About GDB Puppy Raising

In the 1950s, Guide Dogs for the Blind's puppy raising program was offered as a 4-H project for rural youth living on farms. Through the 4-H program, youth raisers who lived close together belonged to a 4-H club, led by 4-H appointed adult volunteers. Eventually our program expanded into GDB's own regional puppy raising clubs, welcoming volunteers outside of the 4-H program, including adults. Those puppy raising clubs make up our traditional puppy raising model to this day. 

Today, most GDB puppy raising volunteers find us in many ways; maybe you watched the Pick of the Litter documentary film or Disney+ docuseries, or perhaps you met a guide dog puppy raiser and their pup at the local grocery store. People from all walks of life make up our devoted community of puppy raising volunteers.

As our demographic of volunteers continues to grow, GDB has moved beyond the club model in order to meet our volunteers where they are. We now offer alternative puppy raising models - such as our hybrid and satellite puppy raising programs - to accommodate a wider range of families and individuals dedicated to helping us raising the next generation of GDB puppies.

Guide Dogs for the Blind's Puppy Raising program is typically available in the following Western United States: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington. 

Puppy raising field managers (PFMs) are GDB staff who live and work throughout the region and support the volunteers in their respective territories.