Has anyone adopted a 'failed'/career change guide dog?

[SNkidMarriageCrisis]

Just wondered of anyone had any experience of this? Have applied and waiting to hear back

No but that’s so cute! I hope it goes well

How do you apply? Exh lost his lab during the pandemic & a failed guide dog would be ideal for him as he has the time & patience to train one.

Not personally but I know someone ( vaguely we walk in the same woods) who trained guide dogs for years who adopted a failure. He is lovely and much better behaved than my dog.

the standards for guide dogs are really high so lots of really lovely dogs don’t make it. Still fab. Well trained dogs though.

Thanks @ilyx 😊

@Nat6999 there is a section on guideposts.org.uk about rehoming a withdrawn or retired guide dog

Sorry @Nat6999 autocorrect changed it, should be guidedogs.org.uk

I know a couple of people who’ve done this. Fantastic dogs, but I think there’s quite a long waiting list

A close family member did and it was a great decision, it's a wonderful family dog, well trained, trainable and great with their DC.

But they were already involved with guide dogs and knew the very particular commands the dogs learn, there would definitely be some swatting up required for anyone else. Also, most dogs are 'withdrawn' for a reason - health or behavioural quirks being the obvious ones. Dogs can be withdrawn at any stage of their training or working life so there will be dogs with varying levels of trained-in good behaviour and of different ages available for rehoming. There was also a very long waiting list when she applied.

Guide dogs are trained from puppyhood to walk in front of their handler and stay on the left and the dog I'm talking about still defaults to that several years later, so if you needed e.g. a dog that would walk alongside a pushchair than a ex-guide dog might not be a good fit.

Yes a relative did. The dog was the most beautiful soul, very tuned in to people's emotions and would come and rest its chin on the lap of anyone needing some love.

Quite a clumsy dog and possibly not the brightest, but all the more lovable for it!!

A fellow dog owner has one and the dog is lovely. She loves her ball because they aren’t allowed them when training.

A family member has one - a lab/golden cross, which is a fantastic combination.

He is a lovely dog, gets on well with my 2 labs, but refuses to get in water with them- not a big thing but a bit strange for the breeds.

In his case , he was a ‘softie’ and lay down whenever other dogs approached, and was still doing this at around 18 months, so was withdrawn.

He is great with kids and older family members - very gentle, unlike my clumsy pair .

I didn't even know it was a thing. The ones mentioned on here sound lovely

MiL & FIL did, but the dog was 'failed' because of a health issue rather than a behaviour issue (although has since fully recovered). He's a beautiful gentle family dog.

I know of a couple (golden retrievers). Lovely dogs- all a bit quirky but then I’ve never met any golden retriever who isn’t a bit of a “character” in one way or another

My in laws did. He failed training because he was scared of random things - Hoovers, umbrellas, washing on the line. He grew up to overcome his fears but he was never the sharpest tool In the shed. A lovely placid and endearing dog though.

Thans everyone for your replies, these dogs sound lovely 😍

Unfortunately might not be meant to be for us - I've had a reply saying that it's rare for dogs to become available, and those that do tend to be aged 10+ with complex health problems requiring experienced owners. We were ideally looking for a younger dog sadly.

That's so funny! I could do with some help keeping up with my washing 🤣

I had one growing up, she was 2 when she came to us and died at 18.
I now have a career change disabled assistance dog, she was 1 when she came to us, adorable but a total goof ball. It may be worth looking at any local assistance dog charities around you (normally they require dog to be rehomed within 50 miles of their base) but, as has already been mentioned there is often a long waiting list.

Yes she was our dog my parents puppy walked. She was an amazing dog but she was a family dog and struggled when she moved on in her training. We have first refusal and we jumped at the chance she lived till she was 10 and she was amazing family dog. We also got a retired guide dog we had puppy walked back and she lived till she was 14.

Alot of trainners and puppy walkers get first opportunity to home the dogs so I'd imagine the list is very high as many take them already. You might be better looking at a rescue centre or any breeders. We got a puppy who's 23 weeks old she's a cross between a lab and a cocker spaniel.

My childminder had a failed guide dog. Lovely soppy thing. Apparently he just wasn't into leading/ pulling!
(So unfair! All dogs I know LOVE pulling!)

We had one. She had a fantastic temperament but had failed the physical. I'd take another one any day (sighs and wishes she didn't work and could have a dog[

My friend used to be a puppy raiser so the first people the charity ask are the former puppy raisers and my friend did take one on. The dog had a great life and she adored him.

Yes, a relative took on a retired guide dog. She was lovely and so gentle. They had her about 7 years before she died.