Love Dogs? Like helping people? Raise a service dog puppy!

Looking for an exciting volunteer opportunity that will change lives? Raising a puppy for Dogs for Better Lives is a unique opportunity to be part of something truly life changing while assisting our mission of providing service dogs to people with disabilities.

Puppy raisers play a crucial role in helping build strong foundations for our future service dogs - no prior dog training experience is necessary, we'll help you every step of the way!

What does puppy raising look like?

• Receive a puppy at approximately eight (8) weeks of age
• Povide a safe and caring environment for the puppy
• Teach polite manners and basic obedience skills - we'll help you!
• Attend regular puppy classes
• Provide food and basic veterinary care for the 12-14 month journey
• Take the puppy on age-appropriate public socialization outings
• Transport the dog to a regional training center when it's time for turn-in - we'll give you plenty of notice and can help you coordinate travel.

By raising a puppy for Dogs for Better Lives, you will become a part of a community dedicated to helping others. You can changing the life of a person or family in need, helping provide them with greater independence and safety.

This is a fun and excellent opportunity for students, individuals, and families seeking a service project for school, 4-H, FAA, or community organization

To learn more, visit https://dogsforbetterlives.org/puppy-raiser to see our FAQ and fill out an interest form or email puppyraising@dogsforbetterlives.org

One of our puppy raisers had this to say:

"Best volunteer experience ever. The DBL (Dogs for Better Lives) team was so warm and welcoming, helping me with every obstacle while puppy raising. The trainers lead with kindness and compassion, encouraging the best in both dog and human handler. Every training plan is personalized according to the pup's personality, strengths, and challenges, all in the hopes that each dog will one day become a great Assistance Dog."

-Puppy Raiser

Watch our video to learn more: Volunteer Puppy Raiser Story