Facts

• There are more than 1,000 families raising guide dog puppies throughout the Western states of the USA.
• Breeds used as guides: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and Labrador/Golden Retriever crossbreeds (Smooth Coated Collies are being raised as part of a pilot program).
• Guide dog puppies are considered part of the family. They sleep indoors and accompany their raisers to activities and outings.
• Raisers receive the pups when they are approximately 7 weeks old. The dogs are returned to the campuses of the guide dogs association when they are between 13 and 18 months old.
• Puppy raising is an accredited 4-H project; however, adults and non 4-H youth may also raise puppies for some organizations.
• Short-term raisers are needed who will keep a puppy until it is at least 20 weeks old. These raisers housetrain and begin socializing the puppy before it is placed with another raiser who will finish raising the pup.
• Puppy raising clubs also need volunteers to help with tasks other than actually raising a pup, such as public relations, puppy sitting, event coordination, clerical work, etc.