What is puppy raising?
Puppy Raisers are volunteers who are willing to devote approximately a year to training a guide dog. Puppies arrive at about 12 weeks old and return to the Guide Dog Foundation between 14-18 months of age. During this period, raisers have four main objectives: socialization, good house manners, relieving routine and ensuring success.
At Towson University, puppy raisers are students who live in apartments or houses and are sophomores or above. We do not let freshmen or students who live in dorms raise puppies, but we’d love to have you as a puppy sitter! We also do not allow students who will be studying abroad during a semester that their puppy is in training at Towson University raise, however, you can sit and raise when you get back!
Puppy Raisers are required to go to multiple classes a month in order to properly train their pup. For more information on what is required of a puppy raiser check out our Puppy Raiser Page.
All puppy raisers must be co-raisers. This means you and your co-raiser share equal responsibility in raising your puppy. If you do not have a co-raiser in mind, we can match you with one once you complete the majority of your application process.
Once you finish the application process, Puppy Raisers are assigned to an Area Coordinator. To learn more about puppy raising, check out the Puppy Raiser Manual.
Vet bills are covered by the foundation. Food and any other equipment must be purchased by the raiser.
The Guide Dog Foundation supplies puppy raisers with most of the equipment needed. This includes:
At Towson University, puppy raisers are students who live in apartments or houses and are sophomores or above. We do not let freshmen or students who live in dorms raise puppies, but we’d love to have you as a puppy sitter! We also do not allow students who will be studying abroad during a semester that their puppy is in training at Towson University raise, however, you can sit and raise when you get back!
Puppy Raisers are required to go to multiple classes a month in order to properly train their pup. For more information on what is required of a puppy raiser check out our Puppy Raiser Page.
All puppy raisers must be co-raisers. This means you and your co-raiser share equal responsibility in raising your puppy. If you do not have a co-raiser in mind, we can match you with one once you complete the majority of your application process.
Once you finish the application process, Puppy Raisers are assigned to an Area Coordinator. To learn more about puppy raising, check out the Puppy Raiser Manual.
Vet bills are covered by the foundation. Food and any other equipment must be purchased by the raiser.
The Guide Dog Foundation supplies puppy raisers with most of the equipment needed. This includes:
- A crate
- Leashes
- Collars
- Heart worm Prevention
- Flea & Tick Prevention
- A tie-down
- Vests
- A bowl
- A treat pouch
- Ear Cleaner
- A Nylabone
Prospective Puppy Raiser Checklist
If you're interested in becoming a puppy raiser, please use this list as a reference for where you are in the process and what your next steps are. This list is a guideline. An Area Coordinator or Puppy Program Rep may ask you to complete more classes, additional puppy sitting, or another home visit, if they feel it is needed.
- Submit Online Application at puppy.guidedog.org
- Attend an Info Session
- You are required to attend a minimum of 6 classes. Including:
- 2 sitter/pros pr classes (completed before any regular classes can be attended on or off campus)
- 3 off campus classes
- 1 on campus class
- Submit Long Application (Will receive in an email once you finish 2 PR/sitter classes)
- Quiz
- Home Visit
- Roommate Agreement
- Puppy Schedule Agreement with your Co-Raiser