Raise a Future Service Dog
Open Your Home. Change a Life.
Puppy raisers are at the heart of the CHAMP mission and training model. These dedicated volunteers provide love, structure, socialization, and everyday experiences that help future assistance dogs grow into confident, capable partners.
How It Works
At around 8 weeks old, CHAMP puppies leave the whelping box (a safe, designed area for a dog to give birth and raise puppies during their first few weeks of life) and begin their journey with volunteer puppy raisers. Over the next 2 to 2½ years, raisers help shape the foundation of a life-changing dog while becoming part of a supportive and passionate community.
Throughout the two years, raisers can expect their puppy to make visits ranging from 1 to 8 weeks at Missouri Department of Corrections – Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (WERDCC) in Vandalia where the puppies will live and work with trainers.
A Unique Training Partnership
CHAMP’s training model combines volunteer puppy raising with advanced training through WERDCC.
Puppies spend approximately:
- 50% of their time living with puppy raisers
- 50% of their time at the Missouri Department of Corrections at WERDCC, participating in intensive training with resident trainers and CHAMP staff.
During their time at the Missouri Department of Corrections at WERDCC puppies receive focused obedience and service dog training. Additionally, the women in the institution focus on team training, acquire meaningful job skills, and give back to the community.
With the guidance and support of CHAMP trainers and staff, puppy raisers assist in the training of basic skills. Raisers bring their puppies to the CHAMP office every week for group and/or individual classes. Once puppies are fully vaccinated and old enough to be around other dogs of all ages, puppy raisers are required to utilize “drop off” training days where the trainers work one-on-one with the puppy multiple times throughout the day. We also encourage puppy raisers to attend group socialization outings with the trainers and other raisers.
What Makes Our Program Unique
- All expenses for the assistance dog-in-training are covered by CHAMP (even treats & toys).
- Schedules are flexible and CHAMP can provide sitters or transport for the dog, as needed.
- Puppy raising, is shared 50 percent of the time between puppy raisers and WERDCC (Vandalia prison program).
- Puppy raisers attend 1 weekly class & bring their dog to the office for at least 1 drop-off day per week—dogs work 1:1 with trainer while in office.
- Puppy raisers can schedule 1:1 training sessions, either in home or in the community, with trainers.
- Participants can co-raise a dog with another puppy raiser.
- Puppy raisers are paired with a puppy raiser mentor, a volunteer who can answer questions and provide support.
Eligibility Requirements
As a puppy raiser, you will need to follow the guidelines of care and training as set forth in the Puppy Manual and by the Puppy Class Instructors, and will need to agree to the following:
- Follow CHAMP puppy raising & training program guidelines.
- Agree to provide the required veterinary care for the dog as set forth by the Program Veterinarian and agree to follow the vaccine protocol of CHAMP Assistance Dogs.
- A home visit from CHAMP staff prior to bringing puppy home.
- Attend a puppy raising orientation prior to bringing puppy home.
- Provide a safe environment for the puppy.
- Encourage good house manners.
- Assist in basic training with guidance and help of CHAMP trainers.
- Understand that failure to attend classes as required or failure to follow the training guidelines may result in the termination of puppy raiser status.
- Provide age-appropriate socialization experiences.
- Attend at least one weekly training session at the CHAMP office.
- Drop off dog, at least once each week, for 1:1 training.
- Attend CHAMP socialization outings.
- Submit weekly reports to help monitor development of the puppy.
- Agree to use the dog for no purposes other than to provide care for the CHAMP service dog training program.
- Agree to return all CHAMP equipment and training guides upon the dog’s graduation or release.
- Understand that CHAMP always retains ownership of the service dog-in-training. CHAMP may ask for the dog to be returned at any time for any reason.
REMEMBER: all dogs remain under CHAMP ownership throughout the training process.
CHAMP Covers the Cost
At CHAMP, we place our assistance and facility dogs at no cost to our clients. It is because of our generous donors and dedicated volunteer puppy raisers that this is possible. Unlike other programs, CHAMP does not require puppy raisers to pay for food, supplies, veterinary care, and other costs associated with the care of the puppy. We do ask that raisers take the puppies to our program vet where we receive a discount.
Be the Hero Behind the Hero Dog
Puppy raisers can expect to have fun and make friends with fellow raisers while being a part of changing someone’s life in the most impactful way!
The puppy you raise today could one day change someone’s life forever.