Dogs have been known for being man’s best friend for decades now, and all for the right reasons. These pups are incredibly affectionate in nature, bring joy into life, and are excellent companions to you and your family members.
Some dogs don’t just live with you, they feel with you. These sensitive souls pick up on every sigh, every smile, and every shift in your mood. Their hearts are wide open, and their loyalty runs deep, but that same emotional depth means they need a special kind of love in return; gentle voices, kind hands, and plenty of reassurance.
We have gathered 7 of the most amazing emotional support dogs who possess a calm demeanor, and their intelligence makes them understand your intuition and act accordingly. These dogs bond closely with you and try to ease anxiety and stress by offering support to you.
Read on to learn more about how you can take care of these dog breeds to take full advantage of the therapeutic benefits these pups can provide to you.
Most Emotional Dog Breeds That Need Gentle Care
1. Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are the most friendly, loyal, and loving dog breeds, which makes them a favorite family dog. They are a true sunshine in the form of a dog, as they have the great ability to bring joy and comfort to your lives, as noted by PetMD.
These dogs provide great emotional support to people who are in need of it. Goldies can tell when you are happy, sad, angry, excited, or in need of more love. They radiate joy wherever they go, which makes them the best breed for being therapy dogs.
A Goldie’s intelligence is measured by their ability to understand commands and be a wonderful companion to dog owners. These dogs cater to all your needs and deserve unending love and respect in return.
You must provide them with immense love and care to keep them happy and satisfied. It is not recommended to leave them alone for a long time; otherwise, they can acquire separation anxiety and develop behavior issues.
2. Labrador Retriever
Labradors are one of the most popular dog breeds in the US. These medium to large dogs are active and have a friendly nature, which makes them a great family pet. They impose an affectionate nature towards their owners and thrive among families who are adventurous and outdoorsy.
Labs have an intuitive nature that allows them to sense your mood and respond accordingly. A lot of owners say that Labs can understand their feelings without even uttering a word and provide support to them.
These emotional support animals need one hour of physical stimulation daily to relieve their energy. They are eager to please, which makes them great therapy dogs and service dogs for rescue and sniffing out substances.
3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was originally bred to provide comfort and companionship to people in tough times. What better heritage to serve as an animal-assisted therapy?
These small dogs have large, expressive eyes that peek into your heart, providing warmth and creating an emotional connection with you.
These dogs are the perfect size to be picked up and cuddled with. They are the best fit for being lapdogs and form great bonds with their pet parents. These affectionate and emotionally available dogs provide comfort and brighten your day when needed.
According to Reddit, Cavaliers have a profound impact on humans and help them overcome various mental health challenges.
However, there is one downside to getting these dogs that they have a short lifespan and are prone to various health conditions.
Losing them can really be heartbreaking. Not only do they make wonderful service dogs, but these calm and emotional companions are also great therapy dogs for humans in need.
4. German Shepherd
German Shepherds are fiercely protective and devoted to their family. They are widely recognized as excellent service dogs due to their intelligence, versatility, and loyalty, as noted by the AKC.
These emotional support dogs not only provide help to people with mental conditions but also act as guides for the visually impaired.
These affectionate dogs are patient and have excellent temperaments, which allows them to sense anxiety attacks and warn their owners about panic attacks on time. They offer emotional support, comfort, and companionship with their soothing presence.
Though they are not licensed mental health professionals, they still take their job very seriously. Unlike other animals that receive proper training to become support dogs, German Shepherds are already compassionate about it and do their best to make you cheerful and calm.
5. Dachshund
Dachshunds have a loving personality and are famously known as velcro dog breeds. Though they are affectionate and soft with other family members but they choose one special person as their true companion and become fully devoted to them.
They are sensitive, intelligent, and affectionate, which makes them an ideal emotional support dog. They sense your emotions and respond to your needs accordingly. Their loyalty and chill attitude, along with unwavering response, make them a great support.
Dachshunds have high energy levels and are very playful, as mentioned by PDSA. Engaging in fun playtime and regular exercise with these dogs will surely have a positive impact on your mental health and well-being while bringing happiness into your life.
These dogs may be small, but they have a long lifespan, which means they can provide long-lasting companionship and support to humans.
6. Beagle
Beagles are confident, bouncy, and playful dogs who love being around humans. They have soulful eyes and comical antics, which allow them to please people around them. They love human contact, are a well-suited breed for children, and love having fun playtime with them.
Beagles are remarkable dogs and are emotionally intelligent, which helps them understand human cues and provide support accordingly. These dogs are highly trainable, and with proper care and time, they can become wonderful emotional support dogs.
These dogs form close bonds with their family members and are very protective of everyone. Beagles are also commonly found in nursing and retirement homes where they make people happy with endless cuddles, affection, and emotional support.
7. Border Collie
Border Collies are known as the canine world geniuses because they are highly intelligent and understand complex human cues very easily. These dogs have high energy levels and are sweet-natured, which allows them to provide ideal companionship to humans.
This breed understands humans, studies them based on their emotional patterns, and responds accordingly to keep them calm, ease feelings, and provide emotional support to those in need.
Border Collies are extremely intelligent and learn new commands and things faster as compared to other breeds.
This breed creates gentle and protective bonds with humans and has an eagerness to please everyone around them, which makes them great service dogs. Since they are a high-energy breed, these pups need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation so they do not turn to destructive behaviors.
This emotional support dog breed comes from their history of being a herding breed, so you must cater to their needs as well.
Conclusion
Emotional support dogs provide comfort, therapy, and companionship to those in need. If you’re someone who is struggling with mental health issues, adopting an emotional support breed would be the best step you could take towards getting better.
These are the best dog breeds that you can bring into your homes to liven up your dull life. They are naturally calm, which makes them the best emotional support animals. Each emotional support dog breed comes with different temperaments, but with proper training, they can be wonderful companions to you.
