After Graduation

During a Dog’s Career 
While encouraged by GDB, after graduation ongoing communication between the client or breeder custodian and puppy raisers is a mutual decision. For raisers of dogs that become breeders, ongoing communications about each litter will be shared by the Breeding team.

Guide Dog or K9 Buddy Evaluations or End of Partnership
Occasionally a guide dog or K9 Buddy partnership is not ideal, and the dog may return to campus for an evaluation or a potential new partnership. Puppy raisers will be notified once a final decision has been made for a dog regarding retirement or if the dog will be considered for a new partnership. Should the dog be retired, see below for next steps.

Retirement
When a dog is retired and adopted or placed as a pet by the client or breeder custodians, GDB sends a notification to the puppy raisers. The following guidelines and order of placement are used in determining the adoption or placement of retired guides, breeders, and K9 Buddy dogs.
 

Dogs retiring with less than one year of service:

Breeders

1. Training as a guide dog
2. K9 Buddy
3. GDB Community and Strategic (Ambassador/Agency) Placements
4. Breeder Custodian (personal adoption)
5. Puppy Raiser(s) (most recent first); personal adoptions, then placements with close friends or family members

Guide Dogs

1. K9 Buddy
2. GDB Community and Strategic (Ambassador/Agency) Placements
3. Puppy Raiser(s) (most recent first); personal adoptions, then placements with close friends or family members

K9 Buddies

1. GDB Community and Strategic (Ambassador/Agency) Placements
2. Puppy Raiser(s) (most recent first); personal adoptions, then placements with close friends or family members

Dogs retiring with one year of service or more:
 

Breeders

1. Breeder Custodian (personal adoption)
2. K9 Buddy
3. GDB Community and Strategic (Ambassador/Agency) Placements
4. Puppy Raiser(s) (most recent first); personal adoption, then placement with close friends or family members

Guide Dogs

1. Client adoption or placement with a close friend or family member
2. K9 Buddy
3. GDB Community and Strategic (Ambassador/Agency) Placements
4. Puppy Raiser(s) (most recent first); personal adoption, then placement with close friends or family members

K9 Buddies

1. Client adoption or placement with a close friend or family member
2. GDB Community and Strategic (Ambassador/Agency) Placements
3. Puppy Raiser(s) (most recent first); personal adoption, then placement with close friends or family members

GDB has the discretion to make exceptions to all dog placement guidelines in the best interest of the dog.

Health Check & Transportation Costs for Retiring Guides Returning to Their Puppy Raisers
When a client and puppy raiser are in contact at the time of the guide dog’s retirement and arranging the adoption themselves (and assuming the dog will not be coming to either campus), GDB will pay for a comprehensive veterinary exam at a vet clinic local to the client so the puppy raiser has up-to-date information on the dog’s health. Transportation will then be arranged by the adopting puppy raiser and the client, at their own expense. If additional logistical help is necessary, GDB will assist with these arrangements to the greatest extent possible.

If the puppy raiser and the client are not in contact and the dog is returned to a GDB campus for placement, the dog will receive a thorough veterinary examination by one of the GDB veterinarians. Upon notification of retirement, if the puppy raiser wishes to adopt the dog, staff will assist in making transportation arrangements for the dog. While staff will make every effort to find the most cost- and time-efficient way home (e.g., puppy truck), it is the puppy raiser’s responsibility to pay for the cost of transportation, if necessary.

For information on the Career Change Process, Strategic and Community Placements, Raiser Adoption or Placement, and GDB’s Dog Placement team, review Career Change, Adoption, and Placement.