Adventures in Puppy Sitting

ICAN service dogs spend approximately two years in training in order to provide independence and break barriers for children, adults, and veterans in Indiana. This training starts from birth and requires the help of many different people along the way!

Kari Bennett is one of these dedicated individuals that helps make our mission possible. Kari began as a volunteer in May of 2019 and has since devoted her time to helping us change lives!

She writes, “As an ICAN volunteer, I’ve had the opportunity to furlough dogs in training, puppy raise, and transport puppies to and from partner programs in other states. Just recently, I got to puppy sit for the first time. And to make it extra fun, I agreed to watch TWO puppies at once.”

Our puppy raisers often volunteer their time for both the full eight-week puppy raising period as well as other short-term opportunities to babysit puppies. Occasionally, the primary raiser is unavailable for short periods of time, so volunteers like Kari step in to help with puppy sitting.

“Over Labor Day weekend, my husband and I spent two days with Sunflower and Cosmos, eight week old pups. Sunny and Cos (yes, we gave them nicknames right away!) were on their way to their puppy raisers but needed a place to stay until they got back from vacations. Up till then, these siblings had never been apart from their mom and other litter mates. Our goal was to make sure they felt comfortable and safe while exposing them to new experiences.”

Here’s what they learned…

As Kari explains, “Managing potty breaks and meal time for two pups is best done with two people. We each tried by ourselves and as uncoordinated as pups can be, they also are very fast!

“Pups are always learning. For example, Sunny and Cos paid close attention to our dogs during their stay, observing their play and other behaviors. 

“When pups are this young, potty training means keeping them mostly contained in an exercise pen and taking them out for frequent potty breaks. During their stay, Sunny and Cos only had one accident inside, and that was when they first arrived. We stayed on a consistent schedule and praised them every time they went potty outside. It is very rewarding to start to see progress in such a small amount of time.”

Working with ICAN puppies means playing a role in eventually changing someone’s life!

“Sunny and Cos loved to play and cuddle with us but found the most comfort in each other. These two never slept without touching each other, usually all intertwined. Totally adorable!”

Kari comments on how valuable it is to be a volunteer and work with our dogs in training, “During the two days we had them, it was hard to do anything besides focusing on the pups. Sunny and Cos—like all puppies—are impossibly cute and perfect.

“Even though we only had them for a short time, I felt a little sad at the thought of handing Sunny and Cos off to their puppy raisers. But then I got to see how excited they were to meet the pups, and I forgot all about being sad.”

Kari describes how volunteering for these short puppy raising opportunities is a great way to decide if you would like to be a puppy raiser. “It’s also a huge help to the program to have volunteers willing to step in at a moment’s notice to lend a hand to other volunteers. I’d do it again and recommend it to anyone who loves puppies—and who doesn’t love puppies!?”

Volunteers like Kari make it possible for us to continue expanding our mission and change more lives! By volunteering hands-on with our puppies, either through puppy raising or litter sitting, you can be part of laying the important foundation for our future service dogs. 

ICAN trains and places assistance dogs with individuals in Indiana who have disabilities and provides foundational life skills to inmates through their experience as trainers. To learn more, visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.