Lakeshore Goldens in Therapy/Service Roles

At Lakeshore Goldens, we believe a great therapy dog starts with exceptional breeding, careful socialization, and a heart full of love. Our beautiful light cream Golden Retrievers are known for their calm temperament, intuitive nature, and gentle spirit—traits that make them ideal companions for therapy work. Raised in a nurturing, family-centered environment, our puppies are exposed to a variety of people, sounds, and settings from an early age, helping them grow into confident, affectionate dogs who naturally connect with those in need. When you choose a Lakeshore Golden, you’re not just bringing home a dog—you’re welcoming a loyal partner in healing, comfort, and joy.

Our Lakeshore Goldens stud dogs are trusted by local therapy organizations for a reason—their calm, gentle, and highly trainable temperament sets them apart. Carefully selected for their exceptional disposition and loving nature, our sires consistently pass on the qualities that make Lakeshore Golden Retrievers ideal for therapy work. Whether offering comfort in hospitals, schools, or homes, their offspring are naturally attuned to human emotions and eager to please, making them reliable and compassionate companions in any therapeutic setting.

Lakeshore's Benji

Lakeshore Goldens Benji (Willow x Majik Mac) is a valuable member of Saving Grace K9's - an organization that trains service dogs for veterans who suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). This is Benji and his owner Scott. They are inseparable! Lakeshore Goldens is a sponsor of Saving Grace K9's as there is no cost to the veteran in need. We are so proud of Benji and Scott. Many thanks to Scott's wife Wendy for being such an important part of their bonding process!

Lakeshore's Groot

"Groot is named after the beloved character from Guardians of the Galaxy—a gentle giant, fiercely loyal, and always willing to sacrifice for the people he loves. In the Marvel Universe, Groot is a hero. And in my world, he’s just that too.

I’ve struggled with PTSD and anxiety for years, especially when flying. Medications were my only option for a long time, but they left me groggy and vulnerable, especially when traveling alone with my kids. Everyday stress would build up, and I’d find myself unraveling during work calls, unable to stay grounded. That’s when Groot (my dog, not the tree) started doing something remarkable.

He would quietly lay under my desk during tense meetings, placing his head gently in my lap, bringing me back to the present. While wearing a blood sugar monitor, I noticed he would come nudge me in my chair minutes before an alert. Turns out, my anxiety was triggering blood sugar drops! And Groot was picking up on it before the tech did.

That’s when my doctor said, “You already have the perfect candidate for a service dog. Why not explore that?”

We started training with Alexx, a specialist in psychiatric service dogs. Groot had a strong obedience foundation, so we advanced quickly into service work. In five months, he was trained in behavior disruption and grounding techniques. When I fidget or chew my nails, he interrupts me. When I start to shake or rock on a plane, he leans his weight into me or rests his head on my legs. In public spaces, I can tell him “watch my six,” and he’ll position himself behind me—creating space and helping me feel safe.

Now, I travel for work again. I can take flights with my children, fully present and off medication. Groot makes that possible.

He is my safety, my support, my everyday hero. Just like the character he’s named after, Groot’s quiet strength has saved me more times than I can count.

Golden Retrievers are more than family dogs. They’re intuitive, empathetic, and capable of life-changing service. Groot is proof of that."

~ Groots owner, helper, and loyal friend - Stacy Whitenight

Lakeshore's Joni

Joni - owned by Patience Stevens in Boulder Colorado.

Joni, one of our standout therapy dogs, completed her initial training with Dog Training Elite of Denver, now known as Yes and Dog Training. She underwent six months of intensive scent training, followed by ongoing at-home training to detect both low and high glucose levels. Joni is trained to alert when blood sugar drops below 70 mg/dL by gently nose-booping my thigh. If I’m lying down—whether in bed or elsewhere—she adds face licks to ensure I wake up. After mastering scent detection, Joni successfully passed the recognized Public Access Test and is now a certified medical alert and response dog, proudly registered with the United States Service Dog Registry.