Has anyone fostered a guide dog?

[bendmeoverbackwards]

If so can you talk me through the the process and how it works?

We’ve been thinking about getting our own dog for a while but I understand the commitment and want to be 100% sure.

We’ve done borrow my doggy a few times which is lovely but I always feel sad when they go and so excited to see their owner!

Fostering seems a good half way house - ‘your’ dog but a shorter term commitment.

Anyone done this?

If you mean what used to be called a puppy walker, the official info is here:

www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteering-for-guide-dogs/volunteer-role-descriptions/puppy-walker/

I know someone who does this, and she finds it very rewarding. It's quite full on - they don't do the specialist training, but they do oodles of socialisation and all the basic commands. And you have to do it the guide dog way, which is a good, effective and kind one, but no branching off from it to do your own thing, as you might with your own dog. It's very prescriptive

They do prefer people with doggy experience, but will consider all comers. You have to have a suitable home, must have the time to do the training and must undertake never to leave the puppy alone for more than 3 hours

You can join a waiting list for a 'failed' or retired guide dog, but applicants exceed the number available by a considerable margin, so don't count on that