Organisation Name:
Guide Dogs
Organisation's Cause(s):
Animals
Disability Services
Location of voluntary activity:
Homebased volunteer role.
When are volunteers needed: As a Puppy Raiser, you'll provide a 6-8 week-old puppy with the vital foundation for its future role as a guide dog. You'll be looking after a puppy for 12-16 months and will guide him or her through training, socialisation, the introduction of new environments and experiences while providing a loving home.
Type of Voluntary Activity:
Volunteering with Animals
Role description:
You will need to care for, feed and train the puppy, which is very time consuming, particularly when they are young, our puppies cannot be left on their own for more than three hours; with the training, you will be expected to teach basic obedience commands, including when the puppy goes to the toilet and you will need to provide a suitable outside area (ideally gravel or pavement) where the puppy can go to the toilet. You will also need to familiarise the puppy to different environments, people, sounds, and situations.
We are looking for people with great communication and excellent interpersonal skills, also having experience with dogs is a great advantage but not a requirement and we provide full training, induction, and support to our Puppy Raisers, with regular and continued contact with a dedicated Puppy Development Advisor.
Skills and behaviours needed for the role:
You'll ideally have:
- A loving home with enough time to invest in raising a puppy and attending to their needs (e.g. toilet training). If you work from home or have hobbies, you'll need to be available to give the puppy regular attention alongside these.
- Someone at home who is physically able to handle large breed dogs (around 25-40kg).
- Access to a car, so that you can get your puppy used to travelling.
- The agreement of your landlord to have a dog in the property if you rent your home.
- A safe secure area outside for your puppy to go to the toilet.
Will there be a DBS check? No
Driving Licence required? Yes
Volunteer's own vehicle required? Yes
Suitable for:
Families
Ongoing Volunteering
What will the volunteer gain/benefit from:
- The satisfaction of knowing you're supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.
- The rewarding feeling of watching a mischievous puppy learn new training techniques to help them develop into a guide dog.
- The opportunity to participate in our bespoke world-class training programme – this can help you train your own dogs or advance a future career in dog handling.
- The opportunity to have a loveable, canine companion, proven to reduce feelings of stress and improve fitness – you’ll be out walking rain or shine!
- The chance to be part of the inspirational Guide Dogs community, meeting like-minded people and interacting with a community of puppy raisers in your area.
- A dedicated volunteer manager and fellow peers who will help support you throughout your role.
How to get involved:
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Puppy Raiser.
Applications can be made via the Guide Dogs website, please follow the below web link
Web link: Click here
Closing date: 30-04-2027