How to Run a Seeing Eye Dog Organization

Seeing eye dogs, or guide dogs as they are also often called, are service dogs that assist blind individuals manage their daily lives. They can be used to guide someone down the street, or simply help them fetch misplaced objects. For many, raising a guide dog is a challenge, but others wish to have more involvement, and run their own guide dog organization.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Apply for your non-profit status. If you are in the United States, service organizations can receive large tax and expense breaks by being designated an official non-profit status.

2. Find financial backing. Raising, training and donating seeing eye dogs is an expensive proposition. Corporate backing is just as important as the donations that you get from the local pet stores.

3. Contact breeders. Guides dogs must be exemplary dogs. They have to be so focused on working with people that they look out for that person to their own detriment. Good breeders will be able to help you find the specific bloodlines that carry the traits that you want in your dogs, and some of them may be able to donate a few puppies along the way.

4. Hunt for good trainers. Guide dog trainers must love working with the dogs. They need to be able to train the dogs in such a way that they enjoy working with their people. This is more than simple obedience, the dogs have to learn to watch out for both themselves and their charges.

5. Ask for puppy raiser families. Dogs aren't ready to begin full-time guide dog training until they are at least 1 year old. Guide dog organizations must find families that are willing to raise and obedience train your puppies for you. They socialize the puppies so that they aren't kept in kennels all day, and learn what it is to live with a family.

Tips & Warnings

• It is estimated to cost $45,000 to raise and train a single seeing eye dog. Don't discount any avenues of financial backing.