More Than Puppy Raising

"I Could Never Raise a Puppy Just to Give Them Away."

I've heard that sentence more times than I can count.

Truth be told, I've said those exact words myself.

If someone had told me a couple of years ago that I'd be raising a future service dog, knowing I'd eventually have to say goodbye, I would've thought they were crazy. Now, almost seven months into raising Rufus, my perspective has completely changed.

So, what Is Autism Dog Services?

If you've never heard of Autism Dog Services, they're a Canadian organization best known for training service dogs for children and youth with autism. They also place dogs with adults and in community settings when it's the right fit, helping build confidence, independence, safety, and connection.

Before these incredible dogs head off to advanced training, they spend roughly a year and a half with volunteer puppy raisers.

That's where we come in.

What Is a Puppy Raiser?

This is probably the question I get asked the most.

No, we don't just cuddle puppies all day, and no, we're not simply teaching them how to sit and stay.

As someone who's raised pet dogs over the years, I can honestly say that raising a future service dog is in a league of its own. It's more time consuming, more challenging, and definitely more stressful, but it's also one of the most rewarding things I've ever committed to.

As puppy raisers, we're responsible for helping build the foundation before advanced training even begins. We're introducing future service dog skills, getting them comfortable wearing their service jacket, exposing them to countless environments, practicing the early cues they'll continue building on later, and helping them become confident, adaptable dogs.

Training isn't something we do once in a while. It's part of everyday life.

We attend biweekly training sessions, complete roughly four community training outings each week, and look at almost every outing as a learning opportunity. Grocery stores become training sessions. Coffee shops become training sessions. Camping trips, hiking trails, restaurants, libraries, community events, and even quick errands all become opportunities to help prepare a future service dog for the real world.

It's a huge commitment, and one that I'm incredibly proud to be part of.

Fun fact: Future service dogs begin preparing for their future as young as their first week of life. Long before they ever come home with a puppy raiser, their journey has already begun, which I think is pretty incredible.

Why We Chose This Instead of Getting Another Dog

This part is personal.

After losing Odin (our 13.5 year old GSD x Black Lab pup) on August 27, 2025, we knew another dog would eventually be part of our lives, but we didn't know what that would look like.

Odin wasn't "just a dog." He was my soul dog, and he was also the first family member I ever truly felt loved me unconditionally. Growing up in foster care, that meant more than I could ever put into words.

Losing him absolutely shattered me. Those first few months were some of the hardest I'd experienced in a long time. My mental health took a hit, our home felt quieter, and there was a huge hole that couldn't simply be filled by getting another dog because no dog could ever replace Odin.

Then we started learning more about Autism Dog Services, and the more we learned, the more it just felt right.

There was one other little thing that made me smile. Rufus and I actually share the exact same birthday.

Does it really mean anything? Who knows. But I remember finding that out and thinking, "Well, that's pretty cool." It was one of those little details that made this whole experience feel even more special, and almost seven months later, I can honestly say becoming a puppy raising family was one of the best decisions we've made.

Instead of bringing home a dog that would be ours forever, we had the opportunity to help prepare a dog that would one day change someone else's life.

That purpose meant something. For me, it also became a really meaningful way to honour Odin.

Rufus Didn't Replace Odin

I think this is important to say because people sometimes assume getting another dog means you've moved on.

That's not how grief works. Rufus didn't replace Odin. He never could.

What he did do was help us heal. He brought laughter back into our home, gave us purpose on some really hard days, challenged us in all the right ways, and reminded us to keep adventuring.

If you know us, you know we're happiest outdoors. Camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking, road trips, coffee shops, libraries, community events. Rufus has jumped into all of it. In just seven months, he's experienced more than many dogs do in a lifetime, and he's taken every adventure in stride.

He's also become part of Unique Optimism. Many of our Trailblazers know him, ask about him, and love following his journey. He's started conversations with complete strangers and created opportunities to educate people about service dogs in ways I never expected.

Growing Up in Foster Care Changed My Perspective

I don't often talk about my foster care experience when I'm writing as the owner of Unique Optimism, but it feels important here.

I grew up from the age of two, moving through more than 17 foster homes + a few group homes + 1 residential treatment home. Looking back, I don't remember every address. I remember the people who made me feel safe, the people who believed in me, and the people who cared.

Not everyone stays in our lives forever, but that doesn't mean they can't change our lives forever.

Maybe that's part of why my perspective has changed. Sometimes making a difference isn't about keeping someone forever. Sometimes it's about loving them well while you have the chance and helping prepare them for whatever comes next.

"I Could Never Give Them Away."

Like I said at the beginning, I've said those exact words myself.

And yes, I know saying goodbye is going to hurt. I'm not pretending it won't.

But somewhere over these last seven months, my focus shifted. This stopped being about what our family would eventually lose and became about what someone else will gain.

It's also been a really neat experience for our son.

He's growing up knowing that Rufus isn't "our" dog forever, and while I know saying goodbye won't be easy for any of us, I also think there's something really special about teaching him that sometimes we help others simply because it's the right thing to do.

I hope he grows up knowing that making a difference doesn't always mean holding on. Sometimes it means pouring your heart into something, knowing it's meant to help someone else.

Rufus was never meant to be ours forever. He was always meant to become someone's teammate, someone's confidence, someone's independence, someone's sense of security, and someone's best friend.

Knowing that doesn't make saying goodbye easier. It makes it meaningful.

What Happens If a Puppy Doesn't Become a Service Dog?

This is another question I hear quite a bit.

People often assume that if a puppy doesn't become a service dog, they've somehow failed, but that's not how it works.

Just like people, every dog has their own strengths, personality, and path. Not every puppy is meant to become a service dog, and that's okay.

Some go on to become facility dogs, companion dogs, airport support dogs, or fill other important roles where their temperament and training are exactly what's needed.

The goal has never been to fit every dog into the same box. The goal is to help each dog become what they're best suited to be, and honestly, I think there's something pretty beautiful about that.

More Than Volunteering

People often ask me why I'd volunteer for something that's so much work.

The answer is actually pretty simple: because it's worth it.

This experience has taught me more about dog behaviour, learning, communication, consistency, and patience than I ever imagined. It's opened my heart even more, challenged me in all the best ways, introduced us to an incredible community of people, and given our family a really unique way to give back to the disability community while honouring Odin in a way that feels incredibly meaningful.

Rufus isn't just changing the life of the person he'll eventually be matched with.

He's already changed ours and honestly, I think that's the part people miss when they say, "I could never raise a puppy just to give them away."

It's never really been about giving him away. It's about helping him become exactly who he was meant to be.

Interested in Learning More?

If you've ever thought, "I wonder if I could do that," I'd encourage you to learn more about Autism Dog Services and the many ways you can get involved.

Whether you're interested in becoming a puppy raiser, puppy sitter, volunteer, donor, or simply following along with their incredible work, every bit of support helps make a difference.

Learn more: autismdogservices.ca

Please note that this blog reflects my personal experience as a first-time puppy raiser and is not intended to represent Autism Dog Services or their program in its entirety.