Published Jan 04, 2023 | by Kristina Stanley
A golden retriever is sitting in front a field of tulips. The dog is wearing a blue vest that reads

New Year, New Resolutions to Give

The day the first assistance dog in training arrived in my home, my heart filled with happiness. Her name was Kinta, and she was a ten-month-old yellow lab.  It’s not usual to start raising an assistance dog puppy of that age.  Normally, an eight- to twelve-week-old puppy arrives. I was lucky enough to be asked to take on Kinta as she was raised in the country and needed time in the city. Kinta was in my house for one day, and I already knew this volunteer program was for me.

Giving doesn’t just mean giving to others. When you raise an assistance dog puppy, you’re giving to yourself as well. I’m immensely proud of the dogs I’ve raised. Raising an assistance dog puppy gives me a purpose every day. Waking up to that wagging tail and knowing that dog will make the life of another person better, gives me great joy.

When you’re in public with an assistance dog in training, you get treated well by others. Doing errands becomes fun.  I love the way everyone remembers me and follows the dog’s progress. My local grocery store and drug store all know the pups by name. People chat with me about the dogs and are always kind and helpful.

The most common question I get is, “Isn’t it hard to give up the dog?”

The answer is yes and no. I start the program knowing the dog isn’t mine. Of course, I miss the dogs when they leave. Each dog owns a piece of my heart. Knowing they are moving on to make another person’s life better makes it easier to let go. Also, knowing another puppy will arrive soon gives me something to look forward to.


What I’ve learned from working with dogs:Two dogs are sitting next to each other. One is an adult golden retriever and one is a yellow labrador retriever puppy. Both are wearing blue vests that read "BC & Alberta Guide Dogs" across the front.

  1. Patience – A dog needs time to process cues . This has improved my patience in other areas of my life.
  2. Kindness – The kindness with dogs has transferred to everything I do in life. The side benefit is the kinder I am to others, the kinder they are to me.
  3. The importance of purpose – Doing something that helps another person makes me feel good about myself.
  4. Dealing with difficult moments - Daily moments of joy make the hard stuff in life easier to deal with. Having an assistance dog puppy by my side just makes each day better.

Five Top Reasons to Raise an Assistance  Dog Puppy

  1. Helping another person
  2. Exercise and fresh air
  3. Daily happiness
  4. Unique experiences with a dog at your side
  5. Expanding your social network 

When you volunteer to raise an assistance dog puppy, the volunteering becomes part of your life. It’s an easy way to give back to the community even when life is busy.

 

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A black and white photo of Kristina Stanley. There is a lake and trees behind her. Kristina Stanley is currently a puppy raiser for the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind. Sage, a 2-year-old, female yellow lab is in her home now. She previously raised three assistance dogs in training with BC & Alberta Guide Dogs. She’s also a bestselling mystery author and the CEO of Fictionary.

 

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