Selecting a service dog

When selecting a service dog the best advice I can give to prospective owners is to make sure that dog fits your lifestyle. When I say lifestyle I mean making sure that the dog has a relatively easy transition into your life. If you are a neat freak then a Bloodhound just won't do because of the drool. If you like things just so then a Hamiltonstovare just won't work as they have a sense of humor that is all their own.

For a service dog it is a multi-step issue. You have to think what I want that dog to do for me. If you want a balance dog then you need something that is at least medium sized or bigger, so that the animal can stand being pressed on. If you want something that will help you pick up items off the floor then a breed that is highly obedient, quick to learn new things and have a larger more sturdy mouth is required. For clubbies most of us need balance, support, and/or retrieval aids. There is the pain detection aspect and right now, I am just trying to find out how Alice does it so it can be trained to future service dogs.

For balance/support dogs, show training helps by leaps and bounds. Conformation show training specifically trains a dog to stand in a certain position that is most natural for them, at very long periods of time without moving, no matter what. Balance aids need to stand still and allow their owner to nearly dangle off of them, so a retired show dog just might be your best option. I would contact a breed parent club who should be able to refer you do a breeder(s) that might have the right dog for you.

Here is a list of breeds that could work well for clubbies and a brief reason why:

Hamiltonstovare - they are extremely in-tune to their owners, love to pose in positions and hold them, have endurance in spades, are relatively health problem free and have great longevity with some living well into their teens
Doberman Pinscher - they are incredibly versatile and bond closely to their people, bred properly they can be long-lived and very loyal
Great Dane - they naturally lean and have great size, some can be in-tune to their owner, however their lifespan isn't that great
American Pit Bull Terrier/American Staffordshire Terrier - they may get a bad reputation but they are very intelligent, loyal, have endurance and strength galore, make sure to obtain one from a responsible breeder who regularly health tests
Harrier - they are incredibly rare but really tune into their people, they are relatively health problem free and tend to have a ton of endurance (some have been successful Autism service dogs as well)
Rottweiler - bred properly they can do just about anything you ask them to, but you must have a firm hand and are not suitable for first time dog owners
Portuguese Water Dog - another versatile breed but the maintenance on their coat can be a big issue. The breed parent club is one of the best in America regarding referrals and health testing and the breed might do well for allergy sufferers. 
Pointer - most pointing breeds are bred to hold a position and do it from a very young age, they have great noses, endurance, and bred properly can be long-lived and relatively health problem free, they do have a higher energy level so be careful in selecting a puppy, avoid the bounding puppy and select the calmer ones

I do not generally recommend the more common service dog breeds because of the health problem issue. Yes Goldens and Labs make amazing service dogs but they can have some really major health issues, like hip/elbow displaysia, cancers, eye problems, sudden cardiac issues. I would tend to avoid the German Shepherds, Belgian Shepherds and Dutch Shepherds because most clubbies need a dog that doesn't have that much energy to burn, these breeds make great police breeds and service dogs but they are generally better suited to guide dogs and extremely active people.

Notice that I listed breeds that traditionally are working dogs or hounds and that is because when you give these breeds a job, they view it as that, a job. They make the transition from family pet to service dog very well because they see it as going to work.

Regarding pain detection dogs, you must have a close bond in order for your dog to pick on the subtle clues so choosing a breed that is naturally more tuned in to their owners is a must.

In regards to mixed breeds, doodles, designer mixes, and shelter dogs, be careful. While I do not support the doodle breeds or designer mixes in general because they tend to be more money driven instead of health/improving a breed driven, some can work as a service dog. The temperaments of mixed breeds are untested and unless you plan to train your dog from a very young age (4 weeks old) to hold a position then a purebred from a show breeder might be the better option. I would adopt a dog from a shelter as a family pet but for a service dog there are just too many variables.

If you have any questions regarding other breeds, don't hesitate to ask.