The Puppy Raising Journey

After their time in the nursery, our pups go on to live in the home of one of our wonderful volunteer Puppy Raisers until 12 months of age before they go into assessment.

The role of a Puppy Raiser is an extremely important one! The main goal of the program is to nurture puppies so they become well socialised, confident, and not readily distracted. Let’s take a look at what the pups get up to!

Early foundations

At eight to 13-weeks-old, our pups start learning the basics of life. They begin toilet training, start going for walks in their local area to teach them how to walk politely on a lead and adapt to their surroundings, as well as learning how to behave well in the home, laying the groundwork for their future as Guide Dogs.

Building confidence

Pups start learning more advanced skills at 13 to 16 weeks, now beginning to walk in a guiding position on a person’s left-hand side, which is crucial for their future role. They’re also introduced to busier traffic and distractions on walks, such as other dogs, people, and various items on the ground (like tasty human food!) to help them learn to stay focused in busy environments.

New horizons

Now at four to five months, our pups are ready to explore new environments. They’re introduced to walking in small shops so they can get used to navigating tight spaces, start to practice sitting calmly at cafes, and learn how to be patient and well-behaved in public.

Navigating everyday life

Our pups build on these skills by visiting small supermarkets and strip shop areas with medium traffic at around five to seven-months-old. They also begin exploring public transport, which helps familiarise them with different modes of travel and the various sensations they will encounter.

Stepping up

As they approach their first year, our pups take on larger challenges at around the seven to nine-month milestone. They navigate larger supermarkets and small indoor plazas, gaining confidence in more complex areas to help them adapt to the wide variety of environments they will encounter as working Guide Dogs.

Busy environments

At nine to 11-months-old, our pups are introduced to even busier shopping areas and small indoor shopping centres. They learn to handle heavier foot traffic and various distractions, honing their ability to stay calm and focused in bustling environments.

Mastering urban areas

From 11-months onwards, these clever pups near the end of their training, having experienced the full spectrum of life outside the nursery. They confidently walk through CBD environments, navigate large shopping centres, and master all forms of public transport, ensuring they can tackle the diverse challenges they’ll face as Guide Dogs.