Has anyone ever been a guide dog puppy walker?

[ThatCuckingFat]

Just curious to hear about your experiences really.

We have been thinking about it for a year or so and think it is something we would like to do but haven't enquired formally about it yet. We love dogs and have a fair amount of experience with puppies and training.
For what I understand you have the puppy for a year and teach basic training etc.
Was it worthwhile/fun/challenging, and were there any problems you didn't see coming?

Would love to hear your stories.

My MIL used to do it. Advantages are that the dogs iirc could go anywhere a normal guide dog can. They need to for their socialisation. So supermarkets, shops, cafes, etc.

Big disadvantage is that you fall in love and have to give them back. mIL certainly spent a lot of time teaching basic obedience.

Yes I think you're right as a woman came in to where I used to work with a training puppy a few years ago, she was lovely and I've been pretty taken with the idea ever since.
Did your MIL train many pups? I can imagine it would always be hard to give them back but I think I could deal with it. Me and my dad fostered a couple of dogs when I was a kid and it was sad to say goodbye, but we knew it would probably happen to start with so it made it slightly easier.

She must have trained 3 or 4 I think. She did it when she retired and then got too much for her. I have a feeling when she went on holiday she didn't have to pay kennels, not sure if it went back to them for a week or whether guide dog people just paid the kennels. She certainly didn't have to pay vets fees.

I think it was pretty much one out, one in on the puppy front which probably helped. I just couldn't imagine giving my puppy away and ive only had her six months. Im suppose you know from the start what you're doing and that its of such benefit to someone.

I take my hat off to people who do it.

"you have the puppy for a year and teach basic training"

As far as I recall, you have got the rough gist of it.

Basic training is not exactly as it would be with your own puppy however, and you would receive training for that. For example, guide dogs eventually learn to urinate when 'off duty' and to a 'command', so no stopping at handy lampposts. You wouldn't want to teach a guide dog puppy to heel, precisely and beautifully, when later as a working dog it will be required to walk a little ahead of it's handler. So some little puppy rearing differences, but they are very important.

Viva is correct in saying socialisation is a big part of it, including travel, public transport and really, any public places. Lots of fun, but yes, giving 'your' dog up would be very difficult.

Don't know if it's still the case, but it used to be there were different sorts of 'puppy walkers', so there were some people who took on adult dogs, for example, brood bitches.

MIL has done I think around 20 dogs. Plus side is you get endless puppies and yes, if you go on holiday or any vet care is needed they sort it all outs I think they even sent the food and you get a small allowance to cover costs.

They quite tight rules on who can do it- mostly I think you need to be at home all day as young puppies cannot be left alone. You can take them places with you, which is good, for a coffee etc but you are training them when out- so you couldn't just wander round marks and spencer like you always do- you are constantly ensuring they behave etc. it is quite hard work. Plus a new puppy in the first few weeks is like a newborn in a way - you need to get up through the night and toilet train them. They can be destructive as with all young puppies until they are trained.

But it is very rewarding. DH has fond memories as a child and we have all enjoyed the most recent puppies. It is sad when they move on, but you know that from the start and you know they will be well cared for. You should contact them if you are interested.

I didn't know about the urination training or walking ahead of the owner! Interesting. but I guess you would be trained on all that stuff, I'm used to training normal pups basic obedience so I guess it's just adjusting to what they need to be taught.
Also do you know if it's ok to do it while you have small children? We have a baby so wanting to wait until he is walking and talking and starting nursery part time, at the very least - we're not quite ready for it now and not sure for definite that we would be right for it yet. I'm a SAHM so I would be at home all the time with the pup.

Families having small children was certainly no bar to puppy walking, as far as I remember.

As to not being quite ready, I don't think it is something that ever happens quickly, so really you have nothing to loose by inquiring sooner rather than later ... and everything to gain!

Yes maybe so :) I would really love to do it just want to be 100% before committing or starting the process if you know what I mean, as it is a huge commitment, and would prefer to have a little more time to dedicate to the pup than I do now as our LO is only 5mo.

We did it last year in Australia. We got our puppy from 8weeks and had him until 8months when I had to go back to work.
It is not as hard to give them back as the job is very hard work. By 5months old he peed and pood on command, he walked great on the lead, a little ahead as mentioned. He laid in the corner of the classroom at school whilst 26 7 yr olds came into class for up to 20 mins unleashed. He didn't chase anything and had no interest in more or less anything while he had his jacket on.
As soon as his jacket was off he was a normal dog, the switch was fascinating. But this took a LOT of effort, 100% reinforcement with absoloutly everything. I have a 8 and 7yr old dc's and they were grate. It is quite stressful when they squat down for a poo in the middle of the supermarket lol!
We loved doing it as it was very rewarding but it is very hard work.

The poo in the supermarket just made me lol.
An acquaintance of mine is blind and has relied on guide dogs most of her adult life. The one she has at the minute is pretty naughty though and usually tries to take a detour to the butchers whenever they go out
It amazes me how much the dog can do for her though, especially at home. She lives alone and would be lost without the dog.
Would you do it again if you had the chance, lula?

A fiend of mine used to do it but stopped after about 6 puppies because 2 of their pups failed their training/ health check (one had bad hips and the other just didn't have the right temperament for it) My friend ended up keeping both dogs and said she couldn't risk any more failing because shed have to keep them too! (You don't have to of course but in her case she couldn't bring herself to say no)

I'm a volunteer free runner for the Guide dogs. So I take out fully trained guide dogs, away from their owner and off harness, for some fun time in the park.
It's not as big a commitment as being a puppy handler obviously, nowhere near as much, but it's extremely rewarding.
And the dogs and their owners seem to get as much out of it as I do .
I was trained and vetted in much the same way as a puppy handler.

don't forget other assistance dog charities who are also looking for walkers/puppy socialisers - hearing dogs, canine partners, dogs for the disabled etc.