Volunteer Puppy Raisers
- Leader Dog puppies are raised by volunteer puppy raisers. Leader Dogs could not be provided without the assistance of volunteer puppy raisers
- There are nearly 400 puppy raisers in 22 states and Canada. Puppy raisers travel to Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, Michigan, to pick up and return their puppies
- 70% of puppy raisers raise more than one puppy in their lifetime
- Puppy raisers receive their puppies at 7 to 8 weeks of age and return them to Leader Dogs for the Blind between 12 and 15 months of age
- Puppy raisers teach puppies basic obedience, house manners and good etiquette while exposing the puppies to all types of environments, such as:
- Churches, stores, amusement parks, sporting events
- Different types of people
- Different types of floors and stairs
- Different sorts of animals, including squirrels, cats, birds, dogs and farm animals
- Loud sirens
- Busy sidewalks and bicycles
- Some puppy raisers are able to take their puppy to work with them
- Puppy raisers are responsible for meeting at least monthly with their puppy counselor. Volunteer puppy counselors are regionally placed. Counselors organize obedience lessons and exposure opportunities for the puppies
- Puppies that see and experience a large variety of environments during the first year of their lives will be more confident when exposed to future experiences
- Raisers provide health care, food and necessary supplies for the puppies
- Raisers have the privilege of naming the puppies
- Puppy raisers follow very specific guidelines, such as:
- When puppies are in public wearing their “Future Leader Dog” bandannas or jackets, they are expected to be clean and well mannered
- Puppies will be taught to stay off furniture
- Puppies are expected to lay quietly at meal time and not beg
- Each month, approximately 30, 1-year-old puppies are returned to Leader Dogs for the Blind to begin formal training
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