College Students Raise Puppies to Become Life-Changing Service Dogs
University programs organised by the Guide Dog Foundation are proving mutually beneficial for students and their canine companions, writes Mike Bedigan.
During her freshman year at the University of Maryland, Alex Pechler encountered a group of puppies scampering across campus in distinctive yellow vests. Though initially unaware of the specifics, Pechler, now 27, recalls feeling an immediate connection. "I knew I needed to be a part of it," she tells The Independent. The puppies were participants in Terps Raising Pups, a campus initiative named after the UMD Terrapins football team. This program is one of several across American colleges coordinated by the Guide Dog Foundation, where student volunteers socialise puppies before they undergo formal service animal training.
A Symbiotic Relationship Between Students and Puppies
Allison Storck, Director of Public Relations and Marketing at the Guide Dog Foundation, describes the arrangement as a two-way system that advantages both the puppies and the students. "Who doesn't love the thought of having a dog in a college dorm when you're going through university?" Storck remarks. The students gain structure, responsibility, and a mental health boost, while the puppies receive essential early socialisation. Many students, after seeing one dog return for formal training, promptly sign up for another.
Grayson Shirley, a 21-year-old senior at the University of Georgia, recently waved off her trainee, Luke, on February 19. Merely three days later, she welcomed Luckie, her fourth dog. "I signed up to take Luckie back in December so I had that time to plan when Luke was leaving... so it was really set up very nicely," she explains.
Expanding Programs and Profound Impacts
The inaugural GDF college puppy-raiser program commenced over a decade ago at the University of Georgia. It has since expanded to 14 additional institutions, including Texas A&M, Mississippi State University, and Clemson. The initiative now engages over 400 students and a broader network of 1,600 volunteers.
Pechler's involvement began with a love for the dogs but evolved into a deeper appreciation for the mission. "My love started for the dogs, but then I found out about the mission and the impact that they have on helping people get independence and I fell in love with the people after that," she shares. Pechler now works as a service dog trainer instructor for America's Vet Dogs, which provides support animals to military veterans.
Comprehensive Socialisation and Training Protocols
Volunteers receive puppies at eight weeks old and care for them until approximately 16 months. The primary objective during this period is socialisation. "I can't think of a better setting than a college campus. You've got so many things going on," Storck notes. Students teach basic house manners and acclimatise the dogs to potentially stimulating or stressful situations they may face as working animals.
Shirley, who serves as an area coordinator for the UGA program Dawgs Raising Dogs, elaborates: "We will take five, six or seven dogs or more to a sporting event, to a store or a restaurant, or we've gone to see a movie before... to practice full group settling, which is just the dog learning how to be comfortable in an environment that they're not familiar with." Volunteers also impart foundational skills such as heel, sit, stay, and appropriate bathroom habits.
Essential Preparation for Future Service Roles
This pre-training is critical for the dogs' future roles. "These are individuals with disabilities, so they need to be perfect and have very good house manners and reliable routines. Socialisation is essential," Storck emphasises. "They need to be able to be out in the public and not be fazed by anything that could happen and that would distract them."
The benefits extend significantly to the students as well. Pechler reflects: "I honestly think that this program gave me a ton of organization skills that I wouldn't have gained just being a regular student. You need to start managing your time, making sure that you have plenty of time to walk to class and that you can have time to let the dog relieve themselves before entering. You really learn how to manage responsibilities. Now I have a puppy… I'm no longer just caring for myself, I'm caring for someone else."
Shirley adds that the program provides a valuable outlet: "It's given me an outlet in a lot of ways. School, work, all of those things can be a little overwhelming, but even though there is that added responsibility of having a dog, it is something that I can pour my heart into. It's definitely kind of given my free time a dedicated purpose."
Rigorous Safeguards and Support Systems
The program implements stringent safeguards. Student volunteers undergo thorough vetting of their backgrounds and experience with dogs. Homes or dorm rooms are inspected to ensure suitable care environments. After enrolment, monthly check-ins assess the dogs' physical and behavioural wellness, and volunteers have 24-hour access to support for any overnight issues.
The Guide Dog Foundation supplies veterinary care, grooming supplies, crates, leashes, and bowls. "Everything you could imagine that goes into a dog," says Storck. "Except for dog food – which we’re currently working on."
Pechler fondly remembers her first college pup, Freida: "I remember seeing her in a baby crate, and they just held her up and passed her over to me, and it was the sweetest thing. She was tired, she was small. She was about 10 pounds at the time, I already knew I was going to be in love with her."
While Pechler is grateful for the invaluable life skills and career path the program provided, Storck highlights the reciprocal nature of the gratitude: "We couldn't have the dogs ready for placement and to learn their formal skills without our puppy raisers. It's an essential part of what we at the Guide Dog Foundation do as an organization."
