The Benefits of Puppy Raising

[Debra]

'Kay. This isn't going to be all afterschool special, but in the spirit of nerdfighting (i.e. decreasing world suck), if you are in the position to be able to raise a guide dog puppy, I encourage you to do so. I'm currently raising a pup named Wren for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. It's totally voluntary, but definitely made of awesome!

Here are some ups to the job--

--free dog
--free SUPERSMART dog!!! (seriously, she scares me sometimes with the things she figures out)
--training on how to teach a puppy basic (and not so basic) commands, and actually have them work!
--unconditional love
--vet care is donated (or GEB pays for it, but most vets donate)
--if your boss/professors agree, you get to take your pup to work/school with you!!!

I've been working with my first puppy-in-training, Wren, and am amazed by the process. We are part of a local chapter and meet once a month for puppy training for about an hour. They teach me, I teach Wren, and she dazzles me with her ability to then turn around and train me to give her treats for very little work on her part.

I take Wren with me just about everywhere I go. Not in stores and restaurants as that's not really the purpose of training a guide dog, but she goes with me to class every day, to the post office, the bank, the library, the playground... People in town are starting to recognize us and all the kids love her. She's had such positive exposure to the world from the day she was born, Wren has incredible confidence, a must for a guide dog, and has a highly developed sense of intelligence. I'm really proud of her.

On the down side of the match made in heaven, you have to give the dog back when GEB, or another organization, is ready for it. GEB does the real training, the kind in the harness, up at their facility in New York.

Here are some of the downers to puppy raising--

--you have to give your pup back after two years or less
--you work really hard and love with all your heart, but then the object of your love and diligence leaves you
--you cry when your dog leaves

I've had Wren since October 2007 and she's scheduled to go up for her evaluation in April 2009. I'm going to miss her. Bunches. But, raising a guide dog is an awesome thing to do for someone...giving the gift of freedom and mobility, the gift of a more independent life. For someone who needs a guide dog, I can do that. And for Wren, she's had one of the best puppyhoods and will have a rewarding existence doing what she loves to do best...sit at someone's feet, go everywhere with her favorite person, and do what she was literally born to do.

If after Wren's evaluation she doesn't make the cut for a guide dog (the requirements are pretty stringent), she'll do some other kind of service work, like bomb sniffing or work with an autistic child. There is that possibility too that when Wren is ready to retire (dogs work for about eight years), if the person or family she's worked with can't keep her for some reason, puppy raisers get first choice to take back retired dogs. I'll probably go on to raise more guide dog pups, but I know that if I get a chance to have a retired Wren, I'll certainly welcome her home.

To see a video of Wren at the vet's office and playing in the back yard, go to the video on my page.

If you'd like to check out GEB's website here's a link.

http://www.guidingeyes.org/site/PageServer

There are other organizations that need puppy raisers for service dogs. Google to find one in your area.