Opportunity Details
Raise Puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind in Portland! (age 9+) Referral
As we like to say at Guide Dogs, "It takes a community to raise a puppy!" We would like to invite you to join in the fun!
Qualified volunteer puppy raisers receive their charges when the pups are approximately 8 weeks old and return them to our Boring, Oregon campus between 13 and 18 months old. Raisers are responsible for teaching the puppies good house manners and basic obedience, and most importantly, socializing them to the world. No prior experience is necessary to become a puppy raiser; we will help you through the process every step of the way.
It is a rewarding, emotional experience, and a commitment for which Guide Dogs is extremely grateful. As a puppy raiser, not only will you discover the delight of a four-footed, wet-nosed companion, you will join a community of like-minded people all working towards improving the quality of life for people who are blind.
Puppy raising requirements:
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Joining a local puppy raising club and attend preliminary club meetings. Once you receive your puppy, you’ll need to continue to attend regularly scheduled club meetings and outings.
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All members of your household must be committed to raising a puppy.
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Providing a safe and secure living environment.
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Keeping your puppy on a leash at all times when not in a secure area.
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Providing daily exercise and socialization.
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Using Guide Dogs for the Blind approved training and management techniques when working with your puppy.
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Traveling to meet with a Guide Dog representative (within the Portland metro area) for evaluation of your puppy’s progress and attend training workshops.
Guidance and Support:
Raisers receive expert local guidance as they train their dogs. Each puppy raising club is directed by one or more club leaders who receive ongoing specialized training and instructional materials from Guide Dogs. Professional Community Field Representatives work closely with those leaders to provide direct communication, guidance and support from Guide Dogs for the Blind’s Canine Community Programs Department. There are regular club meetings where raisers gather to share ideas and information, work on puppy training techniques and participate in socialization outings. And each year, we host puppy raising Fun Days as a way to thank and honor our puppy raisers’ volunteer efforts. Finally, raisers are invited to attend their dogs’ graduation ceremonies, and formally present the dogs they raised to their new blind partners.
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Our vision is to "use our Power of Partnering to improve quality of life."
Opportunity Requirements:
- Volunteers must be 9 years of age or older to participate in this opportunity; any volunteer under age 18 must attend with a parent or adult chaperone.
Click on "Express Interest" below if you are interested in helping out!
**This is a Referral Opportunity, which means it is run directly by one of our nonprofit partners. Once you express interest, someone from the partner organization should follow up with you shortly to discuss confirming you as a volunteer for this opportunity.
**Please note, your hours may not be recorded in your Hands On Greater Portland account since this is a partner-managed opportunity.
Age Minimum (with Adult): 9+, Minimum Age:18+
Log in or Register
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Sign up with a team
This link allows you to participate in this opportunity with a team. A team can be a family team, corporate team, or any kind of organized group. When you click on the link you will have the option to:
- Choose an existing team you're already a member or captain of, or
- Create a new team to sign up.
Signup Questions
Please respond to the following questions in order to signup for this opportunity:
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