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"How can you give them up?"
12 years ago
I've been raising Guide Dogs for the Blind for 14yrs and have raised over 23 puppies with my family and on my own. The biggest question we're always asked, is "Isn't it hard to give them up?" And the answer is yes..it's very hard to give them up. It doesn't get any easier the more dogs you raise too.
We have options for raising puppies; you don't have to raise them the entire time. You can be a puppy starter, which is a raiser that starts a puppy for someone else. You generally get the dog at 8wks, and then transfer the puppy to another raiser at 5months. This is for raisers that possibly work, that need a puppy that already has its rabies shots. There are those that take transfer dogs only, which is as stated before...maybe for those that need an older puppy. For those that are very experienced raisers, or leaders (like myself), sometimes there are difficult dogs that require an experienced raiser, and we would work with the dog until they return, or could be transferred back to their raiser. And then you have the raisers that have their puppy the full time. This mans you get your puppy at 8weeks of age and the dog is recalled anywhere between 15months to 18months. You get your dog for a year (barring any transfers or career changes). You bond deeply with your dog, and your dog goes everywhere with you. Mine come to my office, they go to the store, to restaurants, to the movies, to camping, and weekend vacations.
But even though they're our dogs for a year, in the back of our minds, we always know that these dogs are moving on to do great things. They may be a breeder for Guide dogs for the Blind, or they may go on to be a great service dog for someone in need. I also know that the organization takes care of their dogs, and I know that even if I don't get my dog back, that they will be matched up with a home that is perfect for them.
So yes..it is hard to let go, but I have great hopes for my dogs and I know that all the time, energy, and work I put into my dogs, will be passed on to someone else that needs a great dog.
We have options for raising puppies; you don't have to raise them the entire time. You can be a puppy starter, which is a raiser that starts a puppy for someone else. You generally get the dog at 8wks, and then transfer the puppy to another raiser at 5months. This is for raisers that possibly work, that need a puppy that already has its rabies shots. There are those that take transfer dogs only, which is as stated before...maybe for those that need an older puppy. For those that are very experienced raisers, or leaders (like myself), sometimes there are difficult dogs that require an experienced raiser, and we would work with the dog until they return, or could be transferred back to their raiser. And then you have the raisers that have their puppy the full time. This mans you get your puppy at 8weeks of age and the dog is recalled anywhere between 15months to 18months. You get your dog for a year (barring any transfers or career changes). You bond deeply with your dog, and your dog goes everywhere with you. Mine come to my office, they go to the store, to restaurants, to the movies, to camping, and weekend vacations.
But even though they're our dogs for a year, in the back of our minds, we always know that these dogs are moving on to do great things. They may be a breeder for Guide dogs for the Blind, or they may go on to be a great service dog for someone in need. I also know that the organization takes care of their dogs, and I know that even if I don't get my dog back, that they will be matched up with a home that is perfect for them.
So yes..it is hard to let go, but I have great hopes for my dogs and I know that all the time, energy, and work I put into my dogs, will be passed on to someone else that needs a great dog.
DragonflyBunny
~dragonflybunny
You have a golden heart... :3
