Raising a family pet and raising a future guide dog are both great adventures, but the first year of a guide dog puppy’s life is usually much more eventful than that of an average pet. This period is not only about an adorable, but well-behaved puppy also growing up — it is about laying the foundations for the life of a confident, balanced assistance dog.
Guide dog candidates encounter countless new experiences from a very young age. It is not enough for them to be familiar with a home, a nearby park, a garden, or the comfort of a couch. In the future, they will work alongside their handler on busy streets, buses and trams, in shopping malls, offices, or medical facilities. To prepare for this, they need to:
- Encounter many different situations and people
This includes busy streets, shopping centers, train stations, other urban and domestic animals, as well as people of different ages and genders — or learning to remain neutral toward them. - Travel calmly and confidently on public transport and by car
When puppies are gradually and early introduced to vehicles, they gain routine and confidence. As a result, later in their working life they are not distracted by the many stimuli they encounter. - Learn and follow clear rules
Predictable rules provide dogs with real freedom. A well-trained, well-socialized dog who understands boundaries can be reliably recalled from any situation and safely allowed off-leash for play. Just as importantly, for their own safety and that of their handler, they must learn to recognize basic traffic situations, such as intersections, and even stop at the curb. - Grow up in a safe and predictable environment
A stable environment allows strong bonds to form between the puppy and the foster family, which later supports the development of loving relationships with their trainer and future handler.
Above all else, the most important thing is that the guide dog puppy is happy and grows up happily. Of course, this is just as true for family dogs as well.
It is essential that puppies remain curious and open to the world, learning new things with confidence and joy. This is why we place them with volunteer puppy-raising families, where they are cherished as beloved companions from the very first moment — with all the extra experiences listed above. Our foundation provides the puppy’s food and equipment, as well as professional support for volunteer families, so that by the age of one to one and a half years, the puppies can move on to formal training with strong foundations.
If you would like to do something truly meaningful and would happily raise a playful, eager-to-learn, intelligent puppy, try volunteering as a puppy raiser!
For you, this adventure will be a life-changing experience; for a person in need, it will be the key to freedom and independence.
We Are Looking for Puppy Raisers for Borsó’s Litter!
You can take home a nine-week-old puppy and form a lifelong bond with a wonderful dog who will one day help a visually impaired person.
Interested applicants will take part in a training session where all essential information is provided. This training will take place on February 15 in Budapest.
Our foundation welcomes applicants from all over the country, regardless of age.
The dog you raise will not be “gone forever” once they are placed with their visually impaired handler. You will be able to meet them, they can stay with you during holidays, and we will keep you informed about how they are doing in life.
A guide dog is the eyes of a visually impaired person.
Take part in this important mission — become a puppy raiser!
