It takes that type of extraordinarily dedicated and patient dog-lover to be a Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy raiser, said Lindsey Brown, 20, leader of the Utah County club.

Preparing puppies for training as guide dogs can be very time-consuming, Brown said.

"It's like a kid, pretty much," she said. "Some days are easier than others."

Brown should know. She's now training her sixth puppy in as many years through the Guide Dogs for the Blind program. She began volunteering as a puppy raiser when she was 14. Today, she oversees the instruction of fellow raisers and progress of the puppies in A New Leash on Life.

With seven puppies currently in training, the Utah County club is the largest in the state, Brown said. There are also Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy-raising clubs in Salt Lake, Davis, Summit and Cache counties, she said.

On average, about 25 puppies are placed in Utah homes each year by Guide Dogs for the Blind. Puppies in the program wear a green vest identifying them as puppies in training.

Puppy raisers are provided with training materials and hands-on help from area instructors. The raisers house-train the pups and teach them the basics such as "come," "sit" and "stay."

"My favorite thing we teach them is to go to the bathroom on command," Brown said. "I think that's pretty cool. We say, 'Do your business.' "

But it's the puppy-raisers who must learn the most difficult trick, she said.

"It's really hard to say goodbye," Brown said. "I get very attached to my dog. One of the most important things we can teach (the puppies) is to love people and have a bond with them. It's really sad (to let them go.)"

Despite the tears when it comes time to say goodbye, Jill says being a puppy raiser is a rewarding experience, one she recommends to others — as long as they're willing to put in the time.

"It's a lot of fun, but it's hard, too," she said. "It's not just, 'Here's a puppy, take it to school.' It's a lot more than that."

For more information about Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy-raising clubs, visit www.guidedogs.com.

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E-mail: jpage@desnews.com