My husband and I have been involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind for over 7 years as volunteer puppy-raisers and as leaders of a local puppy-raising club. We receive an 8 week old puppy and raise that puppy until it is around 18 months old. Our job is to teach the puppy basic obedience, good house manners, and socialize it to all kinds of sights & sounds & experiences. Each of our puppies has spent time in my classroom learning how to behave in a school/work environment.

The photo above shows five of the seven puppies we have raised so far. From left to right you can see our current puppy Brent (Puppy #6...career changed and now living with good friends), Leader (Puppy #2...career changed for elbow dysplasia), Berlin (Puppy #4... career changed and now living with us), Logger (Puppy #1...career changed and now living with my sister), and Stetson (Puppy #5 ...now a working guide in Springfield, Illinois...click here to see him with his partner!). Not pictured are Alfie (Puppy #3.... now a working guide in Los Angeles....click here to see him with his partner!) and Roman (our current puppy....click here to see his photo!

You may have noticed that all the puppies we've raised are male and are yellow labs. This doesn't mean that ALL guide dogs are male or yellow labs! Guide Dogs for the Blind trains both males & females, and the breeds they use are labs (black and yellow), golden retrieves, German shepherds, and golden/lab crosses. We just have a soft spot in our heart for the male yellow labs!

If you are interested in learning more about Guide Dogs for the Blind, please click here click here. If you are interested in learning more about the puppy-raising club that I belong to, please click here!.