Puppy Raisers

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What is a Puppy Raiser?

Help lay the foundation for a future service dog—right in your own home.

Puppy Raisers are dedicated volunteers who open their hearts and homes to a service puppy in training for 12 to 16 months.* During this time, they focus on teaching basic obedience, building confidence, and exposing the puppy to the sights, sounds, and situations they’ll encounter as working service dogs.

What Puppy Raisers Do:

  • Provide a loving, stable home environment

  • Work on basic obedience and house manners

  • Support socialization through safe public outings and exposure to new environments

  • Attend weekly or biweekly training classes at our facility or designated public locations in the Charlottesville area.

  • Partner closely with SDV trainers to ensure consistent, effective development

 Requirements for Puppy Raisers:

  • Must be 18 years of age or older

  • Either don’t work outside of the home or work in a dog friendly environment where you have permission to a have a puppy and the flexibility in your schedule to provide the puppy the attention it needs throughout the day.

  • Complete a 2-3 hour, in-person, Puppy Raising Class and begin attending weekly puppy classes prior to receiving a puppy

  • Live in the Greater Charlottesville area and are willing to participate in 1-hour, weekly, puppy classes held during standard working hours in Charlottesville, VA.

Time Commitment:

  • Puppies are raised for approximately 12 to 16 months*

  • Volunteers work on socialization, basic training, and regular outings during the week. 

*We understand life can be unpredictable—shorter-term commitments may be available on a case-by-case basis.

  For more details, check out our Puppy Raising Questions FAQs section below.

Steps to Becoming a Puppy Raiser

  1. Submit an online application

  2. Attend a SDV Puppy Raiser Class. Classes are offered 3 times a year in February, May, and September. Our next class will be held on September 6, 2025.

  3. Schedule a home visit with SDV staff.

  4. Begin attending weekly puppy classes held during standard working hours at least twice a month to continue to refine your training skills.

  5. Receive a puppy! (Please note that the wait time to receive a puppy can be between 1 and 6 months.)

Puppy raiser FAQs

  • For Puppy Raisers, you will attend weekly training classes at our Training Center or another location in Charlottesville, train the puppy at home in several short sessions throughout each day, and train the puppy in public as guided by SDV and the weekly lessons. We will guide you through the process every week, teaching you how to train your puppy.

  • Yes! The vast majority of our volunteers have no formal dog training experience. Before fostering a dog, you must attend a Volunteer Training Class. During this class you will learn our training methods and how to handle the dog in public and cues that the dos are learning. Our training methods are based on positive reinforcement, and we know you will truly enjoy the experience.

  • The primary puppy raiser must be an adult 18 years of age or older. However, minors are allowed to raise with an adult living in the same home. Note: Puppies can’t attend school with children in the household.

  • No, it’s imperative to the puppy’s development that supervision and socialization are provided throughout every day. Puppy raisers who work outside of the home must have prior approval to bring the puppy to the workplace and flexibility in their work schedule to provide the puppy with the attention it will need throughout the day.

  • Each puppy raiser goes through an orientation process and is given a manual, puppy starter kit, and online resources. They also begin attending weekly training sessions to refine their training skills before receiving their puppy. After receiving their puppy, weekly classes will continue. We also provide ongoing staff support to each puppy raiser via phone, e-mail or in-person follow-up.

  • The puppy is typically 2 - 4 months of age.

  • Typically dogs begin advanced training when they turned 1. Some dogs may start advanced training as late as 15 months.

  • Unlikely. Puppies learn basic house training between the ages of 2 and 4 months. Refining these skills often continues between 4 and 6 months of age. Puppy Raisers are responsible for teaching housebreaking with the support of SDV staff.

  • A fenced yard is highly desirable, Please note: Electric or invisible fences are not permitted.

  • As long as you provide SDV reasonable notice, we can arrange for a respite volunteer to take care of your dog while you are on vacation or need a break. We also like our puppies to become accustomed to new experiences and occasionally may ask you to let your puppy go to a respite provider for a few days even when you don’t have travel plans.

  • Yes, if your other pets don’t mind having a young, energic dog in the house. If you have cats or other dogs that don’t apricate the presence of other dogs (or only get along with “older, calm” dogs), then it might not be a good fit.

Still have questions? Feel free to email us at volunteer@servicedogsva.org.

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