Puppy Walker for Guide Dogs

[QueenOfToast]

Has anyone been a puppy walker for Guide Dogs for the Blind? I have been considering doing this for ages, but I'm not sure whether it would be right for me.

I have never lived with a dog and have very little experience so I feel that I would probably need a lot of guidance, especially at first. Would this be a problem?

My plan is to eventually have a dog of my own but puppy walking felt like a way to try out dog ownership. So I'd be doing something good for charity at the same time as caring for a dog for a year and working out whether it's something I want to take on permanently.

I'd love to hear people's thoughts and experiences.

You will get support from your supervisor and you will get regular puppy lessons.

The puppies do have to be trained in a certain way and to do certain things eg poo and wee in a specific location.

You can not leave the puppy for more than 3 hours so this needs to considered.

It is unusual to be a complete dog novice to be accepted but they may consider other skills you have.

Geographically you used to have to be near certain locations but with covid not sure how this is working at the moment.

Training will take time . If the team is not working out they will remove the puppy from you

There is a lot to think about and it is much more than just having a puppy in your house for a year, emotionally and physically demanding but also amazing fun

I love dogs, wouldn’t be a puppy walker tbh, you get all the shitty bits of puppyhood and then they go just as they start to be ok...

If you live near a centre you could be a boader. They look after usually older dogs 12 month above at weekends and evenings but you have to take the dog back to the centre each day.

Again the standard is expected to be quite high and you will need to go on a training course

Thanks @PollyRoulson and @tabulahrasa

It's definitely a big responsibility and there's a lot to think about. As someone who has never had a dog, I don't mind following their rules and procedures because I literally have no idea of what you need to do with a puppy. If I applied (and was accepted) I would take it on as my job for that year. Totally unsure as to whether I could cope with puppyhood or not. I don't like missing out on sleep - do they sleep through the night?

I think that I do actually I live quite close to a training centre so maybe being a boarder for an older puppy might be a good option to look at.