Early Training & Socialization

 An Early Socializer works with our puppies introducing them to new environments and experiences. These repeated positive new experiences help the pups build confidence and develop simple, yet important, skills.

As guides, they will need to exhibit confidence, resilience, and a strong bond to the human half of the guide dog team. These traits can be enhanced, beginning in the first weeks of life, with massage, early training, auditory stimulation, and opportunities to explore and discover the world around them. Volunteers in the Early Training & Socialization Program provide much-needed stimuli in two separate stages, depending upon the age of the pups.

The first stage, referred to as the “Pre-K” program, involves working both individually and with the full litter of one to six week old puppies, at first in the kennel, and as they mature, in a specially equipped room. Volunteers may be assigned to massage our neonate pups or be involved in a wide range of socialization and training of the puppies.

The “Kindergarten” Socialization program works with six to nine week old puppies, developing more advanced skills and providing in-depth socialization experiences. This is an incredible time of learning and growing for our pups, and we need reliable, loving, and committed volunteers to help the pups reach their potential and master complex relationship-based training concepts in a fun and joyful way.