We are here for you as you embark on the wonderful journey of raising a puppy for Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines
We are here for you from the very first day you take your puppy home, to the emotional turn in day. Puppy Kindergarten and additional training sessions are foundational to setting the puppy up for success.
There are leaders and fellow puppy raisers ready to support you in your area
From the time your puppy comes home until s/he returns to GDA|TLC for formal training
Your puppy will come home at about 8 weeks old and the fun begins! These first few weeks will be a blur of cuteness amid middle-of-the-night jaunts to “get busy” so take lots of photos - they grow so quickly!
Every week, you’ll meet with your area leader or a trainer from Canine Development to work through a carefully-crafted curriculum that will lead you & your puppy step-by-step through basic obedience for a GDA|TLC service puppy-in-training.
4-6 weeks after your puppy graduates from Puppy K, you’ll meet with your CD trainer again to evaluate how your puppy is progressing and to get specialized goals for your puppy’s specific needs.
You and your puppy will take a few months to practice the skills you learned in Puppy K - taking your show on the road! You’ll carefully expand your puppy’s world, exposing them to a wider variety of environments & people.
You will enroll your puppy in an outside obedience class, giving your puppy the opportunity to hone their skills around unfamiliar dogs.
Once your puppy reaches 6 months old, they can board at our facilities in Sylmar, CA. Your puppy should begin with a day stay or 1-2 overnights before an extended stay.
Around 9 months old, Canine Development will have you bring your puppy to campus for several days for behavioral evaluations. You’ll get a report letting you know what your puppy excelled at and areas that need improvement.
When your puppy is around one year old, you will meet with your Canine Development team member at a location near you. This will be an opportunity for GDA/TLC to observe the puppy's progress from their 9-month evaluation and assist you with problem solving in real time.
The advanced Puppy K curriculum is not universal at this point but your area may offer the opportunity to work on more advanced skills with your puppy and we highly recommend you take advantage of it.
At 16 to 18 months old, you and your puppy will be invited back to the GDA|TLC campus to celebrate the puppy beginning guide or service dog training, a 6-9+ month process. You’ll be kept updated on his/her progress and if they graduate, you’ll be invited to attend the graduation and meet your puppy’s new partner.
Reservations are required. When you are ready to bring your puppy to the kennel, email boarding@guidedogsofamerica.org or call (818) 833-6448 to make a reservation.
The kennel is open for pick-up and drop-off from 10:00 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. (Closed on holidays)
There is a boarding drop off form that you can fill out prior to bringing your puppy in for a kennel stay. It can be found on the Forms Page or downloaded here. If you’d like your puppy to be seen by the Vet Department during a kennel stay, you should mention this when making your reservation and fill out a puppy raiser veterinary department questionnaire prior to the appointment.
Main Number: (818) 362-5834
24-hour Emergency Number: (818) 822-7703
Reinforce all the training you worked on during Puppy K. It took you several weeks to be introduced to these new topics in a safe and familiar environment, so now you and your puppy will hone those skills in different environments. At all times, keep your puppy's best interest in mind. Slow and steady wins the race.
Your canine development trainer and area leader can suggest ideas of skills to practice and appropriate locations to work on them.
Within your area, you will be encouraged to participate in monthly meetings and training outings, which will expand your puppy's training in an age-appropriate manner.
If you are having difficulties with your puppy, contact your local canine development team member. Canine development maintains records for each puppy and can guide you in the right direction.
You are also encouraged to talk to your Area Leader. They want to set you and your puppy up for success.
Remember, each puppy is an individual and it is never a "one size fits all" when it comes to training recommendations. Don’t hesitate to reach out, that is what we are here for!
