Puppy raisers are a valuable partner in accomplishing our mission to provide service dogs for people with disabilities. Puppy Raisers love the challenge to educate and mold a young puppy into a wonderful working dog. Each day is filled with small victories like learning a new command or showing off how successfully your puppy has learned a skill. In addition there is the fun of cuddling together and enjoying the unconditional love a puppy gives. The real joy for a puppy raiser comes when your puppy graduates as a certified working dog and improves the life of their disabled partner.
Arizona Goldens LLC (AZG) Puppy Raisers responsibilities include:
- Positive, clean and healthy environment
- Lots of daily exercise
- Keeping the puppy fit and trim, obese dogs will not be tolerated
- Attending 2 out of 3 training class meetings a month
- Doing regular training outside of formal classes
- Car rides and public socialization
- Including but not limited to: varying car ride lengths, walks in different environments (parks, malls..), introduced to crowds, places with high traffic, bus rides are strongly encouraged.
- Go to a new place once a week
- Discourage any vocalization of any kind and deter any marking of items
- NO HUMAN FOOD (except carrots) unless directed by a Arizona Goldens LLC (AZG) staff member
- NO rough housing or "mouthing" allowed
- Puppy raisers are responsible to keep the puppy current on all vaccination (please see Arizona Goldens LLC vaccination regulation sheet in the manual for more detail)
- Puppy raisers are responsible for all vet bills except the following (when done at AZG approved Vet):
- PennHip radiographs
- OFA radiographs
- OFA Thyroid and Heart certification
- Eye CERF's
- Puppy/dog(s) raisers are required to provide monthly heartworm, flea and tick preventives, yearly heartworm and fecal tests. The only heartworm preventives allowed are Interceptor, Heartguard or Revolution. The only flea and tick preventives that are allowed are: Frontline (plus or regular), Advantix (plus or regular), or Revolution.
- Raisers are required to provide and keep all AZG puppy/dog(s) on NuVet for the life of the puppy/dog in their care unless instructed otherwise by Arizona Goldens LLC.
- Communications requiring a response will need to be made within one week's time.
- If or when any raisers information contained in their AZG volunteer application changes then AZG must receive in writing the updated information within two weeks of that change.
- The puppy/dog(s) will ONLY be neutered or spayed with Arizona Goldens LLC written consent. Theses cost will be paid by the raiser at an approved vet, all animals most have at least 4 days of pain medication to go home with and have a IV catheter in place during the OVH or neuter. If and when a raiser receive written okay to sterilize their AZG dog it must be done within one month after being notified unless told otherwise by the breeding and training department of Arizona Goldens LLC.
- Raiser must use only AZG approved dog food brand(s) and treat(s).
- Any food changes must be pre-approved by AZG.
- Vet reports must be filed with AZG within 24 hours after any vet care/visit.
- There will be some paperwork regarding their AZG puppy that raisers will have to quarterly complete in a proper, neat and timely manner and turn into AZG.
Puppy Raisers will follow and agree to all guidelines above in addition that you understand that this is a living
document and subject to change. Furthermore you understand that violating any of the above terms any rules/guidelines of Arizona Goldens
LLC can result in AZG staff member taking back the puppy/dog(s) at any time with little to no warning and all paperwork pertaining to the AZG
puppy/dog(s) must be handed over within a week of puppy/dog(s) return to Arizona Goldens LLC. That you understand slander to Arizona
Goldens LLC and or any staff member is not tolerated. You understand the puppy/dog(s) put in your care is (are) own by Arizona Goldens LLC.
