Becoming a Puppy Walker

Puppy walking is a crucial part of Guide Dogs’ work. Although done on a voluntary basis, it will take a lot of time, commitment and love from both you and your family. The end result, however, is a very special animal indeed.

The Role of a Puppy Walker

Puppy walkers play a vital role in the early socialisation and education of guide dogs. At about six weeks of age, puppies start their early training, remaining with you until they are around one year old, at which point they are transferred to a training centre to begin their specialised training.

The aim of puppy walking is to produce a puppy that is socially well behaved, friendly and responsive to the handler. It is also important that the puppy is at ease in all environments, including town conditions, is relaxed and confident when using all types of transport and learns an acceptable standard of behaviour on the lead. As each puppy is an individual, our staff will advise on the best way to achieve good results and the most appropriate time to introduce the puppy to these new environments.