Attendance Requirements
Class & Public Outing Necessities
Please do not come to class or bring your dog out in public without the following:
- Co-Raisers must both attend at least 3 classes a month.
- Including 1 preschool/kindergarten.
- Each raiser must attend at least 1 off-campus class. Meaning your dog should be attending at least 2 off-campus classes a month not back to back.
- Sitters must attend at least 3 classes a month.
- Including 1 preschool/kindergarten.
- Off-campus is not required, but heavily encouraged.
Class & Public Outing Necessities
Please do not come to class or bring your dog out in public without the following:
- Clean up kit
- Poop bags, paper towels, wipes
- Treat pouch with enough kibble
- Always keep extra kibble in your bag!
- Water & bowl
- A toy for settling (6 months and under)
- Your pup's vest
- Your pup's ID card
- No more than 2-3 dogs at a time
- Maximum 30 minutes per play date
- The shorter the better
- Maximum of 1 play date a day but really no more than a few a week
- Must play in an enclosed area
- Don't allow your pup to play with any of the dogs that they have had an issue with
- If you are a puppy sitter, please ask the raiser about their puppy's play date guidelines before taking them. Do not take a puppy to a playdate without having talked to their raiser about it.
- During play dates, watch your dog's body language and intervene by leaving if your dog tells you/the other dog they've had enough/is playing too roughly
- Leave after the first sign
- Barking/growling/ humping is unacceptable
- If your pup is going to a playdate for the first time, there should only be 1 other dog around the same age as your pup
- You can play individually with your pup on campus as long as you are holding the leash at all times
- Mental stimulation is key
- Below are guidelines and pointers for posting pictures, videos, and captions on social media. Remember, during your time as a puppy raiser, you are an ambassador for the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs to the public. Please follow these guidelines when posting on social media.
- If you have created a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc) for the pup you are raising, please notify the following people:
- Your advisor
- Rebecca Eden [email protected] , our internet marketing coordinator
- Allison Storck [email protected] , our public relations specialist
- Do use captions that describe what you’re doing in the photo! For example, “Today Rudy and I worked on self-control at the pet store! We walked by different animals and all the food aisles. Rudy was a little sniffy at first, but he did great!”
- You can be honest about what the pup is working on but present it in a positive manner. People don’t want to hear how “terrible, bad, awful, etc.” the pup was in the caption.
- Do not show a young puppy off leash or not attached to a person in a public place. If the dog has a reliable stay and you are in an enclosed area, you can speak to your advisor or area coordinator regarding having the dog unattached in public for photo opportunities.
- Failure to follow this rule will result in possible removal of the dog from your possession. We do not want our pups placed in an unsafe scenario for a cute picture.
- Do not post any photos or video relating to medical or health related issues
- This includes skin, eyes, gastrointestinal issues
- Do post photos or video of the pup at the vet. The caption can read something along the lines of “Dakota did great at the vet today. We were here for a checkup and she remained calm and happy the whole time”
- Do tag @guidedogfoundation and @americasvetdogs
- Do post photos or video that show your puppy socializing, playing, having fun, and learning!
- Do post photos or video in appropriate places like the home, safe public outings, and public transportation
- Do share your progress or success!
- Do Not post any captions that relay frustration or negativity like “Sam was TERRIBLE today. She barked at people, chewed on her leash, and was so bad!”
- Do Not post photos or video with the pup chewing or playing with an inappropriate toy or item
- Do Not post photos or video with the pup on any type of furniture
- Do Not post photos or video with the pup eating inappropriate treats
- Do Not post photos or video of the pup doing anything inappropriate like jumping on people, mouthing someone, barking