Puppy Raising Guidebook
Raise a puppy, change a life! This Guidebook offers everything you need to know to raise a puppy for Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB).
Search the Guidebook
Start here to learn more about GDB, and what it’s like to be part of our Puppy Raising program.
Review GDB’s policies regarding public access and etiquette for puppy raising volunteers.
Learn how to care for GDB puppies, provide veterinary care, and keep them healthy, happy, and safe.
Find out about the process of when puppies return to a GDB campus, and learn about GDB's other programs.
Review best practices for using social media and to promote GDB puppy clubs and puppy raising.
Marketing and Social MediaLearn about the path to GDB club leadership and how puppy clubs are structured.
Puppy Club LeadershipPathway to Puppy!
New Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy raising volunteers are assigned self-study learning modules as part of a guided “Learning Path” through our Litmos online learning platform. Learn more at the link below.
FUNdamentals
FUNdamentals Index By Topic
- Paws & Play: A Day in the Life of a 10-week-old GDB Puppy
- Food Rewards: What Type Do I Choose?
- The Rules of Three
- Verbal Cues
- Ready for Recall? (includes link to OPTIONAL "Ready for Recall" activity worksheet)
- EXTRA HELP
- Let’s Play! (2-5 months old)
- Let’s Play! Even More Fun (6-10 months old)
- Puppy Brain Games: Food Containing Toys
- Teen Wolf: A Survival Guide for Puppy Puberty
- READING – Reading Dog Body Language
- READING – Become a Body Language Detective
- Socialization Activities (2-5 months old)
- EXTRA HELP – Positive Pup: Building Confidence (includes Activity Worksheet)
- READING – Socialization Guides
- Puppy Socialization: Ideas to Spark Creativity
- Puppy Slumber Party, with Optional Puppy Sleepover Notes (2-5 months old)
- Going to Work or School (6-10 months old)
- Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (6-10 months old)
- EXTRA HELP – Have No Fear Pawpad Is Here!
- EXTRA HELP – Making Pawpads
- Safe and Sound: A Guide to Puppy Proofing Your Home
- Setting Up a Puppy YES Space
- Don’t Mind Me! Using Your Puppy YES Space
- Confinement
- Welcome, Puppy! Teaching Good House Manners
- Loose in the Home: Transitioning Out of the Puppy YES Space
- OPTIONAL – Settling: From Zooming to Zzz
- Home Alone: Developing Skills Using the Puppy YES Space
- Recall (Come When Called)
- Grooming and Body Handling
- Equipment Acceptance
- “Sit” & “Down”
- Do Your Business (includes link to the OPTIONAL Pee & Poop Chronicles: Puppy Relief Schedule Worksheet)
- EXTRA HELP – Relieving Troubleshooting
- Puppy Pit Stops: Relieving Skills Away from Home
- Earning Free Relieving Access
Updates to the Guidebook
See the Change Log to note the timing of any updates to the content of the Guidebook.
We Want to Hear From You
For questions and feedback about the Puppy Raising Guidebook, please email [email protected].
Guide Dogs for the Blind Puppy Raising Guidebook, all rights reserved. Please see our Terms of Use Guidelines to utilize the contents within.