PUPPY RAISING:
About
Requirements and Application
What to Expect
Puppy Raising F.A.Q.
ABOUT PUPPY RAISING: The puppies are placed in foster homes at eight weeks of age. The volunteer foster families are called Puppy Raisers.
All first-time applicants must fill out applications and be interviewed before a puppy is placed in the home. Raisers must live in the Southern or Central California area. Some parts of W.A. can also Puppy Raise. Children and pets in the household are a plus. At the time of the interview, the Puppy Raiser receives a thirty-page manual on Puppy Raising. At the time of placement the Puppy Raiser receives a bowl, brush, bone, leash, collar, I.D. tag, puppy jacket, and I.D. card.
Food and any items purchased for the puppy is tax deductible. Guide Dogs of America pays for all veterinary bills, usually on a reimbursement basis
YOUR ROLE AS A PUPPY RAISER:As a Puppy Raiser you will play an essential part in making sure your puppy receives the proper socialization needed to help adjust to the important job it will be doing later on in life.
It will be your responsibility to socialize the puppy as much as you can. Take the puppy everywhere. Expose it to as many different situations as possible (construction sites, heavy traffic areas, animals, children). A well socialized puppy will have fewer adjustments to make when it comes in for formal guide dog training.
The Puppy Raiser is required to teach the puppy basic obedience, such as how to walk on a leash (on the left, and slightly out in front), how to sit, stay, lay down, and come when called. It will be your responsibility to take your puppy through an approved basic obedience class and to attend monthly meetings. The meetings allow your puppy to interact with other dogs and it gives you the opportunity to talk to other Puppy Raisers. It is a good time to make friends and compare notes on your puppies.
The puppy returns to Guide Dogs of America for formal guide dog training at about eighteen months of age. Guide Dogs of America holds an In-For-Training Barbecue for Puppy Raisers when it is time to bring their puppies in as a way to say thank you, to get together one last time, and to give Puppy Raisers an opportunity to say good bye as they send their puppy off to formal training.
Formal training takes about four to six months. There is no visiting during this time but the Puppy Raiser can call to see how their puppy is doing while in training. The ultimate reward for the Puppy Raisers is to meet the blind recipient of the dog they raised at the Awards Ceremony.
REQUIREMENTS: We have various types of Puppy Raisers: individuals, families, living in houses, apartments, condos townhouses. The primary qualification is someone that has time to properly and fully socialize the puppy as is needed.
The puppy must be allowed to sleep inside a crate by your bed. You must take the puppy to basic obedience class (this can be through your local park).
The puppy is not to be allowed on any furniture and absolutely no table scraps or "people food" is to be given to the puppy. You must be able to attend monthly puppy meeting.
Raisers must live in the Southern or Central California area. Some parts of W.A. can also Puppy Raise.
APPLICATION: If you are interested in becoming a Puppy Raiser for Guide dogs of America, fill out a Puppy Raisers application and mail it:
ATTN: Puppy Department- Puppy Raiser Application
Guide Dogs of America
13445 Glenoaks Boulevard
Sylmar, CA 91342
One of our staff members from the Puppy Department will then contact you to schedule a home interview to discuss the Puppy Raising Program in detail and to answer any questions you may have.
If you need an application, fill out the request form below. Be sure to fill out all (*)required fields.
BREEDS: BREEDS USED: We use 70% Labrador Retrievers, 15% Golden Retrievers, and 15% German Shepherds. The Labrador Retrievers make up the majority of our dogs because we have found them to be the most successful breed used for guide dogs. In fact, the Labrador Retriever is the dog most often used for guide dog programs throughout the world.
THE MATCHING PROCESS: Upon completion of formal training, the dogs are carefully matched with blind students by our licensed trainers, taking into consideration their lifestyles and environments. In addition, the personalities of both student and guide dog, size, strength, pace of walk and energy levels of each are also matched to ensure a harmonious relationship.
Before it is time to match the guide dog, the guide dog recipients have gone through an extensive application and review process that has allowed our trainers to know a great deal about the needs of that individual in a guide dog. The trainers by this time have a good idea of what dog would be best for the each applicant. Students are additionally evaluated during the first few days of instruction providing our trainers with even a better idea about the pace, strength, personality, and needs of the student. With the trainer's extensive working knowledge of their dogs, they are able to match up the best guide dog for each individual.
When the dog is issued, the student is provided with the dog's name, breed, and information about the dog's personality. The overall deciding factor is the individual student's ability to control and develop a good working relationship with the dog.
WHAT TO EXPECT: APPLYING: After you have completed an application to be a Puppy Raiser, you will be phoned to schedule a home interview. After a review, you will be notified as to whether your application has been approved or not.
HOW LONG BEFORE YOU GET THE PUPPY? This can very in time, depending on the number of puppies we have and if you are waiting for a specific breed or gender of puppy.
RECEIVING THE PUPPY: When it is time to pick up your puppy, you will be notified and scheduled to come in for a Puppy Orientation meeting. In this meeting you will be told/reminded the "Do's" and "Don'ts" for raising the puppy. You will also be given a bowl, leash, puppy manual(if you are a first time Puppy Raiser or need an updated copy), and other starting items. You will also be given a card that will tell you when you need to bring your puppy in for shots and other medical evaluations. After the meeting you will be given your puppy.
IN-FOR-TRAINING: Your dog will be brought In-For-Training at about 18 months of age. You will be notified when your dog is scheduled to be brought in for training as it gets closer to that time. The In-For-Training barbecue will give you a great opportunity to cry, laugh, and have fun with other fellow Puppy Raisers as you say good bye to your puppy who is going off into formal training.
PUPPY RAISING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: Where does Guide Dogs of America get its dogs?
Q: Can you be a Puppy Raiser if your employer will not allow you to have the dog at work?
Q: Can you be a Puppy Raiser if you live in an apartment?
Q: Can I have other pets at home?
Q: How long will I have to wait to get a puppy?
Q: What expenses does the Puppy Raiser pay?
Q: How often are puppies evaluated?
Q: How do Puppy Raisers know when to bring their puppies in for shots and what shots they need?
Q: Do we make the appointments for check-ups, shots and procedures or does the Puppy Department?
Q: What if Puppy Raiser out of the area and unable to come to the Guide Dogs of America facilities for needed shots or other procedures.
Q: What should a Puppy Raiser do if the puppy has a medical emergency?
Q: Can I get another puppy right away?
Q: What happens if the puppy/dog is cut from the guide dog program?
Q: Where does Guide Dogs of America get its dogs?
A: We get our dogs through our own Breeding Program.
Q: Can you be a Puppy Raiser if your employer will not allow you to have the dog at work?
A: Yes. Although it is ideal for Puppy Raisers to have the dogs at work, it is not necessary. In such cases, arrangements will need to be made to make sure the puppy is fed and let out on schedule, especially when the puppy is young.
Q: Can you be a Puppy Raiser if you live in an apartment?
A: Yes. While it is easier for you to Puppy Raise if you have a backyard and a house, Puppy Raisers are
not limited to people who live in houses. Puppy Raisers in apartments will not have the ease of opening the back door and just letting the dog out into the back yard, but the experience of living in an apartment helps in socializing a puppy so it is comfortable in an apartment setting.
Q: Can I have other pets at home?
A: Yes! It is good for the puppies to be raised around other animals, including cats. Children are also a
benefit for socializing the puppies.
Q: How long will I have to wait to get a puppy?
A: The time varies depending on how many puppies we have available and if you are waiting for a specific
breed and/or gender.
Q: What expenses does the Puppy Raiser pay?
A: Guide Dogs of America covers the cost of all authorized veterinary care for the puppy (usually done
by reimbursement.) The Puppy Raiser pays for food, toys, and the obedience class.
Q: How often are puppies evaluated?
A: Puppies are formally evaluated twice. They are evaluated at about 10 months of age and then again when
they are brought in for formal training. When you attend Puppy Raiser classes, the Puppy Department will advise you of any problems they see and how to fix them. If you are ever concerned about the puppy's behavior, contact the Puppy Department.
Q: How do Puppy Raisers know when to bring their puppies in for shots and which shots they need?
A: When the Puppy Raiser first picks up the puppy to raise he or she receives a record with the schedule
of shots needed. Puppy Raisers should follow that schedule.
Q: Do we make the appointments for check-ups, shots and procedures or does the
Puppy Department?
A: The Puppy Raiser must schedule the appointment for all shots and similar medical visits. In order to
schedule the appointment Puppy Raisers should contact either Dona in the kennel at 818-833-6441 or contact the Puppy Department.
Q: What if Puppy Raiser out of the area and unable to come to the Guide Dogs of
America facilities for needed shots or other procedures.
A: If a Puppy Raiser is not able to come to the Guide Dogs of America facilities for the required
vaccinations, they should schedule to have the vaccinations given by an approved Veterinarian. When the Puppy Raiser first receives their puppy, they are given a list of approved Veterinarians who give Guide Dogs of America discounted rates.
Q: What should a Puppy Raiser do if the puppy has a medical emergency?
A: Contact Guide Dogs of America at (818) 362-5834. If it is after hours, you will reach the operator or
answering service. Simply state that it is an emergency and you will be put in contact with Kellee, our Veterinarian Technician. Kellee can be reached 24 hours every day, and she will advise you of what to do. If the emergency is grave and there is no time to contact Guide Dogs of America, such as in the case of a dog being hit by a car, take the dog immediately to a Veterinarian and contact Guide Dogs of America from the Veterinarian's office.
Q: Can I get another puppy right away?
A: Yes! Some Puppy Raisers prefer to get their new puppy right before their first one is ready to come In-For-Training.
Q: What happens if the puppy/dog is cut from the guide dog program?
A: The Puppy Raiser is given the first option to adopt the "Career Change" puppy. If the Puppy Raiser does not wish to adopt the puppy, then the puppy is offered to individuals who have applied to adopt a dog from Guide Dogs of America.