THE SUPREME ASSISTIVE DEVICE

THE SERVICE DOG PUPPY

Frequently Asked Questions

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Canine Working Companions, Inc.

Administrative Office

P. O. Box 2128; Syracuse, NY 13220-2128

(315) 656-3301

WHY DO YOU NEED PUPPY RAISERS?

Service Dog Puppies need to be raised in warm, loving homes until they are physically and mentally mature and can begin advanced training.

WILL IT COST ME ANYTHING TO RAISE A PUPPY?

The puppy raiser is responsible for the cost of dog food and transportation to all the puppy events. Your expenses may be tax deductible.

WHAT ABOUT VET BILLS?

Canine Working Companions, Inc. pays for all the necessary vet expenses. This includes all shots, vet visits, spaying or neutering, as well as the costs of x-rays, eye tests, and all other health screening procedures. Any injuries caused to the puppy by neglect; e.g. if the puppy is hit by a car due to it running loose, the puppy raiser will be responsible for up to $500.00 of the vet bill.

I’VE NEVER TRAINED A DOG BEFORE. HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT TO DO?

CWC conducts obedience classes for all the puppies and their raisers. You will also be supplied with a manual that contains training procedures and class sheets. You will receive a monthly newsletter, “Puppy Paw Prints”, which contains training tips, class schedules, and other items of interest to the puppy raisers. Our trainers are always available by phone, if problems arise.

DO I GET TO NAME MY PUPPY?

Yes! Puppy Raisers are allowed to select the name for their puppy, as long as it meets our criteria.

I ALREADY HAVE A DOG. IS THAT A PROBLEM?

Not necessarily, it depends on the dog. If your dog is very fearful or aggressive it might not be a good idea to expose a young, impressionable puppy to it. Perhaps, fostering an older dog might be a better way for you to participate I the program. As long as your older dog is confident, friendly, and likes puppies, there should be no problem.

MY LANDLORD WON’T LET US HAVE A PET. CAN WE STILL RAISE A PUPPY?

Your landlord would have to supply a written waiver of his “no pets policy” in order for us to place a puppy with you. It is important that the puppy be raised in a warm, loving home for the first 18 months of life. We don’t want to have to find a new home for the puppy because your landlord changed his mind mid-stream.

WE HAVE A LOVELY DOG HOUSE IN OUR BACK YARD. CAN THE PUPPY STAY THERE?

Absolutely not! A Service Dog Puppy must be raised in the home, with people. It must sleep in the puppy raisers bedroom and participate in family activities. It must not be left outside unattended while the puppy raiser is away or at work. It needs to learn house manners, become housebroken, not steal food, and not become a nuisance. It would be impossible for it to learn these skills while tied to a doghouse. Dogs are social creatures and need to interact with their people.

WE LIVE OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND WE’VE ALWAYS LET OUR DOG RUN FREE. WHY CAN’T WE DO THAT WITH OUR SERVICE DOG PUPPY?

A dog running free is at great risk of becoming hit by a car, lost, or stolen. We have too much invested in these puppies to gamble with their lives in this manner. The puppy is never to be allowed off lead in an unfenced area.

CAN I TAKE MY PUPPY EVERYWHERE?

Puppies don’t have legal access rights like the older dogs in advanced training or the adult Service Dogs. We ask that you go to local businesses that you frequent, explain our program and how important it is to have the puppy socialized. You will be supplied with brochures, an I.D. card, and a letter of introduction. Once you explain the situation, most places of business are happy to allow you access.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TAKE MY PUPPY IN PUBLIC?

Socialization is THE most important part of puppy raising. A puppy must be exposed to many different people, places, and things at a very young age in order to become a confident adult.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY PUPPY DOESN’T MAKE THE PROGRAM?

If a puppy must be released from the program, for any reason, the puppy raiser has the first option to keep the puppy as a pet, or CWC has a waiting list of people who would like a “career change” dog as a pet. The puppy will have a good, loving home.

ISN’T IT HARD TO GIVE THE PUPPIES UP?

Of course it is. A puppy raiser puts an enormous amount of love, time, and energy into raising their puppy. You have to realize how much of a difference this puppy is going to make in someone’s life. It’s almost like raising a child. On the one hand, all your energies are directed into having the child grow into a responsible adult, but it’s hard to see them grow up and leave.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OUR PUPPY BECOMES TOO OLD TO WORK?

When a Service Dog has to retire, either due to age or infirmity, the person it is placed with would have the option to keep the dog as their pet. If they were unable to do that, the puppy raiser would be contacted to see if they would like their puppy back. If they can’t take the puppy, then perhaps a relative or friend of the CWC graduate would like the dog as a pet. If not, CWC would find a loving home for the retired Service Dog.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I TURN MY PUPPY IN? WILL I EVER SEE IT AGAIN?

When your puppy is ready to be turned in for advanced training the director or Puppy Raising Coordinator will contact you for a home visit. At this time the method of turning the puppy in will be discussed. Some families are more comfortable having the dog picked up at their home, others want to bring their puppy to the training facility and place it in its new “room” themselves. We try to make the transition as easy as possible for the Puppy Raiser.

While your puppy is in training, you may call and make arrangements for a visit. Your puppy will be delighted to see you and may even show off some of its new skills. We will send you a photo of the puppy “in uniform” and keep you posted on its progress. You may call anytime to see how the puppy is doing. When we decide on a placement, you will be contacted and you’ll meet the puppy’s new partner at an informal dinner. We will present you with a photo of the finished Service Dog Team and you will also be invited to our annual dinner in May, where you will see all that year’s teams graduate.

WHAT ABOUT RAISING ANOTHER PUPPY?

Many of our Puppy Raisers take home a new puppy when they turn one in for advanced training. The experienced puppy raiser knows the joy and reward of participating in this program. They enjoy combining their love for dogs with the desire to help other human beings. There are very few experiences in life to compare with the pride and the joy of seeing the cuddly little puppy you’ve raised, grow up to be a mature, confident Service Dog, knowing the large part you played in assisting someone to new independence and the love of a Very Special Dog.

I THINK I WANT TO RAISE A PUPPY. HOW DO I START?

First you’ll have to contact CWC to request a puppy raising application. There will be a form to fill out and a letter of reference to submit. After the application is received, someone from the puppy raising committee will contact you for an in-home interview. After all this is completed, you will be put on a waiting list for a puppy.

Contact CWC at 315-656-3301 for presentations to interested groups.