When my sons were in High School and Middle School we began raising Seeing Eye Puppies. Actually we raised 3 Golden Retriever Puppies in all. Raising rabbits in 4H is what we began with and then raising the Puppies too. It is fun and rewarding.
How to Begin Raising Seeing Eye Puppies
Firstly we spoke to the 4H office and they put us in contact with the Seeing Eye Representative for our area. They are always looking for citizens to volunteer to raise their puppies. Our representative was Kathy. We said we want to raise a Golden Retriever and that’s what she did for us. In June Kathy brought us an 8 week old male. red Golden Retriever who’s name was Luck. He was so much fun (except for the housebreaking). They brought us a crate for him and when we went to bed he slept in his crate.
The Seeing Eye Pays for the Vet Bills and Food
The Seeing Eye sent us a check to pay for his food and the Vet sent them the bill for our visits and inoculations. Anything the vet gave Luck the Seeing Eye paid for. We took him for his regular check ups. We fed to feed him IAMS puppy food by their instruction. I was off from teaching for the summer so my son and I were able to take care of his needs all day.
Did We Do Any of His Training
Once a month we were to take Luck to a 4H meeting for his basic training. We taught him his basic commands. He was very good at this after working with him at home and at the meetings. Luck was a very good puppy. He was a small Golden Retriever which Kathy chose for my son since he is in a wheel chair so he could keep up with Luck.
How Long Do You Raise a Seeing Eye Puppy
Depending on the breed you will have them with your family 14 to 18 months. The puppies go back to the Seeing Eye when the area representative sets up an appointment with you to pick the puppy up. They take them back to do their official training with their professional trainer.
They will train for several months and then there will be an official town walk. You will be invited to watch their final test with the trainer. Another person from the Seeing Eye will walk with you across the street from the dog and the trainer explaining what is happening and what they are testing for at that moment.
It is an amazing experience. You will not get close to the dog during this time and after this there will be another training with the person the dog will be assigned to for the rest of the time for work. The person they will work with will come to The Seeing Eye and they will be matched and train together.