FAQ'S - What Are
Guide Dog Puppy Raisers?
Volunteer puppy raisers are just ordinary people who go
through an application process and training program at the guide dog school. The
schools screen for raising ability and works with puppy raisers one-on-one to
help them learn how to work with the puppy. In addition, the schools will
generally provide the raisers with a manual and video that tells them almost
everything they need to know. The raiser's job is to teach the puppy obedience
skills, expose the puppy to all sorts of people and environments and give the
puppy all the love and attention it needs to grow into a happy, confident dog
that is ready for guide training. Basically, raisers lay the groundwork for the
more extensive guide training to come.
One of the most important aspects of raising a future
guide dog is to get it comfortable with all kinds of situations. Socialization
is important for any dog, but it is crucial for guide dogs, who must be able to
go anywhere without being distracted from their work. They must be accustomed to
loud noises, adverse weather conditions, crowds of people and tricky obstacles.
A guide dog needs to be confident in any situation its handler might experience.
In order to excel in advanced training later on, the
puppy needs to get some experience with obedience early in life. It teaches
puppy raisers to first develop a good working relationship with the dog. It is
extremely important that future guide dogs are attentive and responsive to their
handlers, and that they have the self-confidence to handle complex commands and
stressful situations. The most important job of a puppy raiser is fostering
these qualities.
Raisers also teach puppies the basics of obedience -- to
sit, lie down and walk correctly on a leash -- and get them used to extensive
training sessions several times a week. Raisers train the puppy using leash
corrections and praise, never treat rewards. It's very important that a future
guide dog not be fixated on food because when they're on the job, they will have
to work without the expectation of a reward and they will have to maintain
concentration in restaurants and other areas with food distractions.
Raising a future guide dog is a wonderful experience, but
it is very difficult emotionally. At the end of the puppy raising period, a
little over a year, the puppy raiser must bring the dog back to the training
school so it can go on to help a blind or visually impaired person. Giving the
dog up after raising it for a year is a very sad experience, but puppy raisers
are rewarded by the satisfaction of contributing to the process. Most puppy
raisers end up raising many future guide dogs, because of the happiness it
brings them.
If you're interested in raising a future guide dog, check
our Guide Dog Schools pages at The Puppy Place or
look in the phone book for a guide dog school in your area. Most schools
have a comprehensive program that will teach you everything you need to know to
start a guide dog off right. If you love dogs and have the time to care for a
puppy, you can play a critical part in the guide dog training process. You also
may want to check out ourPuppy Raising page
for even more information.
Contact us for more info
|
|
|
|
|
