Sire & Dam Guidelines

MobilityDog holds breeding partners to the following standards to support the health, temperament, and working success of future service dogs:

• Exceptionally sweet and friendly with all animals—dogs, birds, reptiles, and mammals, large or small

• Comfortable and relaxed around all people, greeting strangers with gentle temperaments and calm, loving spirits

• Unbothered by loud, sudden, or unexpected noises

• Non-reactive, confident, and fearless in new situations

• Comfortable being touched and handled, including by strangers

• Eager and motivated to work closely with humans

• Natural desire to retrieve and willingly deliver items

• Proven working ability, with titles such as CGC, obedience, rally, agility, field, or similar (when possible)

Health Requirements

• Three generations of health clearances, including:

  • Orthopedic clearances (OFA or PennHIP) for hips and elbows

  • CERF eye and cardiac clearances

  • Breed-specific testing as applicable (e.g., EIC, CNM, CEA, vWD, thyroid, etc.)

Standard Poodle Size Guidelines

• Weight: 60–95 pounds

• Height: 26–32 inches at the withers

These standards help ensure the strongest foundation for developing confident, capable, and long-lasting mobility service dogs.

Puppies That Meet These Standards but Are Not Service Dogs

Not every puppy—even one that meets our standards—will ultimately become a service dog. When this happens, MobilityDog ensures each dog is thoughtfully placed in a vetted, loving forever home.

• We maintain a list of pre-approved adoptive families

• We partner with Five Poodle Rescue Services to place rescued poodles based on temperament and personality

• We actively support and collaborate with dog rescue organizations

• We co-mingle with Pet Food Express Friends and Vanderpump Dogs rescue platforms

We deeply respect responsible breeders who prioritize health, temperament, and the future of their breed. We recognize that donating a puppy—or a litter—is a meaningful and generous act, and we are sincerely grateful for the trust you place in MobilityDog.

By gifting a puppy, you help create something extraordinary: a Mobility Service Dog Team. The bond between a disabled handler and their working dog is life-changing, powerful, and deeply connected.

As our thanks, your kennel will be acknowledged on our website and in educational materials.

Your gift is a golden treasure—one that helps create independence, freedom, and possibility.

Service Dog Puppy Standards & Donation Guidelines

At MobilityDog, a service dog’s health, temperament, working ability, and longevity are our top priorities. It takes a truly exceptional puppy to become a mobility service dog.

All donated or rescued puppies must demonstrate the following qualities:

• Raised using the Puppy Culture® Method

• Exceptionally friendly, yet able to ignore people while working

• Calm enough to wait quietly for long periods, yet eager to work when needed

• Confident in new environments and responsive to handlers with limited physical control

• A willing and capable retriever

• Strong early imprinting with humans and littermates, building confidence from day one

Why Puppy Culture® Matters

Puppy Culture® is a structured socialization program from birth through a puppy’s critical development period. Puppies are exposed—through joyful, age-appropriate play—to sounds, textures, movement, tools, wheelchairs, bikes, people of all ages, and everyday life experiences. This foundation creates calm, confident, and focused dogs—essential traits for future service work.

Only puppies raised with early environmental enrichment and intentional handling have the potential to become successful service dogs.

Puppy Donation Guidelines (0–9 Weeks)

• Three weeks’ notice required for puppy donation

• Puppies must be exactly nine weeks old at transfer to MobilityDog

• Whelped and raised in the home using the Puppy Culture® Method

• Daily handling from birth, including gentle physical handling and trust-building exercises

• Exposure to people of all ages, sizes, and appearances

• Exposure to varied sounds and both indoor and outdoor environments from day three onward

• Environmental enrichment with different textures, objects, and surfaces

• Introduction to crates, car rides, and diverse environments

• Early grooming exposure (especially important for poodles)

• Social learning from adult dogs for hygiene and toilet habits

• Extremely friendly, confident, and curious temperament

Puppies are transferred to their Puppy Raiser at nine weeks of age.

Puppies Over 15 Weeks

Puppies over 15 weeks of age will be placed on our waiting list. Associated funds are donated to MobilityDog. These puppies are typically rehomed as beloved family pets to ensure the best outcome for each dog.

How to Donate a Puppy

To request a puppy donation application, please send:

• Your basic contact information

• The application you are requesting

• Ten words sharing your reason for requesting the application

📧 Info@MobilityDog.org
📞 (626) 470-7742

Thank you for helping us raise confident puppies who may one day change a life.Please SUBMIT inquiry for donation here. Thank you.

Gratitude for the Donations of Poodles

Sunkissed Pups- Southern California

Schatt’s Poodles- Southern California

Jennifer’s Standard Poodles for Service- Northern California

Deon’s Standards for Service- Southern California

Ladybug’s Poodles- California

Watts’s Poodles- Southern California

Waggin’ Tail Poodles- Colorado Springs, Colorado

Poodle Rescues- California and Florida