When the puppies are seven to nine weeks old they are delivered to their raisers. The raisers teach the puppies basic manners and provide socialization experience. At the beginning this includes housebreaking, crate training and teaching the puppies to pay attention on command. Later the training includes attending socialization and basic obedience classes, walking in a controlled manner and behaving civilly around people. As the puppies mature and exhibit increasing confidence, the raisers expose them to new experiences and environments, always working to make the experiences positive to build the dogs' confidence.
Raisers also provide healthy doses of play and exercise.
Quarterly, a Puppy Evaluator from Guiding Eyes travels to North Carolina. She evaluates the puppies' behavior in different situations. This helps Guiding Eyes evaluate its breeding lines, identify issues that raisers should address and determine when puppies are mature enough for formal training. See Boone's Page to follow one puppy through this process. This test evaluates the aspects of temperament essential to good guide dogs, such as confidence.