Puppy Raising Manual Produced by the Puppy Raising Department of Guide Dogs for the Blind exclusively for puppy raising volunteers © 2008 Guide Dogs for the Blind All rights reserved The information in this manual may not be reproduced without written permission from the Puppy Raising Department of Guide Dogs for the Blind. This manual is the property of Guide Dogs for the Blind. DEDICATION We dedicate this manual to the remarkable individuals and families who open their homes and give their hearts, their time, and their dedication to the puppies in their care. Due to your generosity, students at GDB are given an amazing gift: a partner who allows them enhanced mobility and access, as well as a loyal and loving companion. We greatly appreciate your being our ambassadors with the public and for spreading the Guide Dog message every day. Thank you also to those of you who work with us performing many other tasks such as public speaking, outreach to students, and fundraising. It would be impossible to complete our mission without you, and on behalf of all those we serve, you have our eternal gratitude. With deepest appreciation, Nancy E. S. Gardner President & Chief Executive Officer 11/2007 FORWARD Your puppy raising mission includes nurturing and socializing a puppy to become a guide, a prized member of our breeding stock or a beloved pet. Our organizational mission is dependent upon the informed, positive information that you supply your community about dog care, our puppy raising program and our graduate services. Thank you for your many contributions. Each puppy is different and has his very own personality and charm. Your daily effort and love combined with the support and training of our expert staff helps to develop your puppy to his highest potential. We are here to provide information, training and support. With this manual, the training provided by your club leader, the supervision and support of your puppy raising advisor, and the assistance of the Puppy Raising staff, you will have the tools necessary to fulfill this very special community service project. We appreciate your commitment to help us create lifelong partnerships. We are proud to have you as members of the Guide Dog Family. Brent Ruppel Director of Community Operations TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 1-1 Mission 1-2 History The Guide Dog family What is expected of you 1-3 Our dogs The breeding program Life in the kennels Veterinary care 1-4 Raiser support and opportunities 2. Preparing for puppy raising 2-1 Support Getting Started Introducing your team Solving problems 2-2 Creating a safe, secure environment Suggested first aid kit supplies Poisons 2-3 Outdoor confinement and housing Fence requirements 2-4 Equipment (and how to use it) The crate The ex-pen The tie-down The dragline The leash and collar The headcollar The chain training collar 2-5 Your puppy’s arrival Prepare your home On the trip home At your home 2-6 What it means to raise a Guide Dog puppy 2-7 Dos and don’ts of puppy raising 2-8 Puppy raising etiquette 3. Caring for your puppy 3-1 Feeding Guidelines to promoting good eating habits and protecting health Changing your puppy’s food Tips to remember when feeding your puppy Keeping your puppy fit and healthy Body Score and Conditioning Systems ©Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. 2008 Puppy Raising Manual/Table of Contents 11/2008 3-2 Relieving Teach your puppy to relieve on-leash, on command 3-3 Grooming Brush your puppy every day Regular paw care is important Ear cleaning can prevent ear infections Eyes may need to be cleaned also Clean your puppy’s teeth every week Bathing your pup 3-4 Exercise and play Teach your puppy to play interactively with you (without using a toy) Controlling play with your puppy Tug game procedures Hide-and-seek game procedures 3-5 Trains, planes and automobiles Guide Dogs public access for puppies Transportation of program and career change dogs Traveling with and without your puppy Lost puppy procedures 4. Health care 4-1 Working with veterinarians Payment of veterinary expenses The physical characteristics of a dog 4-2 Emergencies 4-3 Vaccinations and deworming 4-4 Females in season 4-5 Spay/neuter and hernias 4-6 Fleas, ticks and parasites Flea and tick control Heartworm prevention 5. Training principles 5-1 Philosophy How to be an effective teacher Give effective commands Pattern desired behaviors How a dog learns 5-2 Rewards Reward and correct consistently Approved rewards 5-3 Corrections How and when to correct your puppy How to do a leash and collar correction Unacceptable corrections 5-4 Know about “no” ©Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. 2008 Puppy Raising Manual/Table of Contents 11/2008 6. Training techniques 6-1 Important behaviors Behaviors to report to your leader Essential behaviors Good house manners 6-2 Socialization 6-3 Commands Preparing your puppy to learn commands Training commands for raisers 7. What's next for your puppy 7-1 Saying “goodbye” 7-2 When your puppy returns to Guide Dogs 7-3 Training Pattern training Guide Dog training phases 7-4 In class 7-5 Graduation Sponsored teams In-home training procedures Graduation for breeding stock 7-6 After graduation 7-7 How Guide Dogs places the puppies you raise 8. Policies, forms and resources Puppy raising policy Basic requirements of puppy raisers Keeping puppies on-leash Puppy toy and play policies Puppy raising nutritional policy Boarding female dogs in-season Reasons for placing or retaining a puppy in the home Helpful resources for puppy raisers Fun things about my puppy form Guide Dog graduation news release Recall for training phase descriptions ©Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. 2008 Puppy Raising Manual/Table of Contents 11/2008 1-1 OUR MISSION Guide Dogs for the Blind provides enhanced mobility to qualified individuals through partnership with dogs whose unique skills are developed and nurtured by dedicated volunteers and a professional staff. Established in 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind continues its dedication to quality student training services and extensive follow-up support for graduates. Our programs are made possible through the teamwork of staff, volunteers and generous donors. Services are provided to students from the United States and Canada at no cost to them. © Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. 2008 Puppy Raising Manual / 1: Introduction Section 1-1 11/2008 Mission 1-2 HISTORY It all began with a dream...the dream of creating the first guide dog training school on the West Coast. It was a dream shared by Lois Merrihew and Don Donaldson, who volunteered their efforts along with many others. They recognized the need to help wounded servicemen who would return from World War II without their sight. They believed in the potential of dogs to serve as guides for the blind. The school was incorporated in 1942 and began training dogs and instructing students in a rented home in Los Gatos, California, south of San Jose. A German Shepherd named Blondie was one of the first dogs trained. Blondie had been rescued from a Pasadena dog pound. She was later paired with Sgt. Leonard Foulk, the first serviceman to graduate from the new school. In 1947, the school was moved to its present 11-acre campus in San Rafael, California, 20 miles north of San Francisco. In 1995, our other campus opened in Boring, Oregon, 25 miles east of Portland on 27 acres. Guide Dogs for the Blind has graduated close to 10,000 teams over the past 60 years. The Guide Dog family Puppy raisers It takes a lot of people to produce a successful Guide Dog team. We'd like to start by introducing you to other members of the Guide Dog family. You are now among 1,400 raisers who donate their time and effort in the care and socialization of our puppies. Guide Dog puppy raisers are youths, adults, and youths affiliated with the 4-H program. Guide Dogs for the Blind places puppies with raisers living in eight Western states: California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Utah and Colorado. Puppy raising leaders All puppy raisers are members of a puppy raising club. These clubs are guided by a leader; some clubs have several leaders. These dedicated volunteers hold regular club meetings to teach puppy raisers how to raise, care for and train their new puppies. Each leader has been trained by a Guide Dogs staff member. Leaders in clubs affiliated with the 4-H program have also received training and certification through their state 4-H office. All leaders are issued a Leader’s Manual, which contains guidelines and instructions specifically for club leaders. The Puppy Raising Department Raisers and leaders also work closely with members of the Puppy Raising Department at Guide Dogs for the Blind. A Community Field Representative is assigned to your area. Each CFR’s territory includes 100 or more puppy raisers and up to 50 leaders and may encompass several states. CFRs provide hands-on training, advice and support to leaders and raisers in their territories to improve their understanding of socialization and training standards required by Guide Dogs for the Blind. They attend many field days and club meetings. © Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. 2008 Puppy Raising Manual / 1: Introduction Section 1-2 11/2008 History They also evaluate puppies, either at an evaluation site, in the home, at a Guide Dog facility or in homes other than the raisers. In addition, CFR’s are responsible for helping in the recruitment of new leaders and raisers.