Raise a puppy.
On this page:
What's involved?
You can play an essential role in a puppy's development.
As a Puppy Raiser, you will integrate a puppy into your daily routines and introduce them to a range of new experiences and environments as they prepare for their important career. Our puppies begin training from 8-10 weeks of age and remain in training until they come of age.
When you become a Puppy Raiser, you will be partnered with a staff member of Guide Dogs who will be your Puppy Raising Advisor. Your advisor will provide ongoing training and support to mentor you through the puppy’s training period. The goal is to nurture each puppy so they become well socialised, confident and focused before they embark on their formal training program.
Without the efforts of our amazing volunteer Puppy Raisers, we could not train the Guide Dogs, Autism Assistance Dogs, Facility Dogs and Therapy Dogs who provide essential companionship and independence for so many people in our community.
Who can be a Puppy Raiser?
Raising a puppy is a very special commitment.
Our dedicated volunteers need to:
- Live in the Adelaide metropolitan area or surrounding areas (within approximately one hour’s drive of Adelaide)
- Be over 18 years old with a full driver’s licence and car.
- Have adequate strength and physical fitness to handle a dog that will grow to be in excess of 30 kg.
- Accommodate the puppy’s training and socialisation into their daily routine, including regular training sessions at different locations around Adelaide during business hours.
- Ensure puppies are not left alone for more than four hours. This may mean developing flexible work or study arrangements so the puppy can attend your workplace.
Workplace requirements
If you intend to take the puppy into your workplace, please seek approval from your employer to ensure they understand the following:
- Puppies need to be toileted regularly, as often as every 30 minutes when toilet-training.
- Puppies may whine intermittently while they’re developing appropriate workplace behaviour.
- You must commit to attending weekly puppy training sessions with your Puppy Raising Advisor.
- You will need to enforce consistent behavioural guidelines for the puppy, including educating your co-workers about the appropriate way to engage with a puppy-in-training.
A life-changing role
Make a real difference.
Puppies can remain in the Puppy Raising program until they come of age. We may move puppies into different households during the program depending on the pup’s individual growth and development needs. We always aim to find the right environment for each puppy.
Once they’re ready for the next stage of their journey, our puppies return to Guide Dogs to begin assessment and training for their potential careers as Guide Dogs, Autism Assistance Dogs, Facility Dogs or Therapy Dogs.
While it’s never easy to say goodbye to the puppy, it’s a wonderful feeling to know that you have contributed to the training of a Guide Dog that will one day make a positive difference to somebody’s life – and there’s always the opportunity to continue Puppy Raising!
Learn more about the Puppy Raising journey with volunteers Anne and Charlotte and Puppy in-Training Kasper.
Household requirements
Your home will need to meet this criteria:
- Have a secure yard area with fencing a minimum height of 1.5 m.
- Pools, spas, ponds, and any other bodies of water are fully enclosed.
- Willing to remove all potentially dangerous plants and poisons.
- The puppy is permitted to live and sleep inside the house, and you accept that there may be occasional toileting accidents, dog hair, or chewing.
Additionally, if you live in a rental property or body corporate, we require written approval from your Landlord or Body Corporate Management to allow the puppy on the premises.
Other members of the household
We encourage households of all types to apply, but please ensure:
- You have adequate time to walk, train, and care for the puppy.
- Any family pets are fully vaccinated, wormed, and are of a suitable temperament.
- Maximum of one pet dog in the household, which must be desexed.
- Household members who wish to be an active part of the puppy’s training agree to participate in a National Police Clearance.
I want to raise a puppy
If you meet this criteria, you might be a perfect Puppy Raiser!
For more information on Puppy Raising submit an expression of interest via our Puppy Raiser Enquiry form and one of our staff members will contact you with more information.
Or contact our HR team at volunteering@guidedogs.org.au or (08) 8115 6050.
Please note:
- Only applicants who meet our eligibility criteria will be considered for the role.
- All volunteers require a National Police Clearance before participating, and renewal checks every three years thereafter.
- If your application is successful, your clearance will be arranged through Guide Dogs prior to commencing your role (at no cost to you).
Register your interest to raise a puppy
Raise the next generation of life-changing Guide Dogs
Please review our eligibility criteria and complete the form below to submit your enquiry.
How else can you get involved?
Support our puppies in other ways.
If Puppy Raising isn’t for you, becoming a Puppy Sponsor is a great way to support our valuable services.
Puppy Sponsors make a monthly donation to Guide Dogs to help us transform adorable puppies into highly trained Guide Dogs, Autism Assistance Dogs, Facility Dogs or Therapy Dogs.
Throughout the journey, you’ll share their joys and triumphs through regular updates. You’ll even get an exclusive invite to their graduation celebration at the end of your litter’s Puppy Development program.
Learn more about becoming a Puppy Sponsor
Short-term, or lifelong commitment.
If you would prefer a short-term voluntary role with our wonderful dogs, you might like to consider becoming a Short-term or Home Boarder.
There’s also the opportunity to adopt a career-change dog if you’re looking for a permanent addition to your household.
Whichever way you choose to support Guide Dogs, please know that your contribution makes a vital difference to people living with vision impairment, children with autism, and their families.