Training Dog Fosterer
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What is a Training Dog Fosterer?
As a Training Dog Fosterer, you’ll provide a loving temporary home to a dog in training, typically for a period of 3 - 6 months, as they begin their journey to become a guide dog. You’ll get to see the progress your furry companion is making in their training and be a vital part of their journey, without the commitment of looking after a dog full time.
What you’ll be doing
In this rewarding role, your support for a guide dog in training will include:
- Doing the school run for your dog in training! This will typically involve dropping them off and picking them up at an agreed time Monday to Friday at one of our regional centres or community teams, however, some sites may vary. There are some locations where we will be able to collect and return the training dog from your home. Take a look here to find your local guide dog training site and any alternative arrangements they have in place for dogs in training.
- Caring for your dog in your home such as feeding, grooming, free running and playing, following the advice of our expert staff.
- Helping your dog keep up with their training by reinforcing the techniques at home from our first-class training programme.
- Making sure your dog is not left alone for more than four hours in a 24-hour period. If you’re planning on going on holiday, let us know at your initial phone call so we can plan alternative cover for your future life changer.
Can I foster a dog?
If you’re hoping to foster a guide dog in training, here’s what we ideally look for:
- Being close to one of our regional centres or community teams so that your dog can get to their training.
- The agreement of your landlord to have a dog in your home if you rent your home.
- A safe and secure area outside for the dog to go to the toilet.
However, we try to be flexible – for example, you’ll still be able to foster a dog if you live in London, even if you don’t have access to outside space.
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What you’ll get
- The opportunity to have a lovable canine companion!
- The satisfaction in knowing you’re supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.
- The rewarding feeling of seeing your dog learn new training techniques to help them develop into a guide dog.
- An insight into our bespoke world-class training programme so that your dog’s training stays consistent at home, which can also help you train your own dogs or advance in a future career in dog handling.
- The opportunity to be part of the Guide Dogs community, meeting like-minded people in your area.
- A dedicated volunteer manager and fellow peers who will help support you throughout your role.
Training and support
You’ll attend a training workshop to understand the basics of our bespoke training techniques so you can confidently support your dog’s training at home. You’ll also receive ongoing guidance from your volunteer manager. If you have questions about the training requirements, we can answer these at your initial phone call along with any other support or accessibility needs you may have.
Will I have to pay?
Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket. We’ll make sure we pay any expenses related to volunteering with us, including veterinary costs, dog food costs and other materials needed for your dog’s training.
What we need from you
We ask that volunteers for this role are aged 18 or over and follow our bespoke training and advice from expert staff relevant to their canine companion.
Frequently asked questions
No experience is needed. Full training and ongoing support are provided to help you feel confident handling and caring for the dog.
Pets such as cats, fish, rabbits, and exotics should be declared to ensure appropriate match of fosterer and dog. We have service users with a variety of home environments, so we welcome homes with other pets.
You can foster if you have a pet dog, however you must have no more than three dogs in one home including the fostered dog. Pet dogs must be at least twelve months of age. They should be vaccinated and of good temperament and training.
Training dogs will need to be walked separately to pet dogs. Walking alongside another dog can be distracting. In some cases, your own pet dog may be able to free run off lead during exercise with the training dog, but this will always be at the trainer’s discretion.
Please note: We are unable to place our dogs in a home with a dog that originates from outside the UK; the only exceptions are if the dog is from one of the following countries: Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. This is because of the threat from Brucella Canis.
Dogs can become asymptomatic carriers of Brucella Canis, meaning they can potentially spread disease without showing any signs of illness whilst others can become unwell themselves. In rare instances, Brucella Canis can also pass to people (although other types of Brucella species more commonly infect people). Currently, there is no permanent cure for Brucella Canis meaning once a dog is infected, it is considered infectious for life.
Training dogs are not allowed upstairs or on sofas, and they will need their own dedicated sleeping area to help maintain consistency and routine. Your trainer will guide you on how to set this up in a way that works best for the dog. They’ll also provide advice on suitable toys and appropriate play, ensuring everything supports the dog’s training and development.
Training dogs do not have the same legal access rights as fully qualified guide dogs, so it’s important to be aware that some businesses, shops, or venues may choose not to allow them entry.
You can discuss any holiday plans with your trainer to discuss suitability for the dog; it is possible for us to rearrange for them to go to a respite fosterer in circumstances not deemed suitable for the dog or if you would like some dog free time. it’s important to follow their guidance, as it’s based on what will best support the dog’s development
Initially it is important the dog is given time to settle into your home. Each dog is at a different stage in its development, and what they can cope with will vary depending on their training goals, confidence levels, and current focus areas. By speaking with the trainers, you can ensure that any outing is appropriate, safe, and beneficial for the dog’s progress, rather than overwhelming or disruptive.
Yes, you can. Children should be declared so we can ensure an appropriate match between the fosterer and dog.
Fosterers are responsible for supervising all interactions between the dog and child and should not allow boisterous behaviour such as climbing, pushing, or rough play. Children and dogs must never be left unsupervised together, and children should not be left to hold the lead.
It’s important that children are supported to respect the dog’s space and wellbeing at all times.
Our dogs come to you with a strong training foundation, but they are still young and learning, having recently moved on from their puppy raisers. This means they may still show some less desirable behaviours from time to time. You won’t be on your own though—your local team will be there to support and guide you every step of the way.
This depends on each site. Some sites you can walk or take public transport and other sites specify driving the dog is required. Let us know how you plan on transporting the dog to the centre and we can check with your local team if this is suitable before progressing your application.