Puppy Check-ins

Puppy raising field managers (PFMs) track, observe, and handle puppies in the field to support puppy development and puppy raising volunteers. Information may be requested via photo/video, questionnaire, email, virtual meeting, and/or in-person. Puppy raising volunteers are responsible for thoroughly and accurately completing information requests and participating in scheduled check-ins.

PFMs are responsible for:

• Having Walk & Talks with puppies and puppy raisers
• Recording the behaviors and physical traits of puppies
• Relaying information to the Breeding, Veterinary, Training, K9 Buddy, or Dog Placement teams as needed
• Refining a puppy raiser’s handling techniques
• Producing individualized instructions for the improvement of raiser techniques or dog behaviors
• Assess the puppy’s development and potential for recall, transfer to another environment, or career change
• Maintaining productive and positive direct communication with volunteers
• Reviewing trends in the development of puppies to make improvements to the puppy raising program
• Ensuring the well-being of a puppy and the home in which it lives

When a medical, behavioral, or temperamental problem develops or is observed with a puppy, the PFM will communicate with a member of the support team and the raiser to develop a plan of action. The puppy may return to GDB or be moved to an evaluation home for a medical or training evaluation. Your PFM will work with you to track and support the puppy's progress until they are Ready for Recall and return to a GDB campus for the next chapter of their journey. Read about their next steps in Beyond Puppy Raising!

In some cases, puppies who are not a good fit for our programs are career changed:

• Medical career change decisions are made by GDB veterinarians. See Common Medical Career Change Conditions for more information.
• Temperament and behavior career change decisions are made after implementing a training/behavior modification plan. 
  • The PFM will assess the puppy and develop a behavior modification plan. This may include transfer to a different puppy raising volunteer home, in-home assessment with the PFM, or on-campus assessment by GDB staff. 
  • Temperament and behavioral career change decisions are made in collaboration between the PFM and a puppy raising program manager or qualified Puppy Raising staff member.
• Our career change dogs go on to other fulfilling roles - whether as an assistance dog at one of our partner organizations, a GDB ambassador dog in the community, or a beloved family pet and mentor for the next generation of guide dog puppies in your home. For more information, see Career Change Adoption and Placement.