9 Service Dog Puppies in need of full-time Puppy Raisers to devote Time, Energy and Love

Puppies will be ready for Full Time Raisers in early 2026 – Puppy Raisers are encouraged to apply NOW so they can welcome a Service Dog in Training into their home in 2026

NEADS Service Dogs, based in Princeton, Mass., is urgently seeking dedicated volunteers to become Full-Time Puppy Raisers for nine Labrador Retriever puppies. These puppies are on the path to becoming future Service Dogs and will available for placement in homes in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in early 2026.

The puppies have been working on crate training, leash walking, and housebreaking skills at the NEADS Early Learning Center and are ready for the next step in their training and development.

Full-Time Puppy Raisers take Service Dogs in Training into their homes and look after them for about nine months, from roughly 12 weeks to 12 months of age. Puppy Raisers can also work as part of a team to collaboratively raise a dog for that nine months, working out a schedule to ensure the NEADS dog is cared for seven days a week.

With expert guidance from NEADS Instructors, Puppy Raisers help these future Service Dogs grow in confidence, good manners, and essential social skills. Training happens everywhere; with you, the puppy learns to navigate traffic, ride public transportation, and remain calm during trips to grocery stores, Home Depot, or even busy toy stores. Whether visiting local fire houses, walking in parks, exploring the beach, or practicing house manners at home, these daily adventures provide the vital foundation a Service Dog needs to successfully partner with a person with a disability.

“The need for Service Dogs continues to grow,” said Heather Romanoff, Manager of Volunteer Engagement. “This is an incredible way to give back and provides volunteers with the once-in-a-lifetime experience (or hopefully more!) of preparing these amazing dogs for a career of helping others – including people who are deaf or physically disabled, children who have autism, or veterans who have PTSD.”

Requirements for Candidates: The most important qualifications for puppy raising are the ability to devote time, energy, and love to successfully socialize and work with a Service Dog in Training. Ideal candidates include young families, couples, retirees, and individuals.

Candidates must be willing and able to:

• Share their home: Provide a safe, healthy, and loving environment where the puppy can work on socialization and basic obedience.
• Commit to training: Attend regular sessions with a NEADS Instructor. Classes are held virtually, on the NEADS campus, and at locations convenient to both Raisers and Instructors.
• Prioritize companionship: Ensure the puppy is not left alone for more than two hours at a time (extending to three or four hours as they mature).
• Integrate the puppy into daily life: Provide the daily training, socialization, and physical exercise necessary for a growing Service Dog.

Candidates are permitted to have other pets at home, with the approval of NEADS staff. NEADS dogs may also go to work with their Puppy Raisers, with the approval of their employers and NEADS.

How to Apply. An interested candidate begins the process by completing an application. If it’s a good fit, a NEADS staff member will schedule an orientation. This is followed by a home visit with NEADS staff prior to receiving the Service Dog in Training.

NEADS provides all necessary supplies at no cost, including a Service Dog in Training vest, as well as all food, veterinary care, and flea, tick, and heartworm medications for the duration of the dog’s training. Learn more about Puppy Raising here on neads.org.

About NEADS

NEADS Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Princeton, Massachusetts. Established in 1976, NEADS offers the widest array of Service Dog programs in the industry, including Service Dogs for adults and children with a physical disability, Service Dogs for veterans, Service Dogs for Hearing, and Service Dogs for children with autism or other developmental disabilities. NEADS dogs are also partnered with professionals in classroom, therapy, hospital, ministry, and courthouse settings. For more information, please visit neads.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.