Warrior Canine Connection
Service Dog (Veterans), Military Family Support Dog, Facility Dog
Labs, Goldens, Lab/Golden Crosses
Assistance Dogs International
DC Metro Area, Asheville NC, Menlo Park CA, Philadelphia PA
Must be near a current location
Restrictions
Organization provides:
All food
Puppy supplies
Basic grooming kit
Flea and Tick Preventatives
Heartworm Preventatives
All Vet Care
Additional supplies (crate, vest, harness, leash, etc)
Raisers pay for:
Treats
Toys
Supplies & Financial
Assistance
The Basics:
Basic obedience commands
Socialization
Loose Leash Walking,
House Training
Public Access Behavior
Self-Control around distractions
House Manners
Grooming
Advanced Cues:
Touch transfers
Retrieve
Tug
“Say Hello”
Salute
Settling on Cue
And More!
Training Responsibilities
Read about our different volunteer opportunities about puppy raising, puppy sitting and puppy starting.
Complete and submit a volunteer application.
Fill out separate Puppy Parent/Puppy Sitter application
You will be contacted for an interview with WCC staff
The interview will include insight into our training processes and style. You will also gain knowledge of the dedication required to raise one of our future service dogs.
Attend 3 Basic Training classes (1 hour each). The first one will be virtual and the other two will be in person at the training region closest to you.
Process
Weekly classes at the training region closest to you.
Walk & Talks and Evaluations approximately every 4 months.
Time Commitment
Dogs are spayed/neutered after they turn a year old.
However, it depends on the dog and whether or not they are going to be in our breeding program.
Neuter/Spay
Harness
Flat Collar
Gentle Leader
Fabric Martingale
Training Equipment
There is a Puppy Parent manual that we require all of our Puppy Parents and Puppy Sitters to read.
New commands and skills are introduced in the weekly training classes.
Our trainers support our Puppy Parents in the weekly classes and can see true progress since they are seeing the same dogs in class. Each level has their own set of criteria that the dog will have actively worked on and in order to move up to the next class they are evaluated on their skills.
Training Guidance
Puppy Parents are notified at least one month in advance of the dog coming in
for Advanced Training for placement. Puppy Parents will coordinate with the trainers on
dates and times for dropping off for Advanced Training. If the dogs home base is at HQ,
then the Puppy Parent will bring the dog to HQ themselves. When it comes to the other
program sites, it is very common that there is a transport arranged to bring the dog to
HQ.
When Puppy Parents turn dogs in for Advanced Training, WCC celebrates the Puppy
Parent for the time and energy that it took to get the dog to this point. WCC is beyond
thankful to Puppy Parents because without them they would not be able to do what
they do in supporting our Veterans.
When a dog is turned in for Advanced Training, Puppy Parents get monthly
updates about the dog they raised.
Matriculation
WCC has a yearly graduation that is open to the public which celebrates all of the
dogs that have been placed with Veterans throughout the year. It’s important to us that
we also celebrate the Puppy Parents for helping make it possible for us to place service
dogs with Veterans.
Puppy Parents get to meet the Veteran once the dog they raised has been
officially placed. Our Puppy Parents often say that this is greatest reward: seeing the
dog they raised placed with their Veteran. During that special meeting between the
Puppy Parents and Veteran, contact information is commonly exchanged. WCC leavesit
up to the Veteran about how/if they want to continue to stay in contact with their dogs
Puppy Parent. On another note, WCC keeps detailed records on each of our dogs that
have been placed and we can give updates.
Graduation
Before even coming into formal training, WCC dogs work with veterans through
Mission Based Trauma Recovery sessions. A WCC dog helps ~60 veterans
before graduating!
Dogs that are released from all programs are typically adopted out to veterans or military families.
WCC has a shorter time commitment of 4 month which are Puppy
Starters.
Uniqueness
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