Volunteer with PADS

The Role 

Puppy Raising is a rewarding, hands-on volunteer role that is often a great fit for people with flexible schedules, such as those who work from home, are retired, or have time to invest in training and socialization.  

Successful Puppy Raisers are committed to learning, teaching, and helping prepare a puppy for a future of changing lives. 

The Commitment 

Puppy Raising is a full-time volunteer opportunity, with weekly group classes designed to help the raiser and puppy grow their skills. Raisers also must be available to attend both pre-planned and unexpected veterinary appointments. 

A puppy-in-training will stay with Raisers from the time it is 8 weeks old, to the time it graduates into Advanced Training, around 12-18 months.

What PADS Provides:

• Puppy food, supplies & veterinary care .
• Weekly training classes.
• Ongoing support from PADS trainers.
• Puppy-sitting support from fellow volunteers.
• A community of experienced and supportive Puppy Raisers.

Requirements:

Puppy Raisers must:

• Be located in the Greater Vancouver Area, Calgary, or Okanagan region (Lake Country).
• Live in dog-friendly housing.
• Have a dog-friendly workplace, school, or lifestyle that allows a puppy to them daily.
• Be able to attend weekly puppy classes both in person and online.
• Commit to raising a puppy for 12 to 18 months and dedicate time each day to training and socialization.

Supports Available 

PADS Puppy-Raisers are supported by a dedicated group of staff trainers and fellow volunteers. 

Training support is available, including one-on-one time with PADS trainers, as well as scheduled assessments to track the puppy’s progress and provide Individual Education Plans (IEPs) where needed. 

The Role 

Puppy Sitters play an active role in a puppy’s development by following the same training protocols as Puppy Raisers. Through puppy class attendance and support from professional trainers, Sitters learn to reinforce basic skills, manners, and socialization while gaining experience with puppies at different stages of training.  

Puppy Sitting is a flexible volunteer opportunity that is often a great fit for people who want to support the PADS mission but are not able to commit to raising a puppy full-time. 

 Successful Puppy Sitters are dependable, adaptable, and committed to helping future assistance dogs stay on track as they prepare for a future of changing lives.

The Commitment 

Puppy Sitting is a part-time volunteer opportunity. 

Sit requests can be from anywhere from a few hours to several weeks long. Sitting opportunities are more common during times when people are more likely to travel, such as during summer and over the holidays. 

What PADS Provides:

• Puppy food, supplies & veterinary care .
• Weekly training classes.
• Ongoing support from PADS trainers.
• A community of experienced and supportive Puppy Raisers.

Requirements: 

Puppy Sitters must:

• Be located in the Greater Vancouver Area, Calgary, or Okanagan region (Lake Country).
• Live in dog-friendly housing.
• Have a dog-friendly workplace, school, or lifestyle that allows a puppy to them daily.
• Be able to attend weekly puppy classes both in person and online.
• Adhere to the directions of each puppy’s cohort Trainer and Puppy-Raiser when it comes to limits on training, socialization, or exercise.  

Supports Available 

PADS Puppy Sitters are supported by a dedicated group of staff trainers and fellow volunteers.

No, no prior experience required! PADS provides guidance from professional trainers, weekly classes, and a supportive community of fellow volunteers. 

Yes, Raisers and Sitters need to live in dog-friendly housing; service-dogs-in-training need to be approved by landlords or stratas.

Yes, other pets are welcome. For the health of our dogs, we do require that any other pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations.

No, dogs-in-training must be able to go to work with you, as this is an important part of their training and socialization.