Our Leaders
Faces you most commonly will see at classes. Our leaders are great resources for learning more about the program and the application process.
Puppy Program Reps
Advisors are staff members who oversee puppies in their assigned area. Currently, our program staff are assigned puppies in their geographic proximity and boundaries. They are responsible for overseeing each puppy's training, health, and raising until the dog comes in for training at the appropriate time. All our advisors have excellent communication, training, and dog handling skills. They are kept up to date on new health and training news. Your advisor is expected to guide you through puppy raising by answering your questions, offering support, teaching obedience and socialization classes, and helping you and your puppy reach your full potential together.
Area Coordinators @ UMD
Area coordinators are selected individuals who have shown further interest in being involved with the Guide Dog Foundation. They hold themselves and others to a high standard of excellence, have shown their respect and understanding for puppy raising and training guide dogs, have excellent communication skills, and are ambassadors of our mission. Area coordinators are assistants to advisors. They are volunteers who would like to dedicate more time to our mission. ACs are often responsible for teaching classes, being a point of contact for our raisers, and offering support to their assigned puppy raisers.
Head Group Leaders
Group leaders are a vital part of our organization. Again, they are volunteers who want to offer more than just puppy raising to the Foundation. They are learning to become area coordinators and offer support to puppy raisers alongside area coordinators. Our Group Leaders are the main point of contact for our puppy sitters.
