OccuPaws

`Applying FAQ   –   Training FAQ   –    Donating FAQ   –   Puppy Raising FAQ  –   Breeding FAQ

Where do you get your dogs from?
Can you be a Puppy Raiser if you have other pets at home?
Can you be a Puppy Raiser if your employer won’t allow you to bring the dog to work?
Can you be a Puppy Raiser if you live in an apartment/condo/dorm?
How long will I have to wait before I get a puppy?
What expenses is the Puppy Raiser responsible for? What is the cost of raising a puppy?
How often/At what ages are the puppies evaluated?
How do Puppy Raisers know what shots/medications their dog needs and when?
What should a Puppy Raiser do if their dog has a medical emergency?
Can I get a new puppy before/right after my current puppy goes in for Formal Harness Training?
Is it hard to give away the dog?
What do you do with the puppies that don’t make it?

Where do you get your dogs from?
OccuPaws has its own breeding program of high quality, English lineage Labrador Retrievers . We also train Golden Retrievers and Standard Poodles and accept purebred, high quality dogs from select breeders in the area. We do not use rescue or mixed breed dogs as we do extensive genetic testing and a multi-generational health evaluation to insure a lifetime healthy guide dog.

Can you be a Puppy Raiser if you have other pets at home?
Yes, as long as they are friendly and not reptiles.  Be sure that you have time to work with your OccuPaws puppy if you do have many other pets at home.

Can you be a Puppy Raiser if your employer won’t allow you to bring the dog to work?
Yes, as long as there are still ways for your puppy to socialize and as long as the puppy is left in a crate for an appropriate amount of time depending on their age.  Younger puppies should only be in the crate for a maximum of 2-3 hours except for bedtime.

Can you be a Puppy Raiser if you live in an apartment/condo/dorm?
Yes and No.  While the law treats service animals as exempt from any no pet or no dog rules you may have at your dwelling, common sense may make it more difficult but not impossible to raise a puppy for OccuPaws: for example – there is no exercise area, no grass to relieve themselves, you live on the upper floors, etc.  Check with your Puppy Coordinator for advice.

How long will I have to wait before I get a puppy?
That will vary widely depending on whether we have any puppies available and if they match your home, life-style and personality.  The typical time is 1-3 months.  You also can choose the age you want as puppies are rotated among different households every 3-6 months so the pup gets a variety of experiences.

What expenses is the Puppy Raiser responsible for? What is the cost of raising a puppy?
The puppy raiser is responsible for all of the typical costs associated with raising a personal puppy.  Food, vet care, spay/neuter, flea and tick preventative and heart wormer all year round, toys, and travel expenses.  Plan on $75-$100/ month average.

(NOTE: At the present time, thanks to a generous ongoing donation from Fromm Family Dog Foods, all dog food is provided. We are supplying Heartworm medication and Flea/Tick meds, as well as basic vaccinations and the cost of spay or neuter.  Also, by helping out at our fundraisers which do raise virtually all needed funds, currently your out of pocket costs will average $0 – $10 per month – subject to change if donated products run out or we are unable to have volunteers to work at the events.)

How often/at what ages are the puppies evaluated?
The puppies are constantly being observed and evaluated by you, the other trainers, the puppy coordinators and our Guide Dog Mobility Instructors.  There are a couple of review periods, typically around 8-10 months and again around 13-15 months where they may live for a period with a different trainer to help identify issues and solutions.

How do Puppy Raisers know what shots/medications their dog needs and when?
Raisers are provided shot and medication schedules when they receive the puppy, as well as periodic reminders of certain requirements.

What should a Puppy Raiser do if their dog has a medical emergency?
While there are some “emergencies” that can be handled at home, your puppy coordinator is your best, first contact if you don’t think it is an emergency.  If it appears life threatening, then contact your veterinarian or if needed an emergency Vet immediately.

Can I get a new puppy before/right after my current puppy goes in for Formal Harness Training?
Normally it is easier to start a new puppy after your current puppy leaves for formal harness training, however there are occasions where you may receive a new puppy while you still have your current dog in training.  You, the trainer, and your puppy coordinator would discuss it on a case by case basis.

Is it hard to give away the dog?
Yes and no…you will become very attached and it will be difficult, but when you see the dog working it is all worth it.  Your first graduation ceremony, where you “present” the dog you have raised to the person whose life you have changed, will put it all in perspective.

What do you do with the puppies that don’t make it?
We try and find an alternate service dog career that may be better suited (diabetic alert, search and rescue, etc.) to the dog.  If nothing fits, puppies/dogs that were born at OccuPaws and are better suited as pets, are placed with families as a career change dogs.  Puppies that are donated by breeders often times have contracts with the breeders and are often returned to the breeder to find another career or home for the dog. The best interest of the dog is always our top priority. (Click here to apply for a career change dog)