Puppy Raising & Boarding

Do you love dogs? Could you see yourself welcoming a future guide dog puppy into your life? Do you have time during your day to introduce a pup to the world around them and help them take their first steps toward becoming a future guide dog? CNIB Guide Dogs is growing our team of volunteer Puppy Raisers and Boarders.

Volunteers are a critical part of our guide dog program, and we’re always in need of volunteer puppy raisers and boarders. With support from CNIB Guide Dogs staff, you would play a pivotal role in raising a puppy to become a guide dog and help change the life of someone who is blind, Deafblind, or has low vision. We offer short-term and long-term volunteer opportunities; previous experience with dogs is not required. If you’re eager to learn, the CNIB Guide Dogs team is here to provide you with support and training, so you can feel confident in your volunteer role.

Puppy Raiser: Help raise and train a future guide dog from 8 weeks to 12-15 months
Puppy Starter: Help raise and train a future guide dog from 8 weeks to 6 months
Puppy Finisher: Help raise and train a future guide dog from 6 months to 12-15 months
Requirements:
- You can attend weekly 1:1 training session in the first 4 weeks with the puppy
- You can attend 1:1 and group sessions from the fourth week onwards
- Available during business hours to attend training sessions in various locations
- You are 18 years of age or older
- You have access to a vehicle for transportation of a puppy
- You have access to the internet and an e-mail address
- You would be able to cope with giving the puppy back
- You are able to safely handle a strong, energetic, large breed dog daily for up-to a year
- You are able to safely take the dog on walks outdoors in all four seasons in varying weather, including winter
- You are able to frequently take the dog to public places for required socialization
- You are willing to sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions of the Puppy Raising Program
- You are willing to complete an Enhanced Police Information Check via our background check partner Sterling Backcheck. All costs are covered by CNIB
- Flexible schedule, with the ability to dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to a puppy
- Open-minded and flexible in your dog training and care ideas and willing comply with CNIB Guide Dog training and care methods
- Live in one of these locations: Vancouver BC, Victoria BC, Calgary AB, Winnipeg MB, Toronto ON (Missisauga East to Oshawa and North Georgina), Kingston ON, Carleton Place ON (and surrounding), Ottawa ON, Halifax NS
- Dogs are permitted in your home
- You have quick access to a safe and suitable relief area for a puppy, ideally a paved surface
- All members of your household are happy to have a puppy or guide dog in training living in your home
- Clean and tidy home
- All pets in your home, are friendly and fully vaccinated
- Smoke-free home

Puppy Club Boarder: Support Puppy Raisers, Starters and Finishers for brief periods of time (short and long term periods available)
Requirements:
- Live in one of these locations: Vancouver BC, Victoria BC, Calgary AB, Winnipeg MB, Toronto ON (Mississauga East to Oshawa and North Georgina), Kingston ON, Carleton Place ON (and surrounding), Ottawa ON, Halifax NS
- You are 18 years of age or older
- You have access to a vehicle for transportation of a puppy or guide dog in training
- You have access to the internet and an e-mail address
- You are able to safely handle a strong, energetic, large breed dog while they are in your care
- You are able to safely take the dog on walks outdoors in all four seasons in varying weather, including winter
- You are willing to sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions of the Boarding Program
- You are willing to complete an Enhanced Police Information Check via our background check partner Sterling Backcheck. All costs are covered by CNIB
- Dogs are permitted in your home
- You have quick access to a safe and suitable relief area for a puppy, ideally a paved surface
- All members of your household are happy to have a puppy or guide dog in training living in your home temporarily
- Clean and tidy home
- All pets in your home, are friendly and fully vaccinated
- Smoke-free home

Transition Dog Boarder: provide temporary care for future CNIB Guide Dogs who have been identified as needing higher levels of support and may have some issues with adaptability (minimum 3 months)
Requirements:
- Providing a safe, comfortable, and secure, environment for the dog
- Providing updates on the dog's progress
- Transporting the dog to training areas as needed
- Maintaining the dog’s training, routine, and appropriate social behaviour
- Long-term and short-term opportunities, depending on location and need
- Availability on weekdays (8 a.m. and 4 p.m.) to meet with trainer and provide access for the dog to be collected for training.
- Availability on evenings, weekends, and holidays is considered an asset
- Live in one of these locations: Almonte ON, Carleton Place (and surrounding) ON, Perth ON
- Dogs are permitted in your home
- You have quick access to a safe and suitable relief area for a puppy, ideally a paved surface
- A fully fenced yard is an asset
- All members of your household are happy to have a puppy or guide dog in training living in your home temporarily
- Clean and tidy home
- All pets in your home, are friendly and fully vaccinated
- Smoke-free home
- You are 18 years of age or older
- You have access to a vehicle for transportation of a puppy or guide dog in training
- You have access to the internet and an e-mail address
- You are able to safely handle a strong, energetic, large breed dog while they are in your care
- You are able to safely take the dog on walks outdoors in all four seasons in varying weather, including winter
- You are willing to sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions of the Boarding Program
- You are willing to complete an Enhanced Police Information Check via our background check partner Sterling Backcheck. All costs are covered by CNIB

Brood Dog Carer: have a CNIB brood in your care on a full time basis and help with the birthing (whelping), and puppy care for 8 weeks after
Duration: full time with brood, 8 weeks with pups
Requirements:
- Providing updates on the dog's progress
- Transporting the dog to veterinary appointments or training areas as needed
- Maintaining the dog’s training, routine, and appropriate social behaviour
- Minimum 6 months
- Long-term and short-term opportunities, depending on location and need
- Availability during business hours
- Regional Municipality of York, Ontario (or within 20 mins drive) e.g. Georgina, Newmarket, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill and surrounding areas.
- Lanark County, Ontario/City of Ottawa (or within 20 mins drive) e.g. Kanata, Kemptville, Arnprior, Almonte, Barrhaven, Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, Lombardy, Richmond, Perth and surrounding areas.
- Dogs are permitted in your home
- You have ample space in your home to house a brood dog and whelp and house a litter of puppies from birth up to 8 to 12 weeks of age
- You have quick access to a safe and suitable relief area for a puppy, ideally a paved surface
- All members of your household are happy to have a brood dog and litter of puppies living in your home temporarily
- Clean, calm and tidy home with the ability to separate the puppies from other pets if required
- All pets in your home, are friendly and fully vaccinated
- Smoke-free home
- You are 18 years of age or older
- You have access to a vehicle for transportation of a brood dog and litter of puppies
- You have access to the internet and an e-mail address
- You are able to safely handle a strong, energetic, large breed dog while they are in your care
- You are able to safely take the dog on walks outdoors in all four seasons in varying weather, including winter
- You are willing to sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions of the Breeder Carer Role
- You are willing to complete an Enhanced Police Information Check via our background check partner Sterling Backcheck. All costs are covered by CNIB

Locations include:
Halifax, NS
Ottawa/Carleton Place, ON
Kingston, ON
Georgina, ON
Toronto/Mississauga to Oshawa, ON
Winnipeg, MB
Calgary, AB
Vancouver (Metro Vancouver), British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia

If interested, please contact: volunteer.guidedogs@cnib.ca