
Guardian homes have the special responsibility of caring for breeder dogs. Our breeder dogs are selected at the age of one and live with their guardian home their whole life. Breeder dogs are carefully selected from the service dog in training program based on their temperament and undergo rigorous medical evaluations to ensure the health of both the breeder and their future puppies.
Female Breeder Dogs
Female breeders may be part of the breeding program until they are seven (large breeds) or nine (small breeds) years old. After producing future service dog puppy litters, they are then spayed and retired to live full-time with their guardian family. They usually have four to five litters and return to 4 Paws for whelping and caring for their puppies until the puppies are six weeks old.
Male Breeder Dogs
Male breeders may be part of the breeding program until they reach ten years old. They are then neutered and retired to live fulltime with their guardian family. Male breeders are brought to 4 Paws for brief lengths of time for breeding purposes.
General Requirements
-Must be located within three (3) hours of 4 Paws for Ability in Xenia, OH
-Must be at least 18 years of age
-Must complete an online training course and an in-person orientation
-Must have reliable transportation to travel to 4 Paws for Ability for scheduled appointments and breeding purposes
-Must pay a breeder placement fee when matched with a breeder dog (currently $1,000)
Ready to get started?
To begin, fill out our Volunteer Interest Form to get connected with our team. Once submitted, check your email within 24 hours for an invitation to take part in a virtual or onsite information session. Please check your Spam folder if it does not appear in your inbox.
Feel free to email volunteer@4pawsforability.org, or call (937) 374-0385 ext. 102, with any questions.
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