Press escape to close

Welcome to Guide Dogs

Register or Log in

or

By continuing, you agree to our Privacy Policy

1 of 2

Nice to meet you.

We need a little more info to get started.

Account

Guide Dogs logo
Popular searches
Three puppy raisers sitting with their dogs.

Guide Dog Puppy Raising and Training.

Imagine helping a tiny, wriggly puppy grow into a confident, well-trained Guide Dog. As a volunteer Puppy Raiser, you'll become a temporary foster parent to a future Guide Dog and play a vital role in their journey toward changing someone's life.

Apply to raise a puppy.
(opens in new tab)

What is Guide Dogs Puppy Raising?

As a Puppy Raiser, you'll welcome an eight week old pup into your home and help them on the very first steps of their journey to becoming a Guide Dog.

Many people describe the role as Guide Dog fostering, as you'll provide a safe, temporary home while helping a future Guide Dog develop essential life skills.

As a Puppy Raiser, you’ll:

  • Provide a safe and loving home.
  • Look after the puppy’s health, wellbeing and safety.
  • Take your pup on daily adventures to build their confidence in different environments.
  • Teach good manners and introduce basic training (with plenty of support from Guide Dogs NSW/ACT).

But don’t worry, you won’t do it alone! Our Puppy Development Advisors (PDAs) will be with you every step of the way, with expert advice, ongoing training and plenty of encouragement.

What’s the time commitment for puppy raising?

Most Guide Dogs puppy raising volunteers care for a puppy for around 14 months, starting when they’re eight weeks old.

Not ready to commit to 14 months?

You can still make a difference by becoming a Temporary Carer.(opens in new tab) It’s a great option if you’d love to volunteer with Guide Dogs but need more flexibility.

How Puppy Raising Works.

Use the previous and next buttons to move through slides

What support do Guide Dogs Puppy Raisers receive?

We’ve got you covered, so you can focus on enjoying the journey! As a volunteer Puppy Raiser, you’ll receive:

  • A dedicated Puppy Development Advisor (PDA) to provide one-on-one support and answer your questions at every stage.
  • All food (Blackhawk) and vet costs covered by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
  • Essential gear including a collar, leash, bowl, crate, preventatives, a Kong toy and more.
  • Partner vet clinics in your area.
Two volunteers sitting with puppies.
A puppy Raiser walking with their dog.
Yellow Labrador puppy sitting.

Who can become a Puppy Raiser for Guide Dogs?

A good Puppy Raiser is caring, patient, responsible and loves giving pats and cuddles!

To make sure both you and the pup thrive, you’ll need to:

  • Live in Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Newcastle, South Coast, Southern Highlands, Goulburn, or Canberra//Queanbeyan.
  • Be home often enough so your puppy isn’t left alone for more than four hours at a time.
  • Attend puppy classes (held on weekdays during business hours).
  • Have time for regular exercise and social outings with your pup.
  • Maintain your puppy’s health and wellbeing.
  • Have access to a car for training sessions, classes and vet visits.
  • Be physically able to manage a growing Labrador puppy.
  • Communicate with your Puppy Development Advisor (PDA) about any concerns.
  • Provide a safe, loving home environment where your pup sleeps indoors and is part of the family.
  • Follow Guide Dogs’ policies and procedures.

The benefits of Puppy Raising.

Being a Puppy Raiser is a fun, heart-warming and unforgettable experience. You’ll laugh at silly puppy antics, make friends with other Puppy Raisers at classes and watch with pride as your puppy grows into a well-trained dog who will transform someone’s life.

“If all we have to do to help someone gain mobility and independence is to love a dog in this environment and expose them to lots of people, then that’s a pretty easy thing for us to do—and an amazing experience to be a part of,” she says.

— Puppy Raiser Allysia.

Apply as a Puppy Raiser today.
(opens in new tab)
Yellow Labrador puppy running.
Puppy Raising for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT

Whether you're looking for a Guide Dog fostering opportunity or want to become a volunteer foster parent for a future Guide Dog, our Puppy Raising program offers a rewarding way to make a lasting impact. Start your Guide Dog puppy raising journey today and help us raise the next generation of life-changing Guide Dogs!

“I would say don’t hesitate. Get your family on board, whatever that looks like, and get others on board too, because it’s not a solo project. The level of support you get from Guide Dogs is amazing. You’re not alone in it.”

— Allysia, Puppy Raiser.

See if your area is eligible for our puppy raising program.

Related ways to support Guide Dogs.