A well socialized puppy will have fewer adjustments to make when it comes in for formal guide dog training. It will be your responsibility to take your puppy through an approved basic obedience class and to attend monthly meetings. The meetings allow your puppy to interact with other dogs and it gives you the opportunity to talk to other Puppy Raisers. It is a good time to make friends and compare notes on your puppies. The puppy returns to Guide Dogs of America for formal guide dog training at fifteen to eighteen months of age.
Formal training takes about four to six months.
There is no visiting during this time but the Puppy Raiser can call to see how their puppy is doing while in training. The ultimate reward for the Puppy Raisers is to meet the blind recipient of the dog they raised at the Awards Ceremony. One of our staff members from the Puppy Department will then contact you to schedule a home interview to discuss the Puppy Raising Program in detail and to answer any questions you may have. 251 or ext. Be sure to include in your email a mailing address, your name, and a phone number where you can be reached.