Puppy Raising

Q: What is required of me before I become a puppy raiser?
A: Before being selected as a puppy raiser, a volunteer is required to attend several puppy club meetings in order to learn some of GDB's puppy development and training techniques, as well as experience multiple opportunities to handle puppies.

Q: How soon can I get a puppy after applying?
A: It takes approximately three months of attending puppy club meetings to fulfill the pre-requisites required to begin raising a puppy.

Q: How often do puppy clubs meet?
A: Puppy clubs meet a minimum of twice a month and sometimes as much as four times a month.

Q: What costs are covered in GDB’s puppy raising program?
A: Veterinary care is entirely paid for by Guide Dogs for the Blind. We also provide leashes, collars, and other training equipment.

Q: What supplies does a puppy raiser need to provide?
A: Puppy raisers provide food, toys, and sometimes crates for the puppy.

Q: Can I raise a puppy if I work or go to school full time?
A: Yes, if you are able to take the puppy to work or school with you. If your work or school doesn’t allow puppies in training to attend, we can facilitate a co-raising arrangement in which a single puppy can be raised in two different households to accommodate raisers’ work schedules and time commitments.

Q: Am I allowed to have other pets in the home while I raise a guide dog puppy?
A: Yes, as long as the other pets are well behaved and don’t negatively impact the puppy’s training. Our dogs need to learn to be comfortable around other animals so having other pets in the home can be extremely helpful.

Q: What type of training methods do you use with your puppies?
A: We use positive reinforcement as the basis for most of our puppy training exercises.

Q: Do puppies ever get to take a break and have fun?
A: Yes, every puppy has daily training exercises, but the rest of their day contains normal puppy activities such as playing and exercising.

Q: Do I need to have a fenced yard to raise a puppy?
A: No, a fenced yard is not absolutely required, but a puppy raiser must have access to a safe and secure outside area to relieve and exercise the puppy.

Q: What do I do with a puppy if I go on vacation or have an emergency?
A: Depending on the circumstances of the trip, a puppy may be able to accompany you on your vacation. If it is not appropriate or possible for the puppy to attend the vacation or there is an emergency, the puppy raising club leader assists with finding another puppy raising home to provide temporary care for the puppy.

Q: What happens if the puppy I’m raising does not become a guide dog?
A: Puppies that don’t graduate as guide dogs or enter into our breeding colony are known as “career change” dogs. If a puppy is career changed, it is first considered for placement in GDB’s K9 Buddy program (which places dogs as pets with children or youth who are blind or visually impaired and their families), or with one of GDB’s partner service dog organizations. If neither are viable options, then the puppy raiser may be given the option to adopt the dog as a pet.

Q: Will I get to meet the individual who received the dog I raised?
A: Usually, yes. Puppy raisers are invited to attend the graduation of the puppy they have raised, whether the dog becomes a guide dog or a member of our breeding colony. Graduation generally includes time to meet the dog’s handler or breeder custodians. There are circumstances where guide dog teams are trained in home and will not be present at a graduation ceremony.

Q: Is it hard to give the puppy up?
A: Yes. We are fortunate to have many puppy raisers who have raised more than one dog for us. They tell us that it is always hard to bring the dog back to campus for guide training, but their emotions are outweighed by the exciting possibility that the dog they raised could provide enhanced safety, independence, and inclusion for someone who is blind or visually impaired.

Q: Are there other ways to participate with Guide Dog for the Blind if I am unsure about making a 12-18 month commitment?
A: Yes, within the puppy raising program there are opportunities for volunteers to do more than raise a puppy full time. Puppy clubs in your area are often looking for club volunteers to fill support roles to the puppies in the club. If you live near one of our campuses in either San Rafael, CA or Boring, OR, there are many campus volunteer opportunities as well.

• Flagstaff
• Phoenix (Northwest)
• Phoenix (Southeast)
• Tucson
• Yuma