Service Dogs in Training

SSD Nook, Odyssey, Kindle, Bean, Kermit, Honeydew, Fraggle, Gonzo, Fozzie, Beaker and Rizzo have moved on to the next stage of their career. They have joined their puppy raiser families, who will raise them to be service dogs.

For the next 15-18 months, the puppy raiser families will help these puppies grow into mature dogs that have the skills they need to assist children and adults with disabilities to live full, rich lives in the community. While they’re with their puppy raisers, the puppies will learn good house manners, obedience, and the basic skills they will need to become successful service dogs. Puppy raisers help them gain new experiences and visit new places so they learn to perform their skills in any environment.

Learn more and apply to become a puppy raiser

By the time these puppies are two years old, they’ll know how to behave like service dogs. They’ll be able to retrieve almost any item, open and close doors, turn light switches on and off, help individuals balance, alert to sounds, pull a manual wheelchair and more. Each dog is specially trained based on the needs of their partner.

Even though the puppies aren’t on camera anymore, you can still be a part of their journey by making a donation or volunteering. You are an important part of their journey. They would not be able to become service dogs without your support!