Our heartfelt gratitude goes to our incredible puppy raisers who open their hearts and homes to nurture our puppies into service dogs. Experience the joy of guiding these pups through learning and growth, knowing you’re creating a life-changing gift for someone in need. With a growing waitlist, we always welcome generous, caring souls to raise our next generation of exceptional service dogs. You can choose from Full Time or Part Time for non-college students, as well as a growing college puppy raising program.
College Puppy Raising
Our innovative program brings together college students and adorable canine companions, fostering a unique bond within the campus community. This enriches students’ lives and contributes to the training and development of future service dogs. Student raisers and puppies work together to create a nurturing environment where students actively raise and socialize puppies, promoting a sense of responsibility and compassion while preparing these young dogs for impactful roles in the service dog community. We currently run this college program at Sacred Heart University and SUNY Cobleskill. [learn more about our College Puppy Raising program], or Contact Us for information on setting up a program on your campus.
Full Time Puppy Raiser
How do you raise a puppy to grow into a working, life-changing service dog? Lots of love, time, and commitment with continued guidance, special training, and support from our certified trainers. Weekly group classes and public access training will guide you on raising an exceptional sidekick to their full potential. Following a required, comprehensive puppy-raising curriculum, you will be proud of the milestones your puppy meets. The favorite part for our raisers is taking their Service Dogs in Training (SDiT) to after-school activities, sporting events, kayaking, on family vacations, and helping to educate the community on proper service dog etiquette. These adventures socialize the dog to different people, environments, animals, vehicles, and so much more.
“The best part of puppy raising is knowing what an impact this dog will eventually have on someone’s life, enabling someone to have a richer, fuller life. We love to take the puppy out and about in public and everywhere we go. It’s so great to be able to show people what these dogs can do”
~ The Irving Family, puppy raisers
“Puppy Raising Q&A
One of our puppy raisers ansers your most frequently asked questions about Puppy Raising!
One of our puppy raisers ansers your most frequently asked questions about Puppy Raising!
Part Time or Weekend Puppy Raiser
Our part-time and weekend puppy fosters help us when our full-time raisers are unable to be with their puppies due to life events where their Service Dog in Training is unable to accompany them. Part-time puppy fosters do not take the puppies into public. It’s all about cuddle time and puppy breath.
“The best part of puppy raising is knowing Octo is truly going to make a difference in the life of someone who needs him just as much as he needs them. It’s a beautiful symbiotic relationship”
~ Dione Titley, puppy raiser
~ Dione Titley, puppy raiser
Pawsible
Puppy raisers can apply for financial support through Pawsible to help with dog food and toys. Pawsible is a nonprofit supporting volunteer puppy raisers through Raiser Relief, Puppy Starter Kits and Scholarships.
