perfectly matched service dog and the right training journey.

Why Choose Alaska Dog Works?

We’ve been Alaska’s premier service dog trainers for over 15 years, serving clients from all walks of life and across a range of disabilities. Our clients choose us because we:

• Customize training for your needs

• Offer in-depth dog evaluations and honest guidance

• Place and train dogs with real-world success

• Provide support long after placement

• Work exclusively with clients ready to commit to a lifelong partnership with their dog

Ready to Find the Right Dog for You?

If you or someone you love is considering a service dog, the journey starts with a conversation. At Alaska Dog Works, we take the time to understand your needs and help determine the best path forward.

Call us today at 206-752-DOGS to schedule your free strategy call.
Let’s explore whether service dog training is the right fit, and if so, how we can help you find your working companion.