Senior Jamie Klemm with future service dog Morado outside Perkins Student Center. Klemm is a member of Collar Scholars, a student organization that raises puppies for the nonprofit Canine Companions.

More than a furry face

Article by Hilary Douwes Photos by Evan Krape March 06, 2025

UD student’s experience raising puppies for service ignites passion, influences career path

When University of Delaware senior Jamie Klemm crosses the stage at Convocation in May she won’t be alone. She’s planning to have Morado, a future service dog she has raised, by her side, just as he’s been all spring.

Klemm is the vice president of Collar Scholars, one of three UD student organizations that raises puppies to eventually help people in need. Collar Scholars is affiliated with Canine Companions, a national nonprofit organization that provides service dogs for free to individuals with disabilities, as well as dogs trained for use in settings like schools or courtrooms.

"Raising a puppy for a service dog program is one of the most rewarding things I've ever done," Klemm said. "It's not just about the dog; it's about the person who will one day rely on that dog to help them live more independently."

The experience has brought her academic classes to life and has helped her future career. A criminal justice major and business administration minor, Klemm will begin law school in the fall. She wrote about raising her first puppy in her law school applications and said she may eventually practice disability law.

Classes and commands

Currently 4 months old, Morado is the third puppy Klemm has raised during her UD career. It’s an incredible commitment, as puppy “raisers” care for their furry friends from the age of 8 weeks to 15-18 months.

Puppy raisers are responsible for socializing the pups, teaching them how to behave around people and to be aware of their surroundings, but not to engage with what’s going on. Klemm takes her four-legged friends everywhere she can — to classes, her job at UD’s Career Center, through the student centers, to the grocery store and Target. She even took her last dog to an aquarium.

“They have to learn to sit there and do nothing and have fun doing nothing,” she said. “The Career Center is great for that. I’m working and he's just there existing, right by my side. Sometimes at this age they’ll just run after anything.”

Morado waits patiently while Klemm studies in the Perkins Student Center lounge. Puppies are trained to observe their surroundings but not to engage with it.

Raisers teach the pups 30 commands, many of which are used as the foundation for advanced commands, such as pulling open a door or pushing the buttons to open handicapped doors.

“‘Back’ turns into tugging anything open. ‘Touch’ will then turn into push,” Klemm said. “These set them up for success with the professional trainers later on.”

Managing classes, a job and her work with Collar Scholars isn’t easy. Klemm relies on the group’s team of 70 to 80 certified puppy sitters to lend a hand when she has to go somewhere she can’t bring her pup, or if she just needs a break. The sitters get valuable experience they need to have a puppy of their own.

"I think a lot of people underestimate how much work raising a puppy is," Klemm said. "Potty training, chewing, general puppy behavior — it all requires time and consistency. But in the end, it’s all worth it because the goal is for Morado to eventually be paired with a person who really needs his help."

From cuteness to commitment

Klemm started this journey her first year at UD, drawn to the Collar Scholars puppies she saw at the Student Involvement Fair.

Collar Scholars is one of three UD student organizations that train puppies like Morado for futures as service dogs.

Her decision to get involved was based on more than just the cuteness of the puppies — it was also rooted in her personal experiences and her desire to make a meaningful impact.

"I saw the puppies at the Involvement Fair, and of course, they were so cute," Klemm said. "But it was more than just that. My family pet had just passed away, and I was looking for a way to fill that void. I learned about the organization and realized how much good this program does for people. Plus, the idea of a year-and-a-half-long commitment felt like a good way for me to be involved while in college."

The idea has paid off. Klemm’s first dog, Linzer, is currently working for a police department in Hyattsville, Maryland. He spends part of his time in a school with a school resource officer and also attends community events. Her second dog, Nicky, started advanced training in early February.

Future plans

Klemm hopes to continue her work with Canine Companions after graduation if her law school schedule allows.

Morado’s journey is just beginning, and with the dedication and care he is receiving from Klemm, he is on his way to becoming the skilled service dog that will make a positive impact on someone's life.

“You raise them, train them and fall in love with them,” Klemm said. “Then, when the time comes to send them to professional training, it’s hard to let them go. But knowing that they are going to help someone in the future makes it all worth it.”