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Who can be a Puppy Raiser?
Raising a puppy is a very special commitment.
To become a Puppy Raiser you need to:
- Live in the Adelaide metropolitan area or surrounding areas (within approximately one hour’s drive of Adelaide) OR in the Yorke Peninsula or surrounding areas, with access to the urban centres of Kadina, Moonta, and Wallaroo.
- 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 and Yorke Peninsula 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.
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.
Register Your Interest to Raise a Puppy
Raise the next generation of life-changing Guide Dogs
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.
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.
Watch our Puppy Raisers in action
Learn more about the Puppy Raising journey with volunteers Anne and Charlotte and Puppy in-Training Kasper.
How else can you get involved?
Support our puppies in other ways.
If Puppy Raising isn’t for you, becoming a Puppy Pal is a great way to support our valuable services.
Puppy Pals make a monthly donation to Guide Dogs to help us transform adorable puppies into highly trained Guide Dogs, Assistance Dogs or Facility 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 Pal
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 low vision or blindness, children with autism, and their families.
Pets and Retired Dogs
Guide Dogs play a life-changing role in supporting people with blindness or low vision, and many of our dogs continue to offer the same safety, support and companionship after they change careers.
These dogs are called ‘retired’ or ‘career change dogs’. This includes those who have finished their time as working Guide Dogs and dogs with unique personalities or other traits that mean they haven’t fully graduated from their training.
If you are interested in adopting a career change dog, click here to learn more or contact our Client Services team:
tel: 1800 757 738
