hi, yesterday my mum had an interview to see if my family are suitable to become puppy walkers. It went well and now our references have to be spoken too. So... we may become puppy walkers which means we will look after a dog for the first year of it's life before it goes on to being trained to become a guide dog. I am excited because I have always wanted a dog and now we will have the chance to help raise one become such a unique special dog. I'm so excited!

I will absolutely hate the part where we have to let the dog go but surely knowing it will be going to make someone's life so much better then it will be worthwhile? I'm 15, so understandably too young to do any lead work, that will mainly be my parents, mostly my mum but I will still be around the dog every day and helping train him/her to be a sensible dog.

So basically, I'd love to hear from other people who do this or are involved with guide dogs?

Aww thanks for sharing your experiences.

bump...

Heya. I'm puppy walking my third pup at the moment - a golden lab x GR called Luffy.

My first boy Bryn has just graduated in stupidly quick time. My second boy Pickles had a really rough time, bless him. He had terrible separation anxiety, and although his working was amazing, they didn't think it was fair to put him through Kennels, where he'd be without people for more of the time, so they've decided to call it quits and find him a nice family to be a pet for. Luffy is doing amazingly well. She's just turned 13 weeks and knows pretty much all her commands, and has been to restaurants already. She's a star! next challenge - cinema!!

If your family gets accepted and you have any questions with your little one, I'm happy to help.

im waiting to hear if i can be a puppy walker im really excited but also very nervous cause im hoping i dont let them down. is it really hard work? i have got four children & a bit worried i wont be able to cope lol do the puppies mess up ur house much? xx

You won't let them down! You have so much support. More than with your first baby lol! But there is always someone to phone if what you're doing isn't working, and they'll help you make it work

It is hard work, but it's so rewarding. Because the pups are so young, they pick things up really quickly, and they are brilliant at learning commands. They all go through a teenage stage (from my experience anywhere from 6 months til just before they go) when they start ignoring you for a bit, but they always come round eventually.

The main thing is consistency. My dogs don't chew furniture because the second they looked like they might, they got shouted at. They don't jump up, cos when they start to, they get pushed back down. As long as you're really firm with them, and consistent with the rules, they'll be trained in no time.

How old are your kids? It can be great to get them involved (just got to make sure the kids know the rules too). And keep an eye out for any of them cheekily feeding from the table. Big no no hehe.

Hope you get accepted If you do, and you have any concerns, then I'm pretty much always around and will help if I can

thankyou! my kids are, 16, 14, 11, & 5. i have explained to them IF we get excepted they have to remember its not our dog & we are just helping to look after it & prepare it for other person who really needs that dog in their life. im just waiting for a supervisior to get in touch now. the only thing im bit worried about is our garden cause the fence at the back is broken ( not our fence theirs) but my husband has already said he will put a new fence up before anyone comes round x

Sounds good The kids are perfect ages - they can all help out with training hehe. Yeah, fencing is important. But Just covering it with mesh would be fine tbh. My neighbours have a gap in their fence, so we put chicken wire across it, and it's fine.

Just come back from the Guide Dogs puppy class. So much fun! Good to know they're all being stubborn and over-playful

yes thats wat i think we will do get some mesh. how oftern do u have to go puppy training with them? i cant wait im really excited!!! but then again im thinking the worse & expecting them to say no to me & then i will get disappointed. how long do u normally have to wait for the supervisor to contact to.... how long did u wait x