The usual idea of a good dog-people relationship is that we are the alpha of their pack; we provide them with food, shelter and affection - and the dogs in return, offer whatever they do best.
In the case of the service dogs, does this hold true? The owner is handicapped, is obviously reliant on the dog; Does this “alpha relationship” still applies?
The person is still the one that provides the food, so that should go a long way.
I’d say the relationship is somewhat akin to a pack that has an old and infirm alpha dog and a new dog hasn’t yet taken the alpha position.
Another thing to consider is that, for the most part, guide dogs are from breeds that are particularly obedient and loyal.
Individual dogs have individual temperments as well. As I understand, the dog must pass the personality screenings before starting with the specific service-related training.
I must presume that a dog who challanges for dominance will be washed out quickly.
I’ve never had a working service dog, but we’ve trained four and have the last one as a breeder. The above is quite right - dogs who are aggressive get career changed very quickly (that is the politically correct term used.) Our breeder, in fact all our guide dog puppies, submit to our pet dog, though they were twice as big as he is. At GDB they are the result of over 60 years of breeding.
Besides the food, the blind person is led by the dog but still controls the dog. In fact, the dogs are taught to relieve on command.
There is one interesting exception, intelligent disobedience where the dog is trained to refuse to do something, like cross the street, even when ordered to do so by the handler.
…when doing so would be dangerous.
And when training service dogs, the first you teach is that you decide when they can do what. Mine liked to walk on the grass instead of the sidewalk, but we walked on the sidewalk anyway. I didn’t mind walking on the grass, but when he was initiating it, I avoided it because he would be getting me to do what he wanted. The whole point was for him to do what I wanted, so I tried to avoid confusing that relationship.
And even though they might have instincts about such things, I for one, will argue that the dogs have some intelligence and affection for their caretakers. My experience with animals indicates this may be the case.
The longer I live, the more amazed I am that there are educated professionals in the field who say that it is all instinct or training.
IANAService Dog, but I think if I worked 24/7 at someone’s beck and call and could only eat, socialize, eliminate and take work breaks at their discretion, I’d consider them the Alpha one, too! 
Totally agreed. And I’m no professional, I was just a puppy-raiser, but they can be affectionate but disobedient and difficult because of poor training. The ideal is well-trained, obedient, intelligent, and affectionate.
Absolutely. But intelligence isn’t everything. Our pet dog is half border collie, and is a lot smarter than any of our puppies in training, but he would have been a terrible service dog. Service dogs can’t get bored. I brought ours to work, where they sat under my desk for four hours at a time, except for a pee break, and were fine with it.
Damn, forgot that part. :smack: