The Early Training & Socialization Program is a crucial program that helps our puppies get the right start on their long path to becoming guide dogs.
Little puppies, big rewards
An Early Socializer works with our puppies, gently introducing them to new environments and experiences. These repeated, positive exposures help the pups build confidence and develop simple yet essential skills.
As future guides, our dogs will need to demonstrate confidence, resilience, and a strong bond with the human half of the guide dog team. These traits can be nurtured from the first weeks of life through massage, early training, auditory stimulation, and opportunities to explore and discover the world around them. Volunteers in the Early Training & Socialization Program provide this vital stimulation in two distinct stages, depending on the age of the pups.
The first stage, known as the “Pre-K” program, involves working both individually and with the full litter of one- to six-week-old puppies. Initially, this takes place in the kennel; as the puppies mature, sessions move into a specially equipped room. Volunteers may be assigned to massage our neonate pups and to participate in a wide range of socialization and early training activities.
The “Kindergarten” Socialization program works with six- to nine-week-old puppies, focusing on developing more advanced skills and providing in-depth socialization experiences. This is an extraordinary time of growth and learning for our pups, and we rely on reliable, loving, and committed volunteers to help them reach their potential and begin to master complex, relationship-based training concepts in a fun and joyful way.
Volunteers are not required to have prior skills in training or massage. Techniques are easy to learn and highly rewarding for both you and the pups. Guiding Eyes provides volunteers with six hours of training in three sessions:
*Note: Due to the training requirements and the commitment involved, this program is limited to those 18 years of age or older.
Guiding Eyes is extremely fortunate to have a committed group of volunteers for our early socialization program, and all available spots are currently filled. As a result, we are not accepting new Early Socialization applications at this time. We truly appreciate your interest and patience, and hope you’ll continue to check back with us.
