Puppy Development Volunteers

What is a Puppy Development Volunteer?

 Duties:

  • Provide round-the-clock care—in scheduled shifts—for puppies, including feeding, cleaning, and monitoring their well-being

  • Assist in socializing puppies through gentle handling and exposure to new sights, sounds, and textures

  • Support the mother dog with affection, comfort, and basic care

  • Maintain a clean, safe environment, working alongside staff to ensure proper hygiene and safety standards

  • Promote early mental and physical development, setting the foundation for their future as service dogs

 Requirements:

  • 18 years or older

  • Must complete a training course prior to working with puppies

 Commitment:

  • Must live within commuting distance or be willing to travel to Charlottesville, VA,    where all litters are housed

  • Litters stay with SDV for approximately 8 weeks

  • SDV typically has 2–3 litters per year, so opportunities are limited and scheduled in advance

Puppy Development Volunteers play a vital role in the early care and development of our youngest future service dogs. These volunteers work closely with Service Dogs of Virginia (SDV) staff to provide a safe, nurturing environment for both newborn puppies and their mother during the puppies’ first eight weeks of life.

 

Interested in joining our Puppy Development Volunteer? Register below to receive updates about upcoming litters and volunteer openings.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Service Dogs of Virginia! At this time, we are not accepting new volunteer applications. Please check back on August 1st for updates.
For questions or inquiries, feel free to email us at info@servicedogsva.org.

Watch this video to learn about some of the responsibilities of Puppy Developement Volunteers.