Guide Dogs is calling on motorbike owners to sign up as volunteers and prepare the next generation of guide dogs for the road ahead.
It comes as new research reveals more than half of UK dog owners say their dogs become stressed around motorbikes (57%), with eight in 10 saying the engine noise is identified as the biggest trigger, followed by the speed of motorbikes (40%) and face coverings (27%). A further 39% say their dog is also unsettled by people wearing helmets - including motorbike riders, delivery drivers, and cyclists.
For guide dogs working alongside people with vision impairments, an unexpected fright triggered by a passing motorbike can pose a danger. Early and gradual exposure to motorbikes and other potentially challenging situations is a crucial part of a guide dog puppy's socialisation to new environments and experiences.
The charity currently needs around 100 puppy raisers every month to keep up with current demand.
Guide Dogs puppy raisers are volunteers who take young puppies into their homes for between 12 and 16 months, helping build their confidence and exposing them to the sights and sounds of everyday life - from busy high streets to crowded train stations - before the dogs enter their formal training programme. All volunteer puppy raisers also require a car.
Our research shows just how unsettling motorbikes can be for dogs. But for a guide dog, that fear isn't just a nuisance - it can be a genuine safety risk for the person relying on them.
Socialisation is such a fundamental part of a guide dog’s training. Our puppies need to encounter the real world in all its noise and unpredictability.
None of that happens without our incredible volunteer puppy raisers, who are pivotal to what we do. And right now, we need around 100 puppy raisers every month across the UK to help us continue supporting people with sight loss by providing life changing guide dogs.
We would love to hear from keen motorbikers and enthusiasts who can help our puppies build the confidence and focus they need to stay calm when it matters most. Haley Andrews, Head of Puppy Raising
Among those who have already combined their love of bikes with puppy raising is Guide Dogs volunteer Sue Shaw, who raised Labrador Darcey alongside a household of motorbikes.
When we raised our first guide dog puppy, Darcey, motorbikes were a big part of her early environment. From the start, we gently introduced her to the sights and sounds - cleaning the bikes, warming up the engines - always starting small and building up gradually.
Introducing guide dog puppies to motorbikes early on makes a huge difference. I've met other puppy raisers who have said they wish their dogs had similar experiences. Having the bikes in the garage also helped - they just became part of the everyday environment.
I'm a big advocate for the early motorbike exposure for dogs. If we could get more motorbikers on board, then it will prepare more puppies to go on to do life changing work for people with sight loss.
Find out more about becoming a Guide Dogs puppy raiser or make a donation here.
