Volunteer Opportunities
Puppy Raiser
Are you a dog lover? Do you have the time to help raise a life-changing puppy? Would you like to make a difference to someone's life? If you've answered yes to these questions, then this role could be perfect for you!
As a Puppy Raiser, you'll provide a 6-8 week-old puppy with the vital foundation for its future role as a guide dog. You'll be looking after a puppy for 12-16 months and will guide him or her through training, socialisation, the introduction of new environments and experiences while providing a loving home.
There might be the odd chewed slipper along the way, but nothing beats the rewarding feeling of loving and raising a puppy who will go on to make an enormous difference to someone living with sight loss.
This grid shows when you can volunteer for this opportunity.
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You'll ideally have:
A loving home with enough time to invest in raising a puppy and attending to their needs (e.g. toilet training). If you work from home or have hobbies, you'll need to be available to give the puppy regular attention alongside these.
Someone at home who is physically able to handle large breed dogs (around 25-40kg).
Access to a car, so that you can get your puppy used to travelling.
The agreement of your landlord to have a dog in the property if you rent your home.
A safe secure area outside for your puppy to go to the toilet.
Puppies can happily live with other dogs or children. To determine whether you can provide a suitable environment for a puppy in the company of other dogs or children, we will conduct a home visit as part of the application process.
Children under the age of 16 are not allowed to walk the puppy but we encourage the whole family to be involved in some of the puppy’s development.