Dog Sponsorship
Sponsor a litter of puppies on their two-year journey to becoming Assistance Dogs – and follow every step of it.
Every Assistance Dog begins as a puppy in our Puppy Block. Two years later, that same dog gives someone their independence back. Becoming a Sponsor means funding a real stage of that journey, and watching it happen through updates, photos and videos as the puppies grow.
A quick preview
Choose your Sponsor Level
Seven levels, from R1 000 to R100 000. Every Sponsor receives updates from the litter they support. Below is a preview of four popular levels – every level, with full detail, appears again further down the page.
R1 000
Covers the puppies’ first four weeks in the Puppy Block.
R5 000
Covers the puppies’ first three months on the Puppy Raising scheme.
R25 000
Funds a full year of training – and unlocks a virtual tour of the Puppy Block.
R100 000
Funds a full year of training – and unlocks a virtual tour of the Puppy Block. Includes naming rights.
Two years in the making
An Assistance Dog isn’t trained in a season. From birth to placement takes roughly two years, three teams and a great deal of patience. Here’s where your sponsorship lands.
0–7 weeks · The Puppy Block
Our puppies are born and raised at our Puppy Block facility, where the Puppy Block Team handles everything from feeding and hygiene to the early sensory work that shapes a confident working dog. These first weeks are quiet, intensive, and decisive.
Green and Blue Sponsors fund this stage.
Every future Assistance Dog begins with careful planning, expertise, and a commitment to producing dogs with the right qualities to change lives.
We breed Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador/Golden Retriever crosses through carefully planned breeding programmes developed in collaboration with leading international guide dog schools and organisations. By working with established lines of successful working dogs, including the use of imported semen from proven genetic lines, we strengthen our breeding outcomes and increase the likelihood of producing dogs with the health, temperament, and working ability required for Assistance Dog work.
Through accredited veterinary partnerships and specialist reproductive practices, including artificial insemination where appropriate, we follow internationally recognised breeding standards to support the development of future Guide Dogs, Service Dogs, and Autism Support Dogs.
Once born, puppies spend their first weeks receiving expert care from their mother, siblings, dedicated volunteers, and our qualified Puppy Block Team at our Johannesburg Training Centre. Here, they are introduced to carefully planned sensory experiences that help build confidence, resilience, and the foundations they need for their future roles.
From the very beginning, every puppy is nurtured with knowledge, care, and purpose — because preparing a dog to change a life starts long before their formal training begins.
7 weeks – 18 months · Puppy Raising
Each puppy is placed with a volunteer Puppy Raiser who takes on the daily work of socialisation and basic obedience – shopping centres, traffic, stairs, lifts, other dogs. Our Raising Supervisors visit regularly, and puppy classes keep progress on track. It’s the longest stage by far.
Red, Bronze and Silver Sponsors fund this stage.
Up to 7 months · Formal training and matching
The dogs return to our qualified instructors for formal training against international IGDF and ADI standards. Once assessed, each dog is matched to a client and the two train together until they work as one. Then they graduate.
Gold and Titanium Sponsors fund this stage.
See the impact for yourself
A Guide Dog, Service Dog or Autism Support Dog changes a life well beyond the dog itself. Watch how, in the words of the people who’ve lived it.
What an Assistance Dog changes
Our Assistance Dogs bring independence, mobility and companionship to visually and physically impaired people, and to autistic children, across South Africa. For a client, it’s the difference between waiting for help and simply going. Every dog we place is one more person moving through the world on their own terms.
+/- 270
active dogs in service
+/- R450 000
cost to train one dog
24 months
avg time to graduation
“Every sponsored litter is an investment in someone’s world, giving the South African Guide-Dogs Association the chance to help more people live bigger, bolder lives.”
Meet the N-Litter
Every Sponsor Level supports a real litter on a real journey. Here are three of the puppies from our N-Litter, each on their way to becoming a Guide Dog, Service Dog or Autism Support Dog.
Nolan is an easy-going, independent boy with a heart truly full of love. A champion cuddler and an expert napper, he takes life in his stride while quietly building the confidence and resilience to become an exceptional future guide dog.
Neville is a careful and curious boy who enjoys exploring the world at his pace. Whether he’s investigating butterflies or something shiny, his thoughtful spirit turns every adventure into a lesson on his journey to becoming a guide dog.
Nyssa is a gentle, thoughtful girl who likes to take her time before diving into something new. Once comfortable, her confidence shines and there’s no stopping her. Calm, curious and determined, she’s growing into a remarkable guide dog.
All seven levels, in full
Sponsor Levels
The Litter Sponsorship Programme offers you the opportunity to support our dogs in becoming successful Assistance Dogs. Take a moment to review the levels below and see how your donation could support a litter of puppies on their journey.
Choose a level to sponsor a litter:
R1000
Support the puppies during their first 4 weeks in our Puppy Block facility. Your donation could go towards essential hygiene products and additional supplements to keep them healthy and strong.
Sponsor this level
R2000
Support the puppies during their first 8 weeks in our Puppy Block facility. Your donation could go towards microchips as well as valuable enrichment items to help with their socialization.
Sponsor this level
R5000
Support the puppies during their first 3 months on the Puppy Raising scheme. Your donation could go towards their first Puppy-in-Training jackets; their first collars and leads; going-home blankets and the home visits by our Supervisors.
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R10 000
Support the puppies’ training for 6 months. Your donation could go towards valuable enrichment and sensory items for their puppy classes; grooming equipment and 4-month x-rays.
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R25 000
Support the puppies’ training for 12 months. Your donation could go towards their larger jackets; additional medical supplements for healthy skin and joints; larger chew toys and vet bills.
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R50 000
Support the puppies’ training for 18 months. Your donation could go towards their one-on-one training sessions with their Supervisor; resources to conduct home visits; nutrition supplements and 12-month scans and x-rays.
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R100 000
Support the puppies throughout their entire journey to become Assistance Dogs. Your donation could go towards their formal training sessions with our qualified instructors; resources to conduct off-site training with the dogs; formal training equipment (e.g. harnesses and service jackets) as well as lodge and boarding costs at our Kennel facility. The Titanium sponsorship gives you naming rights of your puppy.
Sponsor this level
What you receive as a Sponsor
Every Sponsor gets updates from the litter they support. The higher the level, the closer you get.
| Benefit | Green | Blue | Red | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Titanium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section 18(A) tax certificate | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Sponsor Certificate acknowledging your contribution | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Access to the litter’s exclusive Facebook group | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Graduation information and photos | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Virtual tour of the Puppy Block facility | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included | Included | Included | Included |
| Mention on key marketing material and channels | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included | Included | Included |
| *Puppy class invitation | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included | Included | Included |
| Name a puppy from the litter | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included | Included |
Compare by level
Green Sponsor
- Section 18(A) tax certificate
- Sponsor Certificate acknowledging your contribution
- Access to the litter’s exclusive Facebook group
- Graduation information and photos
Blue Sponsor
- Section 18(A) tax certificate
- Sponsor Certificate acknowledging your contribution
- Access to the litter’s exclusive Facebook group
- Graduation information and photos
Red Sponsor
- Section 18(A) tax certificate
- Sponsor Certificate acknowledging your contribution
- Access to the litter’s exclusive Facebook group
- Graduation information and photos
Bronze Sponsor
- Section 18(A) tax certificate
- Sponsor Certificate acknowledging your contribution
- Access to the litter’s exclusive Facebook group
- Graduation information and photos
Silver Sponsor
- Section 18(A) tax certificate
- Sponsor Certificate acknowledging your contribution
- Access to the litter’s exclusive Facebook group
- Graduation information and photos
- Virtual tour of the Puppy Block facility
Gold Sponsor
- Section 18(A) tax certificate
- Sponsor Certificate acknowledging your contribution
- Access to the litter’s exclusive Facebook group
- Graduation information and photos
- Virtual tour of the Puppy Block facility
- Mention on key marketing material and channels
- *Puppy class invitation
Titanium Sponsor
- Section 18(A) tax certificate
- Sponsor Certificate acknowledging your contribution
- Access to the litter’s exclusive Facebook group
- Graduation information and photos
- Virtual tour of the Puppy Block facility
- Mention on key marketing material and channels
- *Puppy class invitation
- Name a puppy from the litter
*Puppy class invitations are available in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Sponsoring as a company
Companies sponsor litters, too! As a CSR commitment, a team initiative, or a named sponsorship carrying your brand. We’ll work with you on recognition, staff involvement and reporting, and handle the Section 18(A) paperwork.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Your sponsorship directly supports the breeding, care, and development of future Assistance Dogs. This includes veterinary care, vaccinations, nutrition, enrichment, training equipment, and the specialised care each puppy receives from birth until it begins its formal training. Every contribution helps give these remarkable dogs the best possible start in life.
Behind every Guide Dog, Service Dog, and Autism Support Dog is a journey that begins long before formal training. Your sponsorship helps provide the care, nutrition, veterinary support, and early development that give each puppy the best possible chance of becoming a life-changing Assistance Dog.
Yes. The South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind is a registered Public Benefit Organisation (PBO), and qualifying donations are eligible for a Section 18A tax certificate, allowing South African taxpayers to claim a tax deduction in accordance with SARS regulations.
Yes. Sponsoring a litter is a meaningful way to celebrate a loved one, honour someone’s memory, or mark a special occasion. It’s a gift that creates a lasting impact for both the puppies and the people whose lives they will one day change.
Start a litter on their way
Two years, three teams (Puppy Block, Puppy Raising, Formal Training), and one dog that changes somebody’s life. Choose your Sponsor Level and follow the whole journey.