Guide Dog Training

Frequently Asked Questions about our Guide Dogs.

• How much does it cost to train a Guide Dog?

  It takes two years and costs more than $50,000 to transform a bright, playful puppy into a responsible and highly skilled Guide Dog. The cost and time are due to the in-depth training and careful preparation that goes into the transformation.

  Every graduating Guide Dog takes on a huge responsibility, so we work hard to ensure they have all the experience required to explore the world by your side.

  Thanks to the generous and ongoing support of the public, our Guide Dogs are matched into partnerships at no cost to the person with blindness or low vision.

  We receive very little funding from different governments around Australia, which means we rely on your support—as donors, fundraisers, volunteers, and more—to provide these life-changing services to people with low vision or blindness.

• How can I support Guide Dogs?

  Whether you’re a business, a student, a retiree, or you’ve just got a soft spot for Guide Dogs in general, there are many ways to help out.

  Any support—large or small—helps raise and train our world-class Guide Dogs, and ensures people with low vision and blindness can access ongoing support.

  Here are some of the best ways you can help:

  • Become a Puppy Pal: As a Puppy Pal, you’ll be part of a community following a litter of adorable pups on their journey to becoming Guide Dogs. Your sponsorship will cover important costs ranging from training and equipment to the maintenance of our puppy nurseries—or cuteness HQ, as some say—and veterinary costs.
  • Make a donation: Your donation goes towards ensuring people with low vision and blindness can partner with Guide Dogs, if and when they choose to. Currently, over 80% of our funding comes from the community.
  • Volunteer as a puppy raiser: As a puppy raiser, you’re responsible for giving the best care and training possible for a young pup, usually for around 12 months. By looking after a young puppy—and providing crucial training and learning opportunities—you can help puppies develop important skills like being around people, and living as part of a loving home.
• How are Guide Dogs matched with their Handlers?

  Once a Guide Dog has graduated it is matched with a new handler based on personality, lifestyle and physical traits. Great care goes into matching process to ensure dog and handler are the perfect fit for each other.

• What is the life of a working Guide Dog like?

  Once a Guide Dog team is matched, the focus is on building trust with each other and developing a strong bond. The Guide Dog team start with training at a basic level, building up to more complex situations as dog and handler gain more confidence. A Guide Dog team will continue training throughout its working life.

• What happens when a Guide Dog retires?

  After a dedicated working life, a Guide Dog will retire, knowing that it has helped change someone’s life. The Handler will have the option to keep the dog as a pet or alternatively the dogs can be rehomed with a new loving family.

• Is Guide Dogs NSW/ACT recognised by The International Guide Dog Federation?

  Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is proud to be a member of the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), the most significant industry-selected peak body for Guide Dogs associations globally. IGDF is responsible for the development, monitoring and evaluation of standards applied within all IGDF-member organisations in order to ensure high-quality service to Guide Dog users and Handlers around the world.

  The strength of our relationship with IGDF has ensured that we continue to improve outcomes for the people we support with our first-class Guide Dogs. Our Guide Dog breeding lines have been developed with the support of IGDF Members and peers from around the globe including the UK, US, Japan and France. Through our association with IGDF, we have also been in a position to reciprocate with those countries and more including New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

• What is Guide Dog training?

  Guide Dogs are specially trained dogs for people with blindness or with low vision, helping their Handlers navigate everyday environments with confidence and safety.

• What does a Guide Dog learn during the training process?

  The extensive training process ensures Guide Dogs can safely guide their Handlers around obstacles, crossings, public transport and busy community environments.