AN OVERVIEW OF OUR 4 TYPES OF VOLUNTEERS

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Puppy raisers are volunteers who take in and foster a service dog in training until that dog is ready to move on to advanced task training with one of our staff trainers.  Our service dogs in training live in the homes of puppy raisers and accompany them everywhere they go, including to stores, restaurants, and school or work.  Puppy raisers allow our dogs to get lots of one-on-one socialization and training time to practice the basic commands and good behavior in a wide variety of public settings. 

If you are interested in being one of our puppy raisers, please fill out our Puppy Raiser application found further down on this page.  All applications can be sent to theservicedogconnectionprogram@gmail.com.  Once we receive your application we will review it and set up a time to meet and do training with you to figure out what type of training dog would be best for your situation.

Here at The Service Dog Connection we try our best to make sure our Puppy Raisers feel as supported as possible!  We offer group training sessions at least twice a month in Bend, OR to teach handling skills to all of our fosters.  For those outside of the Bend area, we offer virtual support through Zoom and Facetime video chat training sessions and phone calls.  We are also available for one-on-one training sessions if more individualized support is needed.  The Service Dog Connection provides dog food, a kennel, leash, gentle leader, vest, and dog toys, and also covers all veterinary expenses for the service dog in training.  We also give puppy raisers access to our training tutorial videos to help learn our handling techniques.

Socializers meet up with our local Bend, Oregon trainer to help with group service dog training outings in public.  Our trainer will teach the socializer positive reinforcement dog training techniques and will rotate through several dogs in a 2-hour shift.  Socializers give our dogs the opportunity to get more one-on-one training time and also get used to having different handlers.  If socializers are up for the challenge, they can also learn how to do the advanced task training specific to helping a person's disability.  

Once the socializer has had enough experience with our trainer, they will be authorized to "check out" service dogs in training from our facility for daytime outings for up to 12 hours whenever they would like. 

We run a service dog breeding program and rely heavily on volunteers to socialize our puppies, feed, groom and bathe them, and help keep the puppy pens and yards clean.  Whelper Helpers sign up for 2-hour shifts each week when we have puppy litters, and all shifts will take place at our facility in Central Oregon.  

Service Dog Sitters help temporarily foster our service dogs in training when our puppy raisers or trainers go out of town.  They also help care for service dogs in training when we have a gap in coverage when a dog is transitioning between puppy raisers.  The service dog in training comes to live with the Service Dog Sitter in their home, and the job of the Sitter is to maintain that dog's training.  Sometimes we just need coverage for a dog over a weekend, and other times we need coverage for a dog for up to 3 weeks.  

The Service Dog Connection provides food, crate, leash, vest, and collar for the service dog in training.  We also cover the cost of veterinary care of the service dog pup.