The Answers Are Below
Let's start with the question puppy raisers are always asked:
- What kind of guidance and support do you offer to puppy raisers?
- What are the requirements to become a Guide Dog puppy raiser?
- What happens to a puppy that does not become a guide?
- Where can a Guide Dog puppy accompany its puppy raiser?
- Do you have to be a member of the 4-H organization to raise a Guide Dog puppy?
- Are there meetings to attend with the puppy?
- Who pays for a Guide Dog puppy's food and other expenses?
- Can a person be gone during the day and still raise a Guide Dog puppy?
- Where does a Guide Dog puppy stay when the raiser is out of town?
- Can a raiser have other pets while raising a Guide Dog puppy?
- Does a Guide Dog puppy require any special foods?
Q: Isn't it hard to give the puppies up?
A: The short answer is, of course it is!
Puppy raisers do become very attached to their puppies; however, they are comforted with the knowledge that their dogs will go on to enrich people's lives, providing companionship, friendship and comfort, and helping blind people travel safely and confidently as they pursue their goals in life.
It is a gift that requires some sacrifice, but teaches a few life lessons along the way; it's not every day that you have such a profound impact on someone's life and can see the immediate effects of your generosity.
Q: What kind of guidance and support do you offer to puppy raisers?
A: We work hard to ensure that every puppy raiser has a successful volunteer experience, regardless of the eventual career path of the dog. In addition to receiving comprehensive instructional materials, raisers all benefit from expert local guidance. Each puppy raising club is directed by one or more club leaders who receive ongoing specialized training and instructional materials from Guide Dogs.
Our professional Community Field Representatives work closely with those leaders to provide direct communication, guidance and support from our Canine Community Programs Department.
There are regular club meetings where raisers gather to share ideas and information, work on puppy training techniques and participate in socialization outings. And each year on both of our campuses, we host puppy raising Fun Days as a way to thank and honor our puppy raisers' volunteer efforts, as well as provide in-depth education and hands-on instruction on topics as varied as puppy play time to innovations in Guide Dog training.
Finally, raisers are invited to attend their dogs' graduation ceremonies, and formally present the dogs they raised to their new blind partners. Graduation affords us a public venue in which to recognize the puppy raisers' hard work and dedication, and it gives them an opportunity to bring their volunteer experience full circle: friendships are made; relationships are forged, and our community continues to grow.
Q: What are the requirements to become a Guide Dog puppy raiser?
A: First and foremost, you need to live in one of these Western states:
Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah or Washington.
After that, you need to understand and agree to our Puppy Raising Commitment:
A local representative will interview you in your home.
As a potential puppy raiser, you will join a local puppy raising club and attend preliminary club meetings. Once you receive your pup, you will need to continue to attend regularly scheduled club meetings and outings.
You will need to submit completed puppy raising applications, available through your club's puppy raising leader.
All members of your household must be committed to raising a puppy.
You can be an adult or a youngster, but you have to be at least 9 years old.
Your home must provide a safe and secure living environment.
You need to be available to supervise a young puppy throughout the day.
Your puppy must be on leash when not in a secure area.
There must be a compatible relationship with other pets in your home.
Your puppy must sleep indoors.
You must be committed to providing daily exercise and socialization for your pup.
You are responsible for some expenses, including food and incidentals. These expenses may be tax-deductible, depending on your state tax laws.
You must use Guide Dog approved training and management techniques when working with your puppy.
You need to be willing to travel to meet with Guide Dog representatives for evaluation of your puppy's progress and/or attend training workshops.
You must be a positive representative of Guide Dogs for the Blind within your community.
You are required to release the puppy back to Guide Dogs for the Blind at our request.
If all that sounds good and you are interested in being interviewed by a representative in your area, get in touch with us!
Please call the Canine Community Programs office at Guide Dogs for the Blind at 800-295-4050, or email us at ipuppy@guidedogs.com.
Q: What happens to a puppy that does not become a guide?
A: Our dogs that don't graduate as guides can go on to a number of alternative careers within our program. If a dog doesn't qualify for any of our other alternative careers, they become known as "career-change" dogs, and the puppy raiser is given priority to keep the dog as a pet. If the raiser is unable or chooses not to keep the dog, our Dog Placement Department will place them in loving adoptive homes.
Q: Where can a Guide Dog puppy accompany its puppy raiser?
A: A Guide Dog puppy should be exposed to a variety of socialization experiences. Puppy raisers take their pups to malls, grocery stores, school and work, among other places. Many times, the puppy raising group's regularly scheduled meetings will include outings specifically designed for puppy socialization. Leaders also teach the raisers appropriate ways in which to expose the puppies to a wide range of socialization experiences.
Q: Do you have to be a member of the 4-H organization to raise a Guide Dog puppy?
A: No; however, raising a Guide Dog puppy is an accredited 4-H project and many of the Guide Dog puppy raising groups are organized under the auspices of the 4-H program. Adult raisers may participate in 4-H raising clubs, but are considered leaders for 4-H registration purposes. There are also many other groups not affiliated with 4-H raising Guide Dog puppies which welcome both youth and adult raisers. For example, many groups have been organized through corporations, churches, service clubs and groups of acquaintance.