Raising a puppy can, at times, be very challenging. It can also be extremely rewarding! All of our puppies that make it through our full Service Dog Program will be paired with a person with a disability, and that puppy will make a world of difference in someone’s life. Service Dogs give their “Forever Families” much needed help in their day-to-day activities, but also give them love and comfort throughout their lives.
We provide our volunteers with the training and tools they need to work with their foster puppy. Puppy raisers are provided with all the food, veterinary care and equipment they require. In addition, the puppy raiser will receive training sessions from professional dog trainers on how to work with their puppy.
In return, we do have expectations for our puppy raisers to ensure that the program is a success for all parties. These include:
- Puppy raisers will be required to attend weekly training sessions at Highland Canine Training. The weekly training sessions will provide the puppy raiser with training sessions on how to work with their puppies, in addition to allowing us to see their progress along the way.
- Puppy raisers will need to have sufficient time to work with their puppies. As part of the program, you will need to have a schedule which allows you to work with your puppy during the day. Some travel will be required to introduce the puppy to different environments.
- Puppy raisers need to be committed and be able to follow a training schedule. If you’ve ever had a puppy at home, you will know the commitment you’re making! Obviously, you will need to be able to build time into your schedule for regular potty breaks and playtime, but you’ll also need to be able to follow the training plan we give to you.
Finally, puppy raisers must be at least 18 years old and must live no further than 60 miles from Highland Canine Training’s training facility located in Harmony, NC.