Puppy Raiser

Organisation name: Guide Dogs

Role: Puppy Raiser

Application: Through the Guide Dogs website

Location: A number of locations across the UK – please visit the website to find out if this role is available where you live.

Hours: The puppy will live in your home!

Guide Dogs helps people with sight loss live the life they choose.

In this role, you will be providing a puppy with a vital foundation for its future role as a guide dog. This is a full-time volunteering opportunity as a puppy will live with you in your home for around 12-16 months.

What you’ll be doing:

• Following Guide Dogs Puppy Raising training programme, to raise and prepare a puppy to become a guide dog. 
• Familiarising a puppy to a wide range of environments. 
• Teaching a puppy to be alone by gradually building up from a few minutes to a maximum of 3 hours. 
• Attending regular puppy classes. 
• Meeting regularly with Guide Dogs representatives to discuss your pup’s development. 
• Completing regular on-line questionnaires to help us monitor puppy progress. 

Ideally you will: 

• Have time to invest in raising a puppy.  
• Be physically able to handle large breed dogs (around 25-40kg). 
• Have your own car or access to a car. 
• Have your own home or written permission to have a dog in the home. 
• Have access to a secure area where the puppy could go to the toilet during the day. 
• Be able to access online content and training materials (you will need your own email address). 

You’ll get:

• The satisfaction in knowing you are supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well. 
• The challenge and reward of seeing a puppy develop in your home. 
• The opportunity to learn and develop your understanding in dog body language, learning theory, the human animal bond and the life of a Guide Dog. 
• Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket.  We’ll make sure we pay any expenses related to your volunteering with us in line with our policy. 

Training and support 

• Puppy Raising training materials.  
• Ongoing training both virtually and face to face as part of the role.  

If you have questions about the training requirements, we can answer these at your interview along with any other support or accessibility needs you may have. 

 Minimum age for this role: 18

 No expiry date for this role currently.

Contact email: volunteerattraction@guidedogs.org.uk  

Ready to join the pack? Visit the Guide Dogs website

Please follow our link above to apply rather than the form at the bottom of the page 

 This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.