Foster a Future Assistance Dog in Calgary!

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At DOGS WITH WINGS (DWW), we train dogs to do the seemingly impossible. You play an important part in a DWW dog’s development by committing to being a Puppy Raiser. You become part of our team that works toward fulfilling our mission, which is to enrich the lives of people with disabilities by providing them with highly skilled assistance dogs that increase their mobility, foster independence, and further their contributions to the community.

A Puppy Raiser is a 24-hour, 7 days per week volunteer position. The role of the Puppy Raiser is to socialize a puppy to as many environments and situations as possible. The puppy must be exposed to various situations, on a regular basis, such as: offices, malls, restaurants, downtown areas, elevators, and public transportation. As a Puppy Raiser, your puppy will accompany you on all trips out of the home. You will attend four puppy classes a month that are 45-60 minutes in duration with your puppy’s trainer. The ultimate goal of a Puppy Raiser is to help the puppy develop sufficient social skills to behave in such a manner that its presence will be acceptable in all circumstances.

Our training staff oversee these programs. We provide dog food, gear and equipment, training mat, food bowl, jacket, and cover veterinary expenses (provided they are not a result of negligence). Raisers are expected to provide bedding (crate), ID tag, grooming equipment, toys, treats for training, and infrequent minor costs associated with training.