Puppy Guides of Snohomish County


	Interested in raising a Guide Dog Puppy?
	(Text from Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc Website)

	Why raise a Guide Dog puppy?
	Your first answer may be, "Because puppies are so cuddly, adorable and fun!" And you're right—puppies are terribly cute, and raising a Guide Dog puppy is a lot of fun. But, raising a future Guide Dog also takes a lot of time, responsibility and hard work. A Guide Dog puppy requires anywhere from 12 to 18 months of development in a raiser's home before it is ready to return to Guide Dogs for its formal guidework training. A puppy raiser is responsible for teaching a Guide Dog pup good behavior both at home and in public, and what to expect and accept in this busy world. A raiser also rears the puppy to be a person's close companion—to trust and be trusted. The puppy raiser's goal is to develop an energetic and curious pup into a mature, dependable dog that has the following characteristics:

	- Good house manners. The puppy is well-behaved and will not relieve in the house, is quiet and calm, eats only his own food, and is not destructive. - Socialized to the world. The puppy has been exposed to a wide variety of people, things and places and accepts new situations in a calm and thoughtful manner. - Well-traveled. The puppy is relaxed and comfortable when traveling in all modes of transportation: cars, buses, trains, airplanes, ferries, etc. - People-friendly. The puppy bonds well with people, enjoys receiving verbal praise and is eager to please. - Animal-friendly. The puppy is calm and appropriate around all sorts of animals: other dogs, cats, birds, livestock, etc. - Responsive. The puppy obeys basic commands and is cooperative during various training exercises.

	The Puppy Raising Commitment

	Potential raisers attend several months of club meetings and outings to learn approved Guide Dog training techniques. One of our group leaders will arrange for a home and yard safety inspection and meet with all family members. After puppy-sitting one of our puppies in training you will submit a formal application to Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.

	In addition: - All members of the household must be committed to raising a puppy. - Raisers can be adults or youth, 9 years and older. - Raisers must provide a safe and secure living environment Young puppies need to be supervised throughout the day. All puppies must be on leash when not in a secure area. - There must be a compatible relationship with other pets in the home. - Puppies must sleep indoors. - Raisers must provide daily exercise and socialization for the puppies. - Raisers and puppies are to attend regularly scheduled club meetings and outings. - Raisers are responsible for some expenses, including food and incidental expenses. These expenses may be tax-deductible, depending on the raisers’ state tax laws. - Raisers use Guide Dog approved training and management techniques when working with the puppies. - Raisers need to be willing to travel to meet with Guide Dog representatives for evaluation of the puppy’s progress and/or attend training workshops. - Raisers must be a positive representative of Guide Dogs for the Blind within their communities. - Raisers are required to release the puppy back to Guide Dogs for the Blind at the organization's request.