National Volunteer Week: My Puppy Raising Journey

Once I resigned from full-time employment, I was pretty sure I wanted a dog. I say “pretty sure” because I had never in my life had a dog. I wanted a dog that could check three boxes:

• Smart
• Healthy
• With a purpose.

Little did I know that a fourth box would be added:

• Love & raise for Someone Else.

The reason we love and raise puppies for Leader Dogs for the Blind is to provide a person who is blind or low vision with a dog who will guide them through life.

Deborah and Puppy #22481 on puppy pick up day.

I picked up puppy #22481 on June 20, 2025. Our 13- month journey began with him accidentally “parking” (the Leader Dog term for a dog’s bathroom time) on the floor in the lobby of the Canine Center at Leader Dog – Yikes! It didn’t take long for my inexperience to show.

We had an hour’s drive from Rochester Hills to home. He barked and whined nearly the entire hour – poor baby. In an effort to provide comfort to the seven-week-old puppy, I spoke calmly to him from the driver’s seat while he was crated in the very back of the SUV.

Once we were home, I clipped the leash to his tiny, baby puppy collar, walked him from the SUV to the porch fully expecting he would walk along with me, climb the four steps up to the front door and in we would go. He actually resisted walking in the direction the leash was leading him and barely managed to get his short, baby puppy legs up the stairs! Then, in we went. I honestly thought climbing stairs was an innate skill that puppies were born with. Once he overcame the steps, puppy #22481 was introduced to his new home, his new crate and his new handler – Me? Me! By 5:30 a.m. the following day, less than 24 hours since bringing him home, I sent an email to my puppy counselors with the subject: “What Am I To Do?” You see, I also thought somehow a second innate skill puppies were born with was the sense to know they are to “park” OUTSIDE… ha! My puppy counselors (God bless you, June and Pat!) walked me calmly through several house-breaking practices, rules, awareness, etc. The “parking” situation got much better very quickly, and by the end of the third week, he was “parking” on cue… outside.

Our combined learning experiences have been wonderful, fabulous and joy filled. Always moving forward in learning and experience. Together we have been to a Red Wings game, the library (many times), the Leader Dog Frozen Paw 5K in the cold of January 2026, Puppy Bowl at Leader Dog in February 2026, 4th of July Parade, Thanksgiving Day Parade, Good Canine Citizen, shopping, car trips, Puppy Day at Leader Dog in September 2025, puppy raiser classes (along with up to 24 other Future Leader Dogs) and have walked many, many miles together. Most of my days begin and end with laughter and joy, thanks to Puppy #22481! He’s so special, so funny and so smart!

Puppy #22481 was eventually named Griffon.

Deborah and Future Leader Dog Griffon (Puppy #22481) sitting on a bench outside the Leader Dog campus.

Gorgeous Griffon the Great is a black Labrador golden cross who is smart, healthy, and has the best possible purpose – to be a guide dog. He has been raised to provide someone who is blind with autonomy as they travel through life.

Puppy raising for Leader Dogs for the Blind has given my life a new, incredibly meaningful purpose, too. Becoming part of the community with Leader Dog’s leadership, staff, volunteers, puppy coordinators, puppy counselors, puppy raisers and breeding host volunteers has been a gift equal to the gift of the love and trust of a very special canine friend. Future Leader Dog Griffon has set a very high bar for the next puppy I will be blessed to raise, love and share for another year of my life .

Griffon is scheduled to be returned to Leader Dogs for the Blind in late July 2026 for his formal guide dog training. I believe my inexperience with dogs has built a strong, trusting character in puppy #22481 that will serve him well as he goes off to do that which he was born to do. During the ceremony where Griffon and other fabulous Leader Dogs will graduate, my heart will swell with pride and joy. Of course, by then I’ll have another puppy who will refill my heart with love and my time with training for the new puppy to go off and give someone else a life of autonomy and independence.

Written by Deborah Lee, volunteer puppy raiser