Puppy Raising

What is Puppy Raising?

Puppy Raisers are volunteers who welcome an 8-10 week old Labrador puppy in training into their home for around 12 months.

Puppy Raisers help to teach the puppy basic obedience and socialisation. They also introduce the young pup to the environments and experiences they will likely encounter as a working Guide Dog, Autism Assistance Dog, Companion Dog or Facility Dog including shopping centres, public transport and restaurants. Puppy Raisers are encouraged to take the puppy with them everywhere they go.

Puppy Raisers attend regular training and obedience classes with Guide Dogs WA trainers at Guide Dogs WA facilities and in various locations. Regular home visits are also scheduled to check on the puppy’s progress and to assist with any questions or concerns.

When the puppy is ready for formal training with a trainer/instructor and begins to attend “school” in Victoria Park they will move in with another volunteer called a Bed & Breakfast Boarder.

Who can become a Puppy Raiser?

Puppy Raising is a rewarding volunteer opportunity for people aged 18 and over living in Perth or the South West region.

Do you?

  • Have no pets or pets who will not mind sharing their home?
  • Have children of school age or older, or have no children at home?
  • Have a current driver’s license but are also prepared to take public transport?
  • Have regular free time on your hands not impacted by work, study or other commitments?

Are you able to?

  • Have a puppy sleep inside your home?
  • Spend most of your time with the puppy in and out of the home?
  • Attend regular classes?

Puppy Raising requires someone who can commit to having a puppy inside their home for 12 months and can give time and energy to the dogs training. It does require frequent lifting, bending and walking.

Are there any costs involved?

There is no cost to the Puppy Raiser volunteer with all food, equipment and medical care provided by Guide Dogs WA. Once the puppy in training moves on after a year, there’s always the opportunity to welcome another one.

Want to know more?

Watch this short video to get a better idea of what Puppy Raising involves.

For further enquiries, please call (08) 9311 8202 or email info@guidedogswa.com.au

Apply to become a Puppy Raiser

Please complete the form below and our team will be in touch with you shortly to progress your application.

Puppy Raising & Dog Boarding
Please note that fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.
Do you live within 45km of Victoria Park, Perth (6100)
We are sorry, but due to travel time constraints, if you live further than 45km away from Central Perth, we will not be able to continue with your application at this time. If your situation changes, please do contact us again, as we would love to hear from you.
Do you have more than one dog or cat?
(Please answer no if you have one of each)
We are sorry, but if you have more than one dog and/or one cat, we will not be able to continue with your application at this time. If your situation changes, please do contact us again, as we would love to hear from you.
Do you work? (Primary applicant)
How many hours a week do you work? (Primary applicant)

Role required

Puppy Raisers look after an 8-week old puppy, in their home, for a period of 12 - 18 months. You will require a degree of physical fitness, which includes being able to negotiate steps, walk 3 - 5km per day and frequent bending and lifting (up to 10kg). We require the puppy to be exposed to different environments including public transport, shopping centres, steps/stairs, schools etc. If you work full-time, Bed & Breakfast Boarding will be a better fit for you.

Bed & Breakfast Boarders look after an an young adult dog during early and advanced Guide Dog training. Dogs are required to be dropped off and picked up from Victoria Park each week day for a period of 4 - 8 months. Drop-off is between 8.00am - 9.00am, pick-up is 4.00pm - 4.45pm.

Remote Boarders (Kalamunda area; Joondalup area; or Rockingham-Wellard-Aubin Grove) look after a young adult dog in our formal training program for a period of 6 - 8 months. Remote Boarders must be at home most of the time and have the dog available to be picked up by a Guide Dogs WA trainer 5 days per week, for a period of approximately 2 hours per day.

Temporary Boarders provide a short-term home to a puppy or a dog on an adhoc basis, to cover events such as holidays, emergencies or illness.

What level of commitment are you able to make?
(Please tick all that apply)
Due to the time intensive nature of puppy raising, if the primary applicant works for more than 20 hours a week, please consider Bed & Breakfast or Temporary Boarding, as the time commitment is more flexible.
Time commitments (Primary Applicant)
Excluding work, please select how many hours a week you have in regular/frequent time commitments (eg. study, carer commitments or leisure activities).
Due to the time intensive nature of puppy raising, if the primary applicant is out of the home for more than 20 hours a week, please consider Bed & Breakfast or Temporary Boarding, as the time commitment is more flexible.
Please give an overview of any frequent or regular commitments (excluding work) you have (eg. study twice a week for four hours, visit elderly relative twice a week for two hours)

Criteria Checklist

Please check the box to indicate a yes against each statement. If you are unable to answer yes to all of these questions, we are sorry, but we will be unable to accept your application at this time.
All Boarders
Puppy Raisers
Bed and Breakfast Boarders
Remote Boarders
Temporary Boarders

Existing Pets

Do you own a dog already?
Please state what breed, sex and age your dog is.
Is your dog desexed?
We are sorry, but if your dog is not desexed, we will not be able to continue with your application at this time.
Is your dog regularly wormed and vaccinated?
Does your dog sleep indoors?
Has your dog been socialised?
How often do you walk your dog?
Please state how often you walk your dog during an average week.
Are you happy to accept a female dog that may not be desexed?
Note: due to the commencement of the Guide Dogs WA Breeding Program, some female puppies in our training program may be left entire (not desexed). We will support volunteers who are comfortable with taking a female puppy with understanding the puppy’s heat cycle and the precautions that need to be taken, to ensure the puppy remains safe during this time.

Who else lives in your household?

Please let us know the names and ages (if under 18) of anyone else who lives with you. Click the + button to add another row
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Your Details

Address
Address
Suburb
State
Post code
Please detail any regular time commitments (eg. work, study, carer commitments or external activities etc) for any other applicants.
Have you watched the Puppy Raising and Boarding information video?
Click here to view the information video if you haven't already watched it (opens in new window).
Keep up to date with Guide Dogs WA news?
Please tick the box if you would like to receive periodic email updates from us. (We promise we won't share your details with anyone else)
Application Confirmation
I have watched the information video and understand that I may be required to complete further assessments to determine my suitability to become a Guide Dogs WA Volunteer.