Reclassified Dog Adoption

Find out about dogs who have a career change.
A yellow Labrador puppy sitting.

What makes a good fit for a Guide Dog home?

Generally speaking, a welcoming, loving environment makes a fantastic fit for a reclassified Guide Dog. Beyond that, there are some specific requirements for best-possible forever homes:

A black Labrador puppy sitting
  • The ideal home for a reclassified Guide Dog is a loving, warm and welcoming environment. Labradors are renowned for their loyalty and affection, and it is important that this is reciprocated by their humans so they can live their best lives. 
  • Our beautiful dogs are raised to assist and be around people and are not accustomed to being left alone for long periods of time. An ideal pet applicant would work from home, be retired or semi-retired, or spend much of their time at home, not leaving the dog generally for more than four hours at a time and allowing the dog access to home most of the time so they can keep them company. 
  • Our dogs are very clever! They have been house trained from a young age and have slept indoors since birth. An important requirement is they must not sleep outdoors. 
  • To keep our dogs safe, a fully fenced dog proof yard and shelter attached to the home is a must. A doggy door to the home is highly suggested.  
  • Labradors are joyful and energetic dogs who require daily exercise and enrichment to keep them happy and healthy. Applicants should be willing and able to commit to exercising the dog for an hour each day.    
  • All pet dogs are desexed and microchipped. All pet dogs are vet checked prior to placement with their new owner and are current with vaccinations, flea, tick, and worming treatments. 
  • There is a charge for the dogs and this price may vary dependant on a range of factors advised at time of advertisement. This fee is invested back into the important community focused programs offered at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and assists with the ongoing care of our wonderful dogs.  

How old are the reclassified Guide Dogs?

Most of the dogs that become available for adoption are around a year and a half old and have been given a career change because of circumstances that are unique to them.

We look for homes that will be understanding of each dog’s individual needs and prepared to put in the time and management that any young dog in a new home requires.

A yellow labrador dog outside. The dog is in a profile view.

How can I find out more?

Owning a dog can be an incredibly rewarding experience but it comes with many responsibilities. Please consider all aspects of our dog ownership expectations before submitting your application to our pet adoption list.

To learn more about our dogs, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

An eight week old yellow labrador puppy outside looking at the camera.

How to apply for a reclassified Guide Dog

We are currently accepting new expressions of interest to adopt one of our Reclassified Pet Dogs.

To apply to welcome one of our reclassified dogs into your home, please fill out the form below or you can apply to become a Puppy Raiser!

At eight weeks of age, our Guide Dog pups are placed in the community with volunteer Puppy Raisers. These families or individuals ensure that our new puppy recruits get the best possible care, in a loving home environment while receiving necessary training.

Raising and training a puppy is an amazing experience that is incredibly rewarding for the whole family.

Learn more about Puppy Raising.

A close up image of a black labrador dogs face.

Apply now

We are currently accepting new expressions of interest to adopt one of our Reclassified Pet Dogs. Fill out the form below to get started!

    0% complete
    If you would like to support Guide Dogs in another way, you could donate today, become a Puppy Pal, or learn more about other volunteering opportunities.

    Training dogs home boarding program application form

    Fields marked with * are required.

    Applicant Details

    Street Address

    Not eligible at this time

    We're sorry! Our dogs are best suited to larger living spaces.

    Please note, owning a dog can make it difficult to secure rental accommodation. Please consider this and your ongoing commitment to a dog when applying

    Not eligible at this time

    We're sorry, it is important that you have appropriate permissions from your landlord before applying for a pet dog.

    Not eligible at this time

    Not eligible at this time

    We require our pet dog applicants to be aged 21 years and above and reside in a stable home.

    Living Arrangements

    Not eligible at this time

    We're sorry, our dogs' safety is of the utmost importance when we are looking for a suitable home.

    Not eligible at this time

    Thank you for taking the time to apply, at this time you do not meet the criteria to proceed with this application.

    We require our pet dog adoption applicants to be physically capable of handling an approx. 35kg dog.

    Not eligible at this time

    Thank you for taking the time to apply, at this time you do not meet the criteria to proceed with this application.

    We're sorry! It is essential that our applicants are able to financially support a pet dog.

    Other Pets

    Please note that not all our dogs have been socialised or exposed to cats. If you own a cat, there will be a settling period whilst the dog and cat learn to co-exist. This can take weeks to months.

    Home Environment

    Not eligible at this time

    We're sorry! It is a requirement that our dogs sleep inside the house.

    There are many ways you can help Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, such as:

    Not eligible at this time

    We're sorry! It is a requirement that our dogs are exercised every day.

    There are many ways you can help Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, such as:

    Not eligible at this time

    Thank you for taking the time to apply, at this time you do not meet the criteria to proceed with this application.

    We're sorry, it is a requirement that our dogs are kept on a secure property.

    Dog Health

    Guide Dogs NSW / ACT Staff Safety

    In the case that the dog is transported to or from your home, please complete the following:

    Guide Dogs NSW / ACT staff reserve the right to discontinue service if they feel threatened or unsafe at any time.

    Keeping in Contact

    Regardless of the outcome, the raising of a dog for Guide Dogs NSW / ACT is a lengthy process, which takes considerable commitment of both a physical and emotional nature from both staff and their Puppy Raisers. As such, keeping in contact is important to ensure the dog is being well cared for in its new home.

    View the Guide Dogs NSW / ACT Privacy Policy.

    Marketing Consent

    Stay up to date with the Guide Dogs community!

    Thank you

    You have been subscribed successfully. Please check your email to confirm.

    Ready to continue?

    Seems like you have filled this form earlier. Let’s pick up where you left off.

    I need help

    Welcome, SeeWay!

    Australia’s first comprehensive network of support for people with low vision.