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You're not alone on this journey.
Did you know that we take care of most of the costs, including vet bills, food, leashes, collars, and early development toys?
Our expert teams and Puppy Raising network will provide ongoing support and guidance throughout the experience. Expect regular check-ins via phone calls and visits every four to six weeks.
Can’t commit to raising a pup for 12 months? No problem! We offer short-term puppy love:
- Temporary Care: Whether you’re going on holiday or need a shorter commitment, our Temporary Care network has you covered. This fantastic network of Temporary Carers will step in when you’re away, and will pick up where you left off and take care of the pup until you return.
- Short-term Puppy Raising: Choose to care for an 8-week-old puppy until they’re 8 months old or take on an 8-month-old puppy until they’re ready for assessment at around 14 months.
What does Puppy Raising entail?
We could not complete our vital work without the heart and dedication of our Puppy Raisers.
By becoming a Guide Dogs Puppy Raiser, you’re not just volunteering – you’re making an extraordinary impact on the lives of Victorians with low vision or blindness. Your contributions help us work towards an accessible world for everyone and train life-changing Guide Dogs who offer independence and companionship.
As a Puppy Raiser, you’ll welcome a potential future Guide Dog into your home from around eight weeks old until they’re ready to return to us after 12 months of Puppy Raising.
Your main mission? To nurture the puppy so they grow into a well-socialised, confident, Guide Dog-ready companion. Once back with us, if they meet our assessment criteria, they’ll embark on a five-month training program before being matched with their Handler.
Puppy Raising requirements
The process of training Guide Dogs as they journey from pup to partnership is incredibly rewarding.
If you’re a devoted dog lover with a heart of gold who meets the following requirements, get in touch.
- To keep the pups safe, your property must be safely fenced.
- Our precious puppies need to sleep indoors.
- Applicants will be a licensed driver and have access to a vehicle.
- Pups should not be left alone for more than 3-4 hours a day.
- Children in your home should be 4-5 years old.
Have questions for us? Check out our FAQs below.
Ready to go now? We don’t blame you! Submit your expression of interest here.
Submit an expression of interest
Raise the next generation of life-changing Guide Dogs
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. We’re always on the lookout for dedicated Puppy Raisers to meet the growing needs of the blind and low vision community. Go ahead and register your interest – when you’re ready, we’ll coordinate with you to get started on this exciting journey.
It’s true – saying goodbye to this canine cutie can be tough. Ask any Puppy Raiser, and they’ll tell you that parting ways is the hardest part. But ask them if they’d do it all over again, and they’ll wholeheartedly say yes without hesitation. While it’s natural to form a bond over the 12 months, witnessing the profound impact the puppy has on someone’s life makes it all worthwhile. Remember, the puppy might be precious to you, but they’re a lifeline to someone with low vision or blindness. And with every goodbye, there’s the joy of welcoming a new pup into your home!
As a Puppy Raiser, you’re never alone. Guide Dogs Victoria provides:
- food, veterinary care, flea and tick prevention
- a dedicated Puppy Development Adviser for expert training advice and support
- peer-to-peer support from experienced Puppy Raisers who can offer friendly advice and encouragement
- temporary care options if you have holiday plans or an unexpected emergency.
Our advisors are experts in the field of puppy behaviour and personal interactions. They have helped thousands of puppies ‘grow up’ over the years, so you can be confident you’re receiving the highest quality support in every situation.
Yes, definitely! We have a fantastic network of Temporary Carers who can step in when you’re away. Whether it’s a short break or a longer holiday, we can arrange for one of our Temporary Carers to take over until you return.
Welcoming a puppy into your home and family to love, nurture and teach it for almost a year, and then say goodbye, takes courage and commitment. After 12 months of loving care, the puppy will return to our facilities for assessment and further training. And you can always apply to raise a new pup!
If you wish to Puppy Raise again, talk to your advisor. There can be variations in waiting periods for a new pup due to when they are born and the number of applicants already waiting. In the meantime, you can also act as a Temporary Carer until a new pup is ready to come home with you.
If you’re excited about the role, start by reviewing our Puppy Raiser requirements in addition to those listed above.
Once you’re ready to go, simply submit your expression of interest below. We’ll then be in touch to guide you through next steps.
Our Puppy Development Team will review your expression of interest within seven business days.
If accepted, you’ll be invited to an information session to learn more about this challenging and rewarding commitment.
Remember, if we do not have any Puppy Raiser spots available or you cannot commit to 12 months, you can also support Guide Dog puppies by making a tax-deductible donation. Your donations help provide play kits, comfy beds, puppy vaccination packs, and essential supplies for our pups.
Other ways to get involved
If you do not meet the criteria required to raise a puppy, there are other ways you can get involved.
There are so many ways to get involved and support the Guide Dogs community. If Puppy Raising isn’t right for you, you could consider:
Ready to continue?
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