Puppy Raisers for Upstate Guide Dogs accept an eight week old Labrador Retriever puppy into their home to foster for one year. The Raisers bring the puppies to obedience classes two times per month and attend an outing one Saturday per month. The outings are designed to expose the puppies to all kinds of places that they might be expected to go when they are working as a guide dog. The puppies wear special coats when they are in public to identify them as a guide dog puppy. They are allowed to go most places with their Puppy Raiser. At the end of the year the dogs enter formal guide dog training and move to Upstate's kennels in Bloomfield. The Puppy Raisers are kept informed of the puppies progress and are invited to graduation after the dog is matched with a person who is blind.

The puppy cannot be left alone for long periods of time. If the raiser is employed, they must get the permission of their employer to bring the puppy to work. This has been a most positive experience at many workplaces. There is a commitment to reinforce the obedience training daily.