Volunteer

Volunteer

Get Involved!

Volunteers are the heart and soul of what we do: they provide loving homes for our puppies, adult dogs in advanced training, and breeding dogs.

Raise a Puppy
Board an Adult Dog
Care for a Breeding Dog

Raise a Puppy

Metro Vancouver ~ Victoria ~ Parksville ~ Calgary ~ Edmonton

We need volunteers to raise puppies training to be Guide Dogs for the blind or visually-impaired, Autism Service Dogs for children with autism, and OSI-PTSD Service Dogs for Veterans and First Responders.

We Provide:

  • All food, vet care and supplies
  • Full training manual with demonstrations
  • Obedience classes and special outings
  • Vacation coverage when you travel
  • Community support from our puppy raising pack
  • 1-on-1 support from our puppy training supervisors

You Have:

  • Time — puppies need your care, patience and attention as they grow
  • Flexibility — puppies have daytime training and come with you to most activities
  • Commitment — puppy raising is a 12-to-16 month endeavour
  • A Love for Dogs!

Hear straight from our puppy raisers about this meaningful, community-building volunteer opportunity.

Contact Us:
Matthias Lenz, Director of Puppy Raising
puppyraising@bcandalbertaguidedogs.com
604-940-4504

Puppy Raiser Interest Form

For more information on puppy raising, please fill out the form below or contact Matthias Lenz, Director of Puppy Raising at puppyraising@bcandalbertaguidedogs.com or phone 604-940-4504.

Puppy Raiser Interest Form

I already have a dog/cat/pet. Can I still raise a puppy?
Yes, other pets are welcome – we do recommend that any other dog in the home is at least 2 years old, however it varies on a case-by-case basis.

How big do the dogs get?
Our dogs will be about 50 to 90 pounds when fully grown, with females being smaller than males.

Can I raise a puppy if I have kids?
Yes, if they are in elementary school or older.

Can I raise a puppy if I work from home?
Yes, if you have the flexibility to be available for training sessions and adequately socialize them outside your home.

Can I raise a puppy if I have a trip scheduled?
This varies on a case-by-case basis: typically, we can accommodate short trips, but if you have a longer trip planned it may be better to delay your puppy raising for the next litter.

Can I raise a puppy if I’m a post-secondary student?
Yes, if you’re able to commit to the training program alongside your studies.

Can I raise a puppy if I can’t take them to work with me?
No – our puppies will grow into working dogs that will accompany their handlers nearly everywhere, so they need to be raised the same way.

Board an Adult Dog

Ladner or Tsawwassen ~ Parksville ~ Edmonton

BC & Alberta Guide Dogs needs boarding homes for dogs that are in advanced training and need to live closer to our offices. Volunteers board an adult dog (already house-trained) for around a four to six-month period, providing a loving home for the dog on evenings and weekends. We provide food, vet care and other basic necessities for the dog.

Requirements:

  1. Follow our guidelines for training and caring for the dog.
  2. Be at home during the day or able to take the dog with you. Ideal candidates are retirees or at-home workers. (Dogs shouldn’t be left alone for more than four hours at a time)
  3. Provide a dog-friendly home with a secure outdoor space, like a fenced yard.
Ladner or Tsawwassen

Our staff will pick up the dog for training around 9 a.m. and drop the dog off around 4 p.m. (Monday to Friday only)

Contact: info@bcandalbertaguidedogs.com or 604-940-4504

Parksville

Dog boarders will drop off the dog for training and pick it up at the end of the work day at our Qualicum training facility (Monday to Friday only). Our staff is flexible in making pick-up and drop-off arrangements!

Contact: info@bcandalbertaguidedogs.com or 604-940-4504

Edmonton

Dog boarders will drop off the dog for training and pick it up at the end of the work day at our Edmonton Training facility (Monday to Friday only). Our staff is flexible in making pick-up and drop-off arrangements!

Contact: info@bcandalbertaguidedogs.com or 780-249-1381

Care for a Breeding Dog

Lower Mainland

BC & Alberta Guide Dogs maintains an in-house breeding program, and we occasionally need families to care for our male and female breeding dogs. We primarily breed Labrador Retrievers, known for being excellent companion and working dogs with their intelligence, gentleness, and good-natured personalities.

Caring for a breeding dog means that the dog lives with you 24/7, however all expenses related to vet care and dog food are covered by BC & Alberta Guide Dogs.

The main requirement is that the primary caregiver be at home to care for the dog — our breeding dogs don’t have public access like our puppies or advanced training dogs — and be available to transport the dog where needed for breeding, health checks, or other appointments.

Contact:
Linda Thornton, Director of Breeding & Canine Health Care
linda.thornton@bcandalbertaguidedogs.com
604-940-4504