Raising Puppies For Guide-Dogs

What you need to consider before applying to become a Puppy Raiser. It is more than just a hobby!

- Mientjie Kleinhans

Don’t we all just love playing with puppies, cuddling them and watching them sleep? These supercute bundles of joy bring so much happiness into our world. Now, imagine being a fulltime Puppy Raiser. The South African GuideDogs Association for the Blind (GDA) is always looking for Puppy Raisers, but before you rush off to apply, you do need to consider a few facts first. 

Consider this

Before committing yourself as a Puppy Raiser, the first fact to consider is that you will get extremely attached to the puppy. It will be difficult to hand over this dog eventually, and it is important to keep this in mind at all times. The reward will be the pride you feel when you see him wearing his harness or working jacket, and knowing the important role he will play in somebody’s life who is visually or physically impaired, or a child with autism.

Can you commit?

You will need to commit 12 to 18 months of your time to raise the puppy. This means you have to house-train the puppy, look after him, take him for training, and never leave him with someone else for long periods of time without permission from GDA. However, there is the option to leave the pup at the kennels, but it has to be arranged in advance.

Instead of a full-time Puppy Raiser, you can also consider becoming a weekend-homer instead. Most of the principles for a Puppy Raiser apply to a weekend-homer.