[nagdu] Question about puppy raisers

[The Pawpower Pack]

It's a very individual thing.  Handlers, and raisers are all  
individuals.  I have met great raisers, and not so great raisers.  A  
raiser who raised one of my program dogs was very upset when my dog  
graduated, and was pretty nasty to me about it when we met.  This same  
raiser, was once again, very angry when this same dog retired and I  
chose not to give her back to the raiser.

I train my own guides now, and I have met several raisers who either  
argued with me about the "right" and "wrong" way to handle a dog.  I  
have met raisers-- ignorant of the law-- try and get my dog removed  
from a place of public accommodation because she was not from a  
recognized program, and they believed that only dogs trained at  
programs were "real" working dogs.

With that said, I've met great puppy raisers, and the raiser for my  
first program dog was fabulous.
I guess it comes down to this, it's a very personal issue, and one  
that each person has to decide for themselves.  Handlers go into the  
relationship with the program dog knowing that their dog has been  
shaped and nurtured by the raiser.  I think the raiser needs to go  
into it with the understanding that the puppy is not their dog.  They  
can love it and train it, and poor all of their heart into it.  But  
come time to hand over the leash, they are handing over all control of  
the dog.  They are handing over the dog knowing that the handler may  
or may not ever talk to them again.  They may or may not ever see the  
dog again.
It's hard to do-- I know, because I've done it.



Rox and the Kitchen Bitches:
Bristol, Mill'E, Laveau, Baylee,!

"Dance, even if you have to warn others to get out of the way first."
http://pawpower4me.blogspot.com
  pawpower4me at gmail.com
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