Give a Dog a Purpose:
Refer a Dog to Our Program
Medical Mutts accepts dogs from shelters, rescues, and private individuals, provided the dog meets our eligibility criteria and successfully passes a temperament evaluation.
Why Donate a Dog to Medical Mutts?
Donating a dog to Medical Mutts is a meaningful way to give a promising animal a life of purpose while making a lasting difference in someone’s life. Dogs that enjoy learning and love people may be ideal candidates for service work.
When you donate a dog, you’re not just helping that dog—you’re helping individuals living with disabilities gain greater independence, safety, and emotional support. A donated dog that meets our temperament and eligibility criteria can go on to be trained as a service dog, providing essential assistance for tasks such as medical alerts, mobility support, and psychiatric stability.
We accept suitable dogs from shelters, rescues, and private homes. Each dog is carefully assessed to ensure they’re a good fit for service work, and those that qualify are given expert training and the chance to change a life.
Not Every Dog Can Be a Service Dog
While many dogs are wonderful companions, not every dog is suited for the unique demands of service work.
Service dogs must meet high standards for behavior, temperament, and health. They need to remain calm in busy environments, handle stress well, respond reliably to cues, and work closely with their handler in a variety of situations. Even small behavioral concerns—like fearfulness, reactivity, or low motivation—can make it unsafe or ineffective for a dog to perform as a service animal.
Our goal is to set both dogs and people up for success. Trying to force a dog into a role they’re not comfortable in can lead to stress, burnout, and even behavioral decline. That’s why we evaluate each dog carefully to ensure they are not only capable of the work—but enjoy it.
What We Look For
Qualities of a Service Dog Candidate
Between 1-2 years of age preferred
Friendly with people
Good with other animals
Confident in new enviornments
Recovers quickly if startled
Food motivated
Dogs are more likely to thrive in this role when they meet the following criteria:
Eligibility Requirements
At Medical Mutts, we select dogs for service work based on health, temperament, and trainability.
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Between 1–3 years of age (ideally closer to 2 years)
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Dogs in this age range have completed most of their physical development and are emotionally mature enough for training, yet still young enough to adapt to new experiences and tasks.
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Weigh less than 80 pounds
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This ensures the dog is physically manageable for handlers of varying abilities while still being large enough to perform most service tasks.
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Have received core vaccinations (Distemper/Parvo, Rabies, and Bordetella)
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Ensures the dog’s health and protects them (and others) during public outings and training.
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Friendly with other dogs
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Service dogs must remain neutral and non-reactive in public settings, which includes calmly coexisting around other dogs.
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Cat-friendly preferred
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Increases compatibility with a wider range of home environments and reduces the likelihood of prey-driven behaviors.
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Highly social with people
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Service dogs must enjoy human interaction and be comfortable engaging with their handler in a variety of settings.
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Have not shown nervousness around children
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While not all service dogs will work directly with children, confidence around them ensures safety and flexibility in public and home environments.
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Confident in new environments
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Successful service dogs must be adaptable and resilient in busy, unpredictable public settings such as airports, grocery stores, and public transportation.
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Willing to explore novel or strange objects
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Curiosity and confidence around unfamiliar stimuli helps service dogs cope well with everyday challenges, such as walking on slick floors or navigating crowded spaces.
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Recover within 5 seconds when startled
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Quick recovery from unexpected events is essential for safety and reliable task work in public environments.
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Motivated to work for low-value treats (e.g., kibble)
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Strong food motivation, even for simple rewards, makes training more effective and sustainable.
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Moderate energy level
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A balanced energy level helps ensure the dog is enthusiastic about training while also able to remain calm and focused during periods of inactivity.
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Open to breed mixes, with preference for Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Standard Poodles, and their mixes
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These breeds are often naturally predisposed to the social, stable, and trainable temperaments required for service work.
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To ensure the highest chance of success for both the dog and future handler, we are unable to accept dogs who meet any of the following criteria:
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Have chronic medical conditions such as vision or hearing loss, amputations, autoimmune disorders, heart murmurs or other heart defects.
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These conditions may affect the dog’s ability to perform tasks reliably, safely, and comfortably over time.
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Are purebred or strongly resemble certain breeds, including (but not limited to):
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These breeds are often predisposed to traits—such as strong guarding instincts, high prey drive, independence, vocality, or physical limitations—that make them less suitable for the demands of public access work, task reliability, and adaptability in a variety of environments.
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Guarding breeds (e.g., German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman, Akita, Cane Corso)
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Livestock guardian breeds (e.g., Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd)
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Bully-type breeds (e.g., American Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier)
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Hounds (e.g., Beagle, Foxhound)
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High-arousal working breeds (e.g., Husky, Malamute, Jack Russell Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Australian Cattle Dog, Catahoula Leopard Dog)
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Giant breeds (e.g., Great Dane, English Bulldog, American Bulldog)
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Exhibit high prey drive
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A strong prey drive can interfere with focus, safety, and reliable task performance, especially in public settings.
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Show reactivity toward people or animals
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Reactivity (such as barking, lunging, or growling) indicates a level of stress or discomfort that is incompatible with the calm, stable temperament required of a service dog.
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Have a bite history
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Any history of biting is considered a serious behavioral concern and poses a risk in public and service contexts.
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Are excessive droolers
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Heavy drooling can create hygiene and health issues for the handler, especially those with sensory sensitivities or immune system concerns.
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Do you have a potential candidate?
Of the dogs we take in, only about 1 out of every 4 graduates as a service dog. The other dogs are adopted out as pets to loving families. Acceptance into our program does not guarantee that a dog will become a service dog. Learn more about our process here.
Dog Assessment:
If you have a dog that you think may be a good fit for our program, please click here to submit an assessment request.
Partnerships with Shelters and Rescues
At Medical Mutts, we believe that potential service dogs can come from unexpected places—including shelters and rescues.
By partnering with these organizations, we give deserving dogs a second chance at life and a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact. Many shelter dogs are smart, eager to learn, and deeply bonded to people—key qualities in a great service dog. With proper evaluation and training, these dogs can go on to provide life-changing support to individuals with disabilities.
Our partnerships help:
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Save lives by reducing euthanasia and giving shelter dogs a meaningful purpose.
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Promote rescue awareness by showing the value and ability of dogs from all backgrounds.
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Strengthen communities by connecting local shelters with life-transforming service work.
Together, we’re not just finding dogs homes—we’re giving them a mission.
Want to Partner with Us?
We would love to work with you! Please click the link below to request a partnership!
