What is Puppy Rearing?

The Seeing Dogs Alliance trains Seeing Dogs to guide blind people, helping them to achieve greater personal mobility and independence. The dogs are trained by qualified Guide Dog Mobility Instructors, who also train and support their blind owners.

Before this training, the puppies live with volunteer puppy rearers, who fully socialise them and teach basic obedience appropriate for Seeing Dogs.

The puppies are taken to a whole variety of places and familiarised with buses, trains and busy areas.

Puppies are either donated or purchased. If donated, they should be as young as possible and preferably no older than five months. If purchased, they are usually obtained at the age of seven or eight weeks. They are looked after by puppy rearers until they are about a year old..

Can I be a Puppy Rearer?

You do not need to have any previous experience of rearing puppies; you will be fully supported by Seeing Dogs, and someone will visit frequently and provide you with all the help and advice you need.

You will also be expected to take the puppy to a local obedience training class, where you can meet pet dog owners. This is a good opportunity for the puppy to socialise with other puppies. It will also learn to pay attention while other puppies are around.

Ideally, your family home should include other adults, children and pets, all of whom can play a part in the fun and education of the puppy. The puppy must not be left for more than three hours during the day. Your garden must be securely enclosed, with an area set aside for the puppy's house training. A car is essential.

Where is the Puppy Rearing Area?

Puppy Rearers need to live within easy access of a town, ensuring that the puppies become accustomed to busy conditions, in preparation for their working lives.

" Puppy Rearing is fun, hard work and very, very rewarding. "

You will need to have plenty of time and patience, and in return you gain the satisfaction of knowing that you played a vital part in changing another person's life. During your puppy's stay you can enjoy its play and development, and then be rewarded when you watch your puppy, as a young adult, guide someone safely.

The Seeing Dogs Alliance will provide you with the basic equipment such as leads and collars; there will be a contribution towards feeding costs, and Seeing Dogs will pay all veterinary expenses.

Temporary Foster Homes:

An alternative to being a full time puppy rearer.

The Seeing Dogs Alliance needs short term homes for rearing puppies or working dogs in order to help when, for example, their owners have health problems or take holidays abroad, and do not wish to go through the process of obtaining a Pet Passport.

If you are interested in becoming a Puppy Rearer or a Temporary Fosterer, please either: email us [info@seeingdogs.org.uk] , telephone 01483 765556 or complete our [online form]

Please contact [The_Webmaster_@seeingdogs.org.uk] if you have any comments or problems accessing our web site.