Puppy Raising

Raise A Puppy, Save A Life.

Our Service Dogs change the lives of disabled Veterans, First Responders, and Law Enforcement across the country. But without the incredible people that volunteer to be Puppy Raisers, Mutts With A Mission wouldn’t exist.

Puppy raisers open their hearts and their homes to our Service Dogs in Training. You bring them to class, do homework with them, and take them out in public so they can learn how to do their very important job. There are few things more heartwarming than watching your puppy graduate and help their hero!

Mutts With A Mission pays for all veterinary care, food, training, and equipment during the time they live with their Puppy Raiser - you provide the cuddles and love!

If you love puppies, and you want to give someone the life-changing gift of a Service Dog, puppy raising might be for you!

Become part of the Mutts With A Mission family, fill out our Puppy Raiser Application today!

 
 

Puppy Raiser Information

  • Submit the completed Puppy Raiser application Once we receive your application we will schedule you for the next Puppy Raiser Information class and an interview.

    Please Note: You must live in the Virginia Beach/Norfolk/Hampton Roads area to be a Puppy Raiser for Mutts With A Mission.

  • Usually 18 to 20 months. Puppies begin training as early as 8 weeks old and usually graduate around 2 years old.

  • We provide all of the necessary items for the puppy: all of the food, training, and equipment. We also pay for all of the veterinary care! All that we ask you is to provide a warm place to sleep, treats, and love!

  • Yes, you will have the opportunity to meet the Veteran, First Responder, or Law Enforcement Officer who receives the dog that you trained. Many of our graduates have close relationships with their puppy raisers and let their dogs visit!

  • Sometimes puppies get dropped from our training program for various reasons such as health or temperament. If a dog is career-changed, we do an evaluation to find the right place for that dog.

  • While the gift of training a Service Dog is priceless, all of our Puppy Raisers are volunteers with a passion for “serving those who keep us free.”

  • That’s okay! We guide you through the whole process, no prior experience is required. If you are unsure about something at any point, our team is always there to help.

  • We hope that you can commit to the full 18-20 months of training for a puppy; however, we ask full-time puppy raisers to commit to at least 1 year with Mutts With A Mission.

  • Our training methods are balance-based with food and play rewards. You will attend weekly training classes, train at home with short sessions, and then do your public outing homework. We guide you through the whole process!

  • Yes! In fact, it’s highly encouraged. This is great exposure for the puppies and allows for more socialization. We can schedule an appointment to make sure that your dog will get along with the new puppy before placement.

  • A fenced yard is highly desirable, however, we make exceptions if you are willing to regularly leash walk the puppy. Electric or invisible fences are not permitted.

  • We will arrange to have another puppy raiser watch the puppy while you are away. Depending on the stage of the puppy’s training, they may even be able to go with you!

 

Not sure if Puppy Raising is right for you? Check out our other volunteer opportunities.