{
  "title": "RNRchive service-breed color guide (web-informed)",
  "updated": "2026-07-14",
  "legalNote": "Under the ADA, any breed of dog may be a service animal if individually trained for disability-related tasks. Colors here are training-suitability markers from common program guidance, not legal bans.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "name": "UDS – breeds that make the best service dogs",
      "url": "https://udservices.org/blog/types-of-service-dogs/",
      "summary": "Lists Labs, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Poodles, Boxers, Great Danes, Border Collies, Bernese, Portuguese Water Dogs among commonly successful service breeds."
    },
    {
      "name": "ADA – service animals",
      "url": "https://www.ada.gov/topics/service-animals/",
      "summary": "Any breed/size of dog can be a service animal; no breed ban under federal ADA."
    },
    {
      "name": "ADAta misconceptions",
      "url": "https://adata.org/service-animal-resource-hub-misconceptions",
      "summary": "Service animals are not limited to Labs/GSDs; breed bans do not override ADA for real service dogs."
    },
    {
      "name": "Community/trainer consensus (Labs & Goldens)",
      "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/service_dogs/",
      "summary": "Labs and Goldens most common across service types; Poodles frequently third for trainability and coat."
    },
    {
      "name": "Ridgeback service discussion",
      "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/comments/1pd5zw/ridgeback_for_service_has_anyone_trained_one_this/",
      "summary": "Ridgebacks can be trained as SDs but are often described as not ideal: independent hound traits, higher owner-training difficulty."
    }
  ],
  "colors": {
    "green": {
      "label": "Strong service-breed profile (web-common success breeds)",
      "meaning": "Breeds most often recommended by service programs for trainability, temperament, and public-access success rates.",
      "breedKeywords": [
        "labrador",
        "lab ",
        "golden retriever",
        "golden",
        "german shepherd",
        "shepherd",
        "standard poodle",
        "poodle",
        "labradoodle",
        "goldendoodle",
        "border collie",
        "collie",
        "bernese",
        "portuguese water",
        "boxer",
        "great dane",
        "retriever"
      ]
    },
    "yellow": {
      "label": "In-between / conditional (possible with right dog)",
      "meaning": "Can succeed with excellent temperament and experienced training, but not among the easiest or most common program breeds. Includes Rhodesian Ridgebacks and many mixed prospects.",
      "breedKeywords": [
        "rhodesian ridgeback",
        "ridgeback",
        "ridgeback mix",
        "multi-breed",
        "prospect",
        "mix"
      ]
    },
    "red": {
      "label": "Higher difficulty / poor default program fit",
      "meaning": "Often higher washout risk for public-access service for average owner-trainers (extreme independence, arousal, or status flags). Not a legal disqualification. Career-change eval status also marks red for active service path.",
      "breedKeywords": [
        "husky",
        "siberian",
        "malamute",
        "akita",
        "chow",
        "wolf",
        "wolf hybrid",
        "wolf-dog",
        "dingo",
        "basenji",
        "presa",
        "cane corso"
      ],
      "statusKeywords": ["career change"]
    }
  }
}