Buddy Dogs

Building confidence through companionship

a boy with a buddy dog in school

Buddy Dogs is a new service that gives partially sighted children and young people the chance to build vital communication and mobility skills. We’re retraining dogs that weren’t quite suited to our full guide dog programme and placing them with families and schools. Young people get the opportunity to feed, groom and walk their buddy dog – and ultimately gain the skills they might need for future guide dog ownership.

Think Buddy Dogs might be for you?

Here’s the story so far:

  • Buddy Dogs is currently reaching the end of a test phase
  • We’re working with families, schools and carers who work one-to-one in special needs units
  • We have 24 parterships in place currently

To find out more about Buddy Dogs and how you can get involved, contact your local Guide Dogs team

Fact!

In 2010, we removed the minimum age for guide dog ownership and started providing guide dogs for under 16s.