Canine Companions for Independence

Volunteer puppy raisers provide purpose-bred puppies a safe home, take them to obedience classes, serve up a healthy diet, provide socialization opportunities and give lots of love. Each hour spent caring for a Canine Companions puppy is vital to its development as a future service dog. The puppy raising program provides a unique opportunity for volunteers to assist with our very important mission. Requirements include: Provide a safe environment for a puppy who will be the only dog under 1-year old in the house; Work closely with Canine Companions monitoring the puppy's progress and submit monthly reports; Attend Canine Companions approved obedience classes; Teach the puppy manners and basic commands; Provide financially for the puppy's food, medical and transportation expenses; Keep the puppy on a leash at all times unless in a securely fenced area; Supervise the young puppy throughout the day; Agree to return the puppy upon request.

After the puppy raiser returns the dog to Canine Companions at approximately 14-16 months of age, the dog attends a six month training course with professional instructors at one of the six Canine Companions training centers. The first two weeks, dogs are screened, undergoing x-rays and medical tests as well as tests to evaluate their temperaments. Some dogs are released at this point due to medical or temperament problems. The others continue into training. The first 3-month semester reviews and builds upon the basic obedience commands the dogs learned as puppies. It is during this semester that the dogs begin to work around the wheelchair and learn the retrieve task. The second three-month semester finishes the skills the dogs will need to know to become a working service dog. They learn more than 45 tasks and practice working in different environments.

This intensive two-week session teaches the recipients proper care and handling the Canine Companions service dog. During team training, students learn the skills to cue their new service dogs, also learning techniques to modify tasks to meet their own particular needs. Each student must demonstrate the ability to provide for the dog's care and well-being as well as pass ADI (Assistance Dogs International) certification. They attend daily lectures, learn dog handling skills, practice public etiquette, and pass daily tests and quizzes. After the training session and public access testing, they attend a public graduation ceremony in which the puppy raiser passes the leash to the Graduate and the Graduate officially receives the Canine Companions service dog.

Canine Companions has a comprehensive follow-up program to ensure the ongoing success of its working teams. Throughout the working life of the dogs, graduates periodically return to campus with their dogs for workshops, seminars and reunions. In addition, Canine Companions instructors remain in close touch with graduates on an on-going basis through correspondence, reports and by providing advice via telephone and email. Instructors also travel into the field to conduct workshops and to resolve specific training or behavioral problems in the graduate's home and/or workplace environment. In a typical year, Canine Companions training staff meets one-on-one with over 1,000 teams for follow up.