12 Best Emotional Support Dog Breeds — our top picks
Vizsla
Vizsla: very high friendliness, high adaptability and very high trainability — attentive and steady around people who need calm company. Elegant Hungarian pointer known as the "Velcro dog" for their close bond with owners. Athletic and affectionate. Worth knowing before you commit: the Vizsla needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retriever: very high friendliness, very high adaptability and very high trainability — attentive and steady around people who need calm company. Most popular family dog worldwide. Excellent retriever with gentle mouth, high intelligence, and outstanding temperament. Worth knowing before you commit: the Labrador Retriever sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.
Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever: very high friendliness, very high adaptability and very high trainability — attentive and steady around people who need calm company. Beautiful, gentle retriever with flowing coat. Outstanding family companion with high intelligence and eagerness to please. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Golden Retriever needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: very high friendliness, very high adaptability and high trainability. Gentle toy spaniel with silky coat and sweet expression. Perfect family companion with sporting dog heritage. Worth knowing before you commit: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel does badly left alone all day.
Havanese
Havanese: very high friendliness, very high adaptability and high trainability. Cuban toy breed with silky coat and cheerful disposition. Adaptable and social companion dog. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Havanese needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise: very high friendliness, very high adaptability and medium trainability. Cheerful white powder-puff with hypoallergenic coat. Playful and adaptable companion with minimal shedding. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Bichon Frise needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Keeshond
Keeshond: very high friendliness, very high adaptability and high trainability. Dutch barge dog with fox-like face and spectacles markings. Friendly spitz breed with moderate exercise needs. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Keeshond needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Pug
Pug: very high friendliness, very high adaptability and medium trainability. Charming flat-faced toy breed with wrinkled face and cheerful personality. "Multum in parvo" - much in little. Worth knowing before you commit: the Pug sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.
Goldendoodle
Goldendoodle: very high friendliness, very high adaptability and very high trainability. Golden Retriever and Poodle cross combining best traits of both breeds. Popular family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Goldendoodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Labradoodle
Labradoodle: very high friendliness, very high adaptability and very high trainability. Labrador Retriever and Poodle cross bred for service work. Intelligent and friendly with variable coat. Worth knowing before you commit: the Labradoodle needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Cavapoo
Cavapoo: very high friendliness, very high adaptability and high trainability. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle cross. Gentle and friendly with reduced shedding. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Cavapoo needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Cockapoo
Cockapoo: very high friendliness, very high adaptability and high trainability. Cocker Spaniel and Poodle cross, one of the first designer dogs. Friendly and adaptable family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Cockapoo needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
How this ranking works: each of DoggyQ's 321 breeds is scored on the traits that decide this particular question — the same trait ratings shown on each breed's own guide page, so you can check the reasoning rather than take a ranking on faith. Read more about our methodology, or take the free quiz for a ranking based on your own answers.
Popular breeds that are a poor fit for emotional support
Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is a popular choice, but low friendliness and low trainability put it at odds with emotional support. On top of that, the Shiba Inu sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.
Chihuahua (Long Coat)
The Chihuahua (Long Coat) is a popular choice, but its trait profile pulls against emotional support. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Chihuahua (Long Coat) needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)
The Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) is a popular choice, but its trait profile pulls against emotional support. On top of that, the Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) is vocal, which matters if you share walls.
Not sure which breed is right for you?
Take the free DoggyQ quiz and get a personalized match from 321 breeds based on your lifestyle, home and preferences — plus a full report on what living with that breed actually costs.
Find your perfect matchFrequently asked questions
- What is the best breed for an emotional support dog?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Vizsla ranks as the top choice for emotional support, followed by the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever.
- How was this list of dogs for emotional support chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for emotional support — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. For a recommendation tailored to your exact situation, take the free quiz.
- Which popular breeds are a poor fit for emotional support?
- The Shiba Inu, The Chihuahua (Long Coat), The Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) all rank near the bottom for emotional support despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.