Puppy Raising FAQ

  1. What is a puppy club and do I have to join?
    Yes, when applying to raise a Seeing Eye puppy you must join your local puppy club. Meetings and outings organized by your club are there to help you develop your puppy into a confident dog while getting and providing support to other members.

  2. I'm an adult. Can I raise a puppy, and do I have to attend the meetings?
    Adults are welcome to raise puppies as well! Meeting and outing attendance is still required as it is a great learning experience for you and each individual puppy your raise.

  3. How old will the puppy be when I get him or her?
    The puppy is around 7 weeks old.

  4. Do I need to go to the Seeing Eye to pick up my puppy?
    When your Area Coordinator calls to tell you a puppy is available for your family they will set up a time to drop the puppy off at your home and go over directions and the puppy’s supplies with you.

  5. What if the puppy needs veterinary care?
    Families are responsible for scheduling veterinary care at the direction of The Seeing Eye’s vaccination schedule and your Area Coordinator. The Seeing Eye pays all medical expenses for their puppies.
     
  6. Each puppy comes with a small bag of food to get them started in your home. After that each family receives a quarterly stipend to help offset the cost of food that each family purchases.

  7. What is the most important role of the puppy raiser?
    Puppy raisers teach the puppies to be good and confident dog citizens. They teach the dogs house manners, obedience and show each puppy the world that they will encounter as a working Seeing Eye dog.

  8. Can we take the puppies everywhere since they are going to be Seeing Eye dogs?
    Only dogs trained to assist someone with a disability are granted access to public spaces. Because the puppies are not performing a service for our puppy raisers, we ask that you contact the manager before entering a store or other place of business to ask permission.

  9. When can I start taking my puppy places?
    Early exposure is essential, and a guideline will be given to you and gone over with by your Area Coordinator of where and when your pup can start venturing out in the big world.

  10. We have other pets in the house. Can we still raise a Seeing Eye puppy?
    Yes! In fact, this is good exposure for the puppy. However, if you have another puppy in your house, that puppy should be a minimum of six months older than the Seeing Eye puppy. This is at the discretion of The Seeing Eye and dependent on each individual environment. Please let us know if your family pet is altered.

  11. Is it difficult to give the puppy back for training?
    While it is hard to say goodbye to your friend, knowing that they are off to support someone’s independence makes saying goodbye worth it. Many families will get another puppy to raise to fill that void.

  12. How old will my dog be when he or she returns to The Seeing Eye for training?
    Puppies typically return to us between 14 and 16 months of age but this can vary.

  13. What happens when my dog returns to The Seeing Eye?
    When the puppies return to campus, they are given a month to settle into the kennel while their medical procedures are completed. Dogs are then assigned to an instructor to learn the skills they will need as a Seeing Eye dog over the next four months. Once the first training period is completed, you will be invited to a town walk to watch the instructor work with the dog to see what they have learned. After your town walk, the dog may be matched with a graduate or continue training while waiting for their match. It should be noted that every dog is evaluated as a potential breeder.

  14. What happens if my dog does not become a Seeing Eye dog?
    In most cases as the dog’s puppy raiser, you are given the first chance to adopt the dog back. If you are unable to, the dog may go onto another line of work or be adopted by a family on our lengthy waiting list.