1. What Is a Puppy Raiser?
2. How Do I Apply To Become A Puppy Raiser?
3. How Old Do I Have To Be To Become A Puppy Raiser?
4. How Much Time Daily Do I Have To Spend With My Puppy In Training?
5. How Much Money Will I Spend Being A Puppy Raiser?
6. I Don’t Have ANY Dog Training Experience, Can I Still Become A Puppy Raiser?
7 . Can I Have Other Pets At Home While I Am A Puppy Raiser?
8. Can I Work Full Time And Be A Puppy Raiser?
9. Is There a Distance Requirement For How Far Away I Can Live?
10. Who Is Responsible For The Puppy If I Have An Emergency Or Go On Vacation?
11. How Long Will I Have The Puppy?
12. Do I Have To Have A Fenced In Yard?
13. Does The Puppy Have To Go Everywhere With Me?
14. What Happens If The Puppy Is Released As A Pet?
15. What Breeds Are Used, and Where Do They Come From?
16. Will I Get To Meet The Person Who Receives The Dog I Trained?

1. What Is A Puppy Raiser?
Puppy Trainers are dedicated volunteers who welcome our potential service dog’s as puppies into their home to raise, socialize and train. Puppy Trainers are taught the necessary training skills to teach their puppy all of the necessary tasks needed to become service dogs.

2. How Do I Apply To Become a Puppy Raiser?
Please direct your web browser to www.padcentral.org/apply and fill out the Puppy Trainer application. If approved, you will be contacted by a PAD representative who will guide you through the remaining application processes.

3. How Old Do I Have To Be To Become A Puppy Raiser?
All members of the household must agree to be active members in the training and care of the puppy. In saying that, children are welcome to be active in the process of training a puppy, but an individual 15 years or older must be the primary trainer.

4. How Much Time Daily Do I Have To Spend With My Puppy In Training?
You will be training your puppy twenty-four hours a day. Even when service dogs in training are playing, they are still learning and shaping appropriate service dog behavior. You will be required to do a minimum of 15 minutes a day of actual one on one clicker training with your puppy. This is outside of any class, public outings or walks. Training your puppy requires patience and the ability to not get frustrated easily, but most volunteers report that the positive reinforcement techniques used at PAD make training puppies a blast!

5. How Much Money Will I Spend Being A Puppy Raiser?
PAD strives to supply our raisers with everything they will need to successfully train their puppy. We actively reach out to the community for monetary donations, as well as donations of products we are in need of. Because we run solely on donations, we only guarantee that your puppy will come with a service dog harness, collar and PAD ID tag for their collar. Additionally, puppies that go to our veterinarian will have their veterinary costs covered. These costs are: vaccinations, stool clearances, spay/neuter costs, hip/elbow x-rays and any emergency visits.
We make every attempt to place your puppy with a crate (required for potty training, and safety), any walking training gear, clickers, treat bags, a leash, a few toys, nail trimmers and ear cleaner. If PAD is unable to fund these products at the time your puppy arrives, we will require that you purchase them.
You will need to replace any damaged gear, provide any additional toys or dog beds if desired and purchase treats for training. Currently, the cost of monthly Heartworm and Flea/Tick preventative medications is the responsibility of the Puppy Trainer. These medications are available through our veterinarian at a reduced price and Puppy Trainers can receive at tax deductible receipt for these and ALL puppy related costs!
Lastly, you will be responsible for all costs related to traveling to and from weekly classes.

6. I Don’t Have ANY Dog Training Experience, Can I Still Become A Puppy Raiser?
Yes! Our trainers will guide you through the process step by step, at required, weekly classes with your puppy. Our methods are positive reinforcement, and we have never had a volunteer say that they don’t enjoy the experiences of training their puppy!

7. Can I Have Other Pets At Home While I Am A Puppy Raiser?
Yes, once one of our representatives visit your home and confirm that your animals are dog friendly. This policy supports the socializing of the puppies which promotes our need for the most well rounded adult service dogs.

8. Can I Work Full Time And Be A Puppy Raiser?
Yes! You will be responsible for your puppies well being and training, whether or not you chose to leave your puppy at home and arrange potty and stretch breaks every four hours OR work it out with your employer to bring your puppy in training along to work.

9. Is There a Distance Requirement For How Far Away I Can Live?
No, but we do require that you attend 2-4 classes a month in Lititz, PA.

10. Who Is Responsible For The Puppy If I Have An Emergency Or Go On Vacation?
We will arrange a Puppy Sitter ahead of time for any vacations or emergencies.

11. How Long Will I Have The Puppy?
You can expect to train your puppy through adulthood, generally all dogs are placed with their partner with a disability between 1 1/2 years – 2 1/2 years of age.

12. Do I Have To Have A Fenced In Yard?
No, although you will be required to locate a safe, fenced in area for your dog to safely practice recalls no less than three times a week. Your dog will not be permitted off leash in a non-fenced area, ever.

13. Does The Puppy Have To Go Everywhere With Me?
We require a minimum of one new public outing a week for all of our puppies in training. In saying that, you are not required to take your puppy everywhere and may have restrictions of locations you may take your puppy during certain puppy stages.

14. What Happens If The Puppy Is Released As A Pet?
Once PAD releases a puppy from our training program it may become available to adopt as a pet.  If it was donated, the breeder may require it comes back to them.  If not, we may offer any trainers or volunteers (that includes the Puppy Raiser) the option of adopting them as a pet. If no one within that group is able or interested in adopting the puppy, we will place them up for adoption to the general public. We have a thorough and strict application process to non-volunteers that includes but is not limited to; a multi-page application, veterinary reference, and three personal references.

15. What Breeds Are Used, and Where Do They Come From?
We generally use puppies from the sporting, working and even herding groups. That includes but is not limited to any of the following breeds, or mixes of them: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Poodles and crosses between those breeds.  Occasionally, we breed our own litters of puppies, but also will accept donated puppies from individuals or reputable breeders.  On a rare occasion we will also bring in a shelter or rescue situation puppy.

16. Will I Get To Meet The Person Who Receives The Dog I Trained?
Yes! The individual that receives your dog will go through an intense Team Training with PAD, and you will be invited to attend specific events during this training.