Bed and board

Trainee guide dog boarders

From experience, we believe that dogs in their final 10-12 weeks of training do best when they live in a home environment, rather than in kennels.  They seem happier and learn better.  We also get a broader understanding of their temperament from seeing their behaviour at home.  As a result, we can make a better match between the dog and our blind or partially sighted client, which means a more successful working partnership in the future.

Trainee dog boarding is sometimes called "bed and breakfast" boarding as boarders look after the dog in the evenings and at weekends. It is suited to all types of people.  Many of our boarders work during the day, others are retired, some have families with children.  All enjoy doggy company, but can’t, for various reasons have their own their own full-time dog.

If you think you could provide a temporary home for one of our trainee guide dogs, we ask that you:

• Live near one of our training offices  - click for list of offices
• Bring the dog to our office each weekday morning and collect it again each evening
• Live in a house with a secure garden and an area of hard standing or a yard
• Follow our common sense dog care guidelines which complement the dog’s training schedule

Guide Dog boarders

We often need people to look after one of our trained guide dogs for short periods.  For example because:

• An emergency occurs, for example the owner is taken ill

Dogs live with their boarders on a “full time” basis.  We ask that guide dog boarders:

• Live in a house or flat with a secure garden or yard
• Be at home most of the day (dogs can’t  be left for more than four hours) or are able to take the dog to work
• Follow our dog care guidelines

If you volunteer to be an emergency boarder, you will also be:

• Able to have a dog at very short notice

Other boarders

From time to time we also need boarders to give a temporary home to a younger dog from one of our regional centres for example because :

• It has been distressed in kennels and needs some tlc at home
• It hasn’t made it as a guide dog and needs an interim home until we can find it a permanent one

We ask that these boarders:

• Live near one of our regional centres - click for list of centres.
• Live in a house or flat with a secure garden or yard
• Be at home most of the day (dogs can’t  be left for more than four hours) or be able to take the dog to work with you
• Follow our dog care guidelines

Support and Training

We provide full training before you have a dog and lots of support whilst the dog is staying with you.  We supply all the food and equipment the dog will need and pay any vets bills.

We think that boarding a guide dog can be a fun and rewarding activity.

If you think it might be the volunteer job for you, please contact the National Volunteer Office.

Please note: these positions may be exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and may require a criminal record check.