Home Litter Care

As part of the Guiding Eyes Breeding Program, our Home Litter Care volunteers enrich the early experiences of our youngest puppies by caring for a mother dog (brood) and her pups in the comfort of their own home. The dogs in our breeding program are accustomed to home life with foster families, and some broods find the comforts of home more conducive to taking care of their litter of pups. The broods enjoy the hustle and bustle of home life, and the puppies thrive in clean, warm, busy areas with lots of new things to capture their interest.

Within one week of birth, Home Litter Care volunteers bring the brood and her litter of puppies home, and provide all the care, exercise, and socialization they need for approximately six weeks. Responsibilities include providing a safe and loving home environment, grooming and feeding, socialization, and lots and lots of love! If a litter is whelped at a location outside of the Canine Development Center, all requirements of the Home Litter Care program would also apply.

Active or retired foster families and retired puppy raisers are ideal candidates for this special program, because they are already familiar with Guiding Eyes’ high standards of care. Other dog-loving volunteers are welcome to apply provided they can meet the requirements of the program.

Guiding Eyes provides all necessary equipment, training in early socialization and home litter care, and staff support including access to 24 hour medical care.