Many of our foster families initially became involved with Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs because of their love of dogs; most of them continue to raise our puppies because they enjoy making a positive difference in the life of a child with autism or someone who experiences seizures or severe anxieties.
Becoming a volunteer puppy raiser is a 12- to 16-month commitment of time, energy and love that opens your home to a future Kingston 4 Paws Service Dog. Through daily care and training, foster families provide the initial learning and socialization that puppies need before they begin their more specialized service dog training.
Puppies are constantly learning during their first year of life. During this time, the foster families are responsible for housebreaking the puppy and teaching good manners like staying off the furniture, not jumping on counters or visitors and not begging at the table. They also practice basic obedience commands with the puppy such as sit, down, stay and come. To prepare puppies for their lives as service dogs, their early caregivers socialize them through exposure to many different kinds of people, vehicles, sounds, environments and other animals.
