I joined Guide Dogs back in 2009. I started as a Guide Dog Trainer, teaching dogs from a year old, how to do their ‘guiding tasks’ for when they are matched with a service user.
This includes stopping at all kerbs, walking in a straight line until otherwise directed, moving round obstacles (parked cars, street furniture etc.), to name a few.
Eight years ago, I became part of our Puppy Development Department. Delivering pups from eight week old and supporting their ‘Puppy Raiser’ for the first year of the pups life in becoming a Guide Dog.
In the early days, I support the volunteer with issues such as toilet training, biting, crate training. Leading on to exposing their pup to different environments, situations, public transport, along side teaching basic obedience.
Here is a little video on what is never an average week of my job : )
For more information on volunteering opportunities, please visit www.guidedogs.org.uk.