puppy raisers

Puppy raisers are an extremely important part of the ADW program.  We rely on volunteer puppy raisers to help our young dogs develop skills that are critical for becoming quality assistance dogs and in return share the weekend gift of a visiting ADW dog in training.

Puppy Raiser Classes are offered three times each year, starting in January, June and September. Participants complete an application, attend classes once a week in Santa Fe or Albuquerque, and after attaining a minimum skill level, are given an ADW dog in training to care for over the weekends. Puppy raisers continue to attend weekly classes to maintain and improve their dog handling skills once they begin taking home a dog.

The following information is a sampling of the guidelines provided to our enrolled puppy raisers.

Qualities of an Effective Puppy Raiser

Begin by picturing yourself with a well-behaved and attentive puppy at your side. You are strong, confident and your timing is almost perfect. You puppy is looking at you awaiting his next direction.

Expectations of the Puppy Raisers

• Attend puppy raiser classes on a regular basis.
• Follow ADW training techniques and recommendations.
• Communicate the puppy’s good and bad behaviors with the trainers.
• Provide the puppy with a safe, consistent and enriched weekend socialization environment.
• Get to know other puppy raisers, trainers, and staff. As a team we become better trainers, stronger community educators, and more effective advocates.
• Be positive and engaging to the public. Learn about our program and what assistance dogs have to offer people with a variety of abilities. You are representing ADW, all our staff and volunteers, our dogs, and future assistance dog recipients.
• Have fun with your puppy and our organization.

Puppy Classes

You and your ADW dog will be required to attend puppy raiser school on a regular basis. These classes start in January, June and September and are limited to maximum of 4 people.  The training techniques are based on positive reinforcement for appropriate behaviors and task completion.  The purpose of the puppy raiser class is:

• To teach you how to communicate with ADW dogs.
• To teach you how to use positive training and motivation techniques.
• To reinforce positive behaviors and skills that the puppy is learning during the “school week”.
• To teach the puppy appropriate behaviors and responses to real life situations.
• To teach you and the puppy solid problem solving skills.
• To teach you and the puppy appropriate social skills with other people and other dogs.

We will help you to acquire the skills necessary to be an exceptional puppy raiser. Remember that it takes time and consistency to master these skills.  Furthermore, all puppies are different in personality, behavior and learning styles.  The puppy’s working potential is influenced by effective puppy raising skills which include the following:

• Ability to achieve and maintain the puppy’s attention in any environment.
• Ability to give one command and allow the puppy time to respond.
• Ability to use a normal volume and tone of voice.
• Ability to give well timed and positive praise.
• Ability to appropriately use a variety of cues and lures.
• Ability to follow through with practice to ensure the puppy has mastered a skill or task.
• Ability to observe and document improvements.
• Accurately recognizes signs and sources of stress, fear, hesitation and non-compliance.
• Ability to assess a situation or environment and take appropriate action.
• Ability to self-evaluate your own skills and adjust them accordingly.
• Ability to ask for help when needed.
• Ability to seek out and share new information with ADW and the community.
• Ability to prevent bad or unwanted behaviors that can turn into habits.
• Ability to provide consistent positive handling and training techniques even when the puppy has made a mistake.
• Ability to immediately intervene in problem areas.
• Ability to provide positive reinforcement for positive wanted behaviors.
• Ability to calmly and positively release the graduating dog, knowing that it will move on to increase someone’s independence and improve their quality of life.

Download the Assistance Dogs of the West puppy raiser application here:

ADW Puppy Raiser Application