guidedog puppy walking

ashleyrossuk

I am considering being a puppy walker, to look after a puppy for a year until it can start its guidedog training. Has anyone done this before, i was wondering how hard it would be to give up a puppy you had looked after for a year. Not sure if i should get a dog of my own or be a puppy walker.

foreign_correspondent

Depending on your circumstances, why not consider giving a rescue dog a home?

I would imagine guide dog pups will need a lot of time and attentiond and may be a bit much for a novice dog owner?

(However, I think I remember someone on here saying they did it... cant remember who?)

supermezzo

Me -:)

What would you like to know OP?

Hintza

My mother did over 20 puppies with great success in the early days not convinced she was as successful latterly.

Why did she have great success early?

We had puppies when we were kids and they joined in with all aspects of family life (lots of kids, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, ponies etc) so ended up as well rounded individuals. The one area they were possibly a little weak on was general road work but normally the rest of hurly burly life meant that this was not a huge issue.

Why was she not so good later?

Family had grown up and moved on and although the puppies still saw us all and she still had other dogs I think they just weren't given enough rough and tumble so to speak.

I think folk taking on a guide puppy with no other animals can probably succeed very well but the puppy's early life will need to be much more structured to cover the early life forming aspects ie basic training and socialising both with other dogs/animals and people.

Guide dog puppies need to be outgoing and show a lot of composure to make a good guide dogs.

The downside of getting only a puppy is that you will become attached to it but of course when it leaves you will be looking forward to the next one arriving and you will be so proud when s/he passes out and starts working properly.

If you work it is probably not a good idea.

supermezzo

GDBA don't generally consider you as a puppy walker now unless someone is home all day (they will consider part-time workers but that is on a case by case basis).
And well done your Mum, Hintza - I'm knackered after 2!

Hintza

supermezzo wrote: »

And well done your Mum, Hintza - I'm knackered after 2!

One more in the menagerie we had didn't make much difference....lol.

ashleyrossuk

Usually in the past i have rescued older or aggressive dogs, to give them a chance. My circumstance is totally diffrent now i am home all day with my husband who is wheelchair bound as his carer, I also have a five year old. I have plenty of time to care for a new dog but would prefer a younger dog for my son to grow up with either that or do the puppy walking.

Just really dont know how upsetting it would be to give up a dog after caring for it for over a year. If there is anything else that you think might be relevant it would be great to hear.

suki1964

How about fostering, having dogs in your home for assessment and training prior to being rehomed in a forever home?

Once again you will be having to give the dog up but in this instance you would be saving a dog from kennels or worse and you never know, that special dog for you may come in your doors. Pups are often needing emergency fostering when whole litters are handed in for rescue

supermezzo

You can also board GDBA puppies for a while rather than have your own all the time. This means that you refuse a boarder if it's not convenient and get a taster of what is required, 'cos as we all know, a new puppy is d*mned hard work, however worthwhile the cause.
If you fancy that, then contact GDBA here:-
Volunteer contacts

If you are interested in any of the volunteering roles mentioned or other Guide Dogs volunteering oppotunities, we would like to hear from you. You can contact us here:

• National Volunteer Recruitment Office
  The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
  Nuffield House
  Lowndes Street
  BOLTON
  Lancs
  BL1 4QA
  
  Telephone: 0845 371 7771
  E-mail: [EMAIL="volunteer@guidedogs.org.uk"]volunteer@guidedogs.org.uk[/EMAIL]

They'll take your details and someone from East Lothian office will arrange an interview to come out and see you.

greenmoneysaver_2

I do Advanced Boarding.

I take a trainee for 3 months when it is around 15 months old and give it B&B and weekends!

They need to be dropped off at the Instructors place of work in the morning and picked up every evening Mo-Fri, so you need to be local.

It is a fab scheme, a beautiful well trained dog that gets looked after during the day! Just saw my last one graduate last week, very quiet without her!

ashleyrossuk

Thanks for all the reply's i have contacted the guide dog society and was told that they are looking for puppy walkers in my area, so i am just waiting on the application form coming through will see how that goes and can talk through with someone about what would be best for me if i am approved. :j

I have had several dogs before but all older dogs never had a puppy before is there any main diffrences on how you treat the dog that is a guidedog in training to a dog that was your own, such as is the dog allowed on the couch, is it allowed to play with children. I have a cat at the moment who is used to dogs but how would a puppy be with a cat, I keep thinking that if i do the fostering with dogs i will be continually having to get the cat used to a new dog.