Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc. needs volunteers to rear
and socialize puppies, from the age of 6 weeks to approximately 16
months.
The constant need of suitable dogs for
training is vital to the work of Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc.. It has been
proven beyond any doubt that puppies brought up in healthy
environments and under knowledgeable supervision have a greater chance
of becoming suitable guide dogs and companions to the visually
impaired.
The main breeds used by Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc.
are Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers. Puppies are delivered
to their new home with a kennel, leash, collar, and a medallion ID
tag.
The type of home required for a puppy is one
in which he will be welcomed and understood by the family. All puppies
in the program must be raised indoors. It should be reared with a
blend of affection, consistency, and supervision. The goal of Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc. , the Puppy Program and the Puppy
Raiser is to raise a
happy, socialized, well mannered and obedient dog.
It is essential for the puppy to have your
company throughout the day. We require Puppy Raisers to be able to
stay home with the puppy each day or, upon approval from GDTx, take
the puppy to work with them. A very flexible work environment is
needed to accomplish all that is required of a Puppy Raiser and a
puppy in training. This is discussed in detail during the phone
interview.
One of the requirements for a Puppy Raiser is
to provide an appropriate amount of daily stimulation for the puppy.
Your supervisor will instruct you on how to provide one to two
training walks, grooming, play sessions, and one obedience lesson a
day.
Socialization within the community is a
requirement. Puppies need to be introduced to all the social settings
that a visually impaired person may encounter in his or her daily
life. These settings include such things as public transportation,
malls, busy streets and offices. Occasionally, the puppy can be left
on its own - but not for more than three hours.
It should be remembered that puppies are
puppies; they are playful, like to chew, and need to be housebroken.
Guidance on the care and welfare of the puppy
is provided by the Puppy Raising Supervisor. Supervisors will call on
and visit monthly to check on the puppy’s
progress. Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc. staff are always available to help, should any difficulties
arise. Due to the frequency of home visits, we require that the Puppy
Raisers live within the following Texas counties: Atascosa, Bandera,
Bexar, Blanco, Caldwell, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Gonzales, Guadalupe,
Hays, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, Travis, Wilson.
If an emergency occurs, or you are not able
to take the puppy on vacation, Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc. will assist with
boarding.
Puppy Raising families cover the pup’s
expenses that they feel they can afford. On occasion, funding is
available from Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc. if necessary. All expenses are tax
deductible. This is discussed in detail during the in-home interview.
When the puppy raising phase is completed,
the puppy is usually around 16 months of age. The puppy is then
returned to Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc. to begin its formal training.
During training, the puppy not only continues
basic obedience and social manners taught by the Puppy Raiser, but
also learns the specifics of guide dog training from a Guide Dog
Mobility Instructor. In effect, all of the training the Puppy Raiser
has done is fine-tuned and put to everyday use, forming the foundation
for guide dog work. Before a dog graduates with the visually impaired
client, the Puppy Raiser will usually have the opportunity to see
"their" dog working with its new owner.
If the puppy is taken out of the program for
any reason, the Puppy Raiser often has the first option to take the
dog as a pet. If the Puppy Raiser is not able to take the dog back as
a pet, it then goes through Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc.
re-homing program.
