As the LSU Tigers and Clemson Tigers prepare to face off in the 2026 college football season opener, a different kind of campus celebrity is gaining attention: puppies being raised as future service dogs. Both universities host student clubs dedicated to raising and training puppies for Canine Companions, a national non-profit organization that provides service dogs to people with disabilities at no cost.

Students in these clubs volunteer to raise Labrador Retriever puppies for 14 to 16 months, teaching them essential commands, social behaviors, and how to navigate various environments. These puppies become integrated into campus life, accompanying their raisers to classes, across campus, and to events, essentially becoming honorary members of the university communities.

"When people see our dogs on campus, they always stop and say hi and ask to pet them and they’ll want to know about our club," said Clemson senior Brooke Knight, president of the Canine Companions club at Clemson. "They’ll want to take pictures. It’s just super cool to see people wanting to interact with us and the dogs."

The Clemson club has raised 15 dogs since 2021, while the four-year-old club at LSU typically raises five puppies annually. Raisers are selected through a comprehensive vetting process and typically receive a puppy around 8 weeks old.

College campuses offer a unique and valuable training ground for these puppies. From quiet libraries where they learn to settle under tables to bustling quads where they practice ignoring distractions, and loud sporting events where they learn to remain calm, students expose the puppies to a wide range of stimuli and circumstances. This intensive socialization is crucial for their development into reliable service animals.

"It definitely makes you popular to walk around with a dog," said LSU sophomore Finley O’Con, president-elect of the LSU club. "You'll talk to 15 people just walking through the quad because they want to know: ‘Why do you have a dog? What's the dog's name? Tell me about this club. Tell me about Canine Companions.’ And it's definitely really good advertisement to have a dog."

Students in the clubs attend monthly puppy classes and practice commands, with club meetings often providing opportunities for the dogs to showcase their progress. After approximately 18 months of raising, the puppies are returned to Canine Companions to begin advanced, professional training, a six- to nine-month process that prepares them for placement.

Clemson junior Allie McCafferty recently returned her puppy, Vinny, to Canine Companions for professional training. She described Vinny as "incredibly calm" and "attentive." While balancing puppy-raising with academics can be challenging, McCafferty noted the support from her club, including dog sitters, has been invaluable.

Canine Companions, founded in 1975, has placed over 8,500 service dogs. The organization assists individuals with physical disabilities, cognitive issues, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as professionals in fields like healthcare and education. The dogs are provided to clients at no cost.

For the student raisers, handing over a puppy they have bonded with for over a year is often an emotional experience. LSU senior Ella Menard, former president of the LSU club, described saying goodbye to her puppy, Loyal, as one of the hardest days of her life. However, she also found it a profound lesson in attachment and the ability to let go for a greater purpose.

"The heartbreak was hard, but the joy (Loyal) brought me was worth all the tears," Menard said. "He's going to make somebody's life a lot better. I think that's my main takeaway from the club is that you can do hard things."

If a puppy does not complete professional training, raisers are sometimes offered the opportunity to adopt the dog as a pet. For most, however, the ultimate success is seeing the dog placed with a person in need.

More information about Canine Companions and how to donate can be found at canine.org.