BY JULIE GOLDBERG
Special to the Clarkston News
Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester Hills is looking for Clarkston residents who are interesting in becoming a puppy raiser.
Carol Thompson, a Clarkston resident, has been a puppy raiser for 31 years and has raised 34 puppies with Leader Dog.
‘Being a puppy raiser is a rewarding experience. You get to help clients fulfill life and help them have independence as well,? said Thompson.
The Leader Dog website has a video that people can watch to see if they feel qualified enough to become a puppy raiser, Thompson said.
There are different breeds of Leader Dogs: black, yellow, and chocolate Labradors, golden retrievers, and German Shepherds. Puppy raisers get to choose what breed and sex they want to raise.
The puppies are about seven weeks old when they arrive at Leader Dog, then they go to a puppy foster home until they are a year old. The puppies then go back to Leader Dog to work with trainers until they are one and a half to three years old.
Puppy raisers have to follow requirements and take the puppy to certain places so they can learn how to socialize with people.
The puppy raiser meets with a puppy counselor once a month. The puppy counselor will support and guide the puppy raiser and make sure that everything is running smoothly.
Puppy raisers are responsible for housebreaking the puppy and teaching good manners. They practice basic obedience commands with the puppy, such as sit, down, stay, heel, and come.
Puppy raisers also socialize the puppies through exposure to many different kinds of people, vehicles, environments, and animals. The puppies learn how to cross the street and think on their own.
Clients receive the puppy when they are a year and a half to three years old.
‘A big reward is that you get to meet the clients for around 45-60 minutes when they receive their puppy and hear their stories,? said Thompson.
Leader Dogs always need puppy raisers and volunteers.
For more information about becoming a puppy raiser visit: www.leaderdog.org/volunteers/about-puppy-raising.