Do you want to raise a guide dog?
HOUGHTON – The Masselli family has raised puppies for the South African Guide-Dog Association for the past 10 years.
The South African Guide-Dog Association for the Blind is urgently seeking new puppy trainers as the puppy raising programme is growing at a rapid rate.
For Grazia Masselli and her daughter Gabriella, puppy raising is something they do as a family. They have been involved with the puppy raising programme for 10 years and speak highly of their experience. They have fallen in love with many puppies over the years but say it is so rewarding to see their puppy graduate from the puppy training programme and go to a deserving owner.
“You get used to saying goodbye to them, life goes on and you know that that pup is happy and is loved,” said Grazia.
Wella, their 10th puppy, has only been with them for three weeks and will stay with the Masselli family for about a year, after which she will begin her formal guide-dog training.
READ: A woof out to potential puppy raisers at SA Guide Dogs
Once a week, for the first 13 weeks, Wella will go to puppy training classes to learn basic obedience and puppy socialisation. “We as puppy raisers do not train them, our job is to raise the puppy like you would raise your own puppy,” said Grazia.
Gabriella added, “Our job is the preparation for the pup to be comfortable with the outside world.”
One of the key requirements of being a puppy trainer is to ensure that you are able to take the puppy with you wherever you go. The puppy will also need to be exposed to a variety of different environments to ensure they are comfortable in all situations.
“The ideal puppy raiser is someone who has a lot of their day free and loves dogs, who is willing to drive to Guide-Dogs and back,” said Gabriella.
“Guide dogs are amazing, they give you all the food, vet fees are sponsored and all vaccinations are done by them. You don’t have to fork anything out, except for buying the dog some toys,” said Grazia.
To become a puppy raiser, you need to complete an application form online and undergo a house check before a puppy will be placed with you.
Details: To find out more, visit www.guidedog.org.za
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