Cavadore Service Retriever
Here in Sherwood Arkansas we are proud to be developing the Cavadore Service Retriever—a rare, small companion breed with the heart of a Golden Retriever in a compact, family-friendly size. Bred for service dog work, therapy work, emotional support, and companionship, Cavadores are calm, intelligent, and deeply devoted to their people. With their floppy ears, soft coats, and gentle eyes, they are as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside. These dogs thrive on having a purpose and respond best to patient, positive reinforcement training. Still in development and working toward AKC and CKC recognition, the Cavadore Service Retriever is a breed you won’t find anywhere else—making each one truly special.
Our Commitment to Breeding
Why Choose Us
We believe that the foundation of a great breed starts with purpose, and every dog in our program reflects that commitment. All of our breeding dogs are active working dogs in the fields of service work, therapy work, or emotional support, living the very roles we are breeding them to excel in. This real-world experience ensures that our puppies inherit not only the right temperament, but also the trainability and intuition that make the Cavadore Service Retriever truly exceptional.
Our program is small and intentional, allowing us to focus on quality over quantity. Each pairing is planned with care to produce dogs that are calm, intelligent, and well-balanced in both mind and body. Puppies are raised in our home, surrounded by the sounds, sights, and routines of everyday life. From the start, they receive early socialization, positive reinforcement training, and exposure to the kinds of situations they may encounter in their future roles.
When you choose us, you’re not just choosing a puppy—you’re investing in a partner bred with a clear purpose, nurtured with love, and backed by a program committed to the highest standards in health, temperament, and service potential. You’ll also become part of a supportive network of Cavadore owners and breeders who share your passion for this rare and remarkable breed.
Join the Waiting List
Our Breeds
Cavadore
Small Dogs
The Cavadore Service Retriever is our signature breed — a rare, small companion with the heart and temperament of a Golden Retriever in a 10–25 lb package. Developed from Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund, and select toy breeds, Cavadores are bred for service dog work, therapy dog work, emotional support, and companionship.
Calm, intelligent, and people-focused, these dogs excel with patient, positive reinforcement training and thrive when they have a job or purpose. With floppy ears, a soft coat, and a loving nature, they make the perfect partner for those seeking a smaller, trainable dog with a big heart.
This is a very rare breed still in development, and we are working toward recognition with the AKC and CKC.
Therapy
Support Dogs
The Cavadore Service Retriever is a natural fit for therapy work. Their calm and gentle temperament makes them well-suited for visiting hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other settings where a steady, reassuring presence is needed. They are highly intuitive and seem to naturally sense when someone needs comfort, making them exceptional at forming emotional connections.
Unlike some breeds that may be too large, high-energy, or independent for therapy roles, Cavadores are small enough to be handled easily, adaptable to new environments, and responsive to their handler’s guidance. Their manageable size allows them to sit comfortably on a lap or snuggle up close without overwhelming the person they’re comforting, while still being sturdy enough to interact safely with children and adults alike.
Because every dog in our program comes from working service, therapy, or emotional support lines, they are predisposed to be calm, confident, and eager to please — traits that make training for therapy certification smoother and more enjoyable. Choosing a Cavadore means choosing a dog that’s been bred from day one for exactly this kind of work, rather than adapting a breed that wasn’t designed for it.
Service
Loyal Partners
For years, people needing a small breed service dog faced a difficult choice — most small breeds simply don’t have the stable, reliable temperament needed for public access work. After extensive searching and testing, we found that the failure rate for existing small breeds in service training was over 70%, often due to high energy, anxiety, or difficulty focusing in busy environments. The few small dogs that succeeded in service work were often physically vulnerable, with several cases of them being injured in public by being stepped on or struck by shopping carts simply because they were too tiny to be noticed.
The Cavadore Service Retriever was created to solve these problems. Bred specifically for service work in a smaller package, Cavadores combine the stable, biddable temperament of a Golden Retriever with a compact size (10–25 lbs) that is easy to handle, transport, and house. They are large enough to be seen and avoid accidental injury, yet small enough to fit comfortably in public spaces without the feeding, grooming, and exercise demands of a large breed.
Their calm demeanor, high trainability, and people-focused nature make them ideal for psychiatric service dogs, medical alert dogs, and other non-mobility service roles. By starting with purpose-bred, working-line parents, we are producing a consistent, dependable small breed option for those who need a trustworthy service partner — without compromising on size, stability, or safety.