About the Puppy Training Program.

The goal of puppy raising is to produce a happy, healthy, confident and resilient dog. These are the traits that we look for when assessing the pups for their suitability for Guide Dog training or one of our other careers such as Breeding Dogs or Therapy Dogs.

Happy: the pup is relaxed with “loose” body language, e.g. loose, wagging tail, soft floppy ears, relaxed facial features, friendly and affectionate.

Healthy: the pup has a healthy coat, good skin and is not overweight or underweight. The pup will be assessed for their hips, elbows, eye and heart health during their journey from puppy raising to training to Guide Dog.

Confident: the pup is bold, likes to explore new things, has initiative and walks slightly in front of the Handler on a lead that is loose or has light tension.

Resilient: the pup recovers quickly from being startled, for example by a loud noise or sudden movement. They adapt quickly to things like new environments or a new Handler. The pup is not overly impacted by a negative experience, particularly one that it could reasonably be expected to encounter in its life as a Guide Dog.

The role of the Puppy Raiser is to provide a loving and safe environment, expose the pup to a range of environments and situations in a positive and responsible way, and to train the pup in some foundational skills that prepare them for Guide Dog assessment and training.

We hope you find the following resource helpful, and that you enjoy the experience and challenge of raising a young Guide Dog puppy. Please reach out to your Puppy Development Advisor (PDA) or the team at the Guide Dogs Centre if you have any questions or require further support.