Volunteering with our Dogs
We have the following volunteering opportunities available. If you are aged 18+ why not get involved?
Volunteer with our dogs and help support them on their journey to becoming a guide dog. You could provide a loving home for a guide dog puppy, volunteer to walk a working guide dog or foster a guide dog in training. In all these roles, you’ll be offering invaluable support to our organisation and getting hands-on with our canine community.
Training Dog Fosterer - Are you a dog lover with room in your home to look after a dog during evenings and weekends? This could be the perfect role for you!
As a Training Dog Fosterer, you’ll be giving a dog in training a loving home whilst they embark on their journey to become a guide dog. You’ll get to see the progress your furry companion is making in their training and be a vital part of their journey, without the commitment of looking after a dog full time.
What you’ll be doing
In this rewarding role, your support for a guide dog in training will include:
Doing the school run for your dog in training! This will typically involve dropping them off and picking them up at an agreed time Monday to Friday at one of our regional centres or community teams, however, some sites may vary
Caring for your dog in your home such as feeding, grooming, free running and playing, following the advice of our expert staff
Helping your dog keep up with their training by reinforcing the techniques at home from our first-class training programme
Making sure your dog is not left alone for more than four hours in a 24-hour period. If you’re planning on going on holiday, let us know at your initial phone call so we can plan alternative cover for your future life changer
Puppy Raiser
What is a Puppy Raiser?
As a Puppy Raiser, you'll provide a puppy with the vital foundation for its future role as a guide dog. You'll be looking after a puppy for 12-16 months and will guide him or her through training, socialisation, the introduction of new environments and experiences whilst providing a loving home.
There might be the odd chewed slipper along the way, but nothing beats the rewarding feeling of loving and raising a puppy who will go on to make an enormous difference to someone living with sight loss.
Dog Wellbeing Volunteer
What you’ll be doing
Helping our dogs settle after a busy day training, using our training techniques
Helping create a comfortable environment for our dogs in training, through either cleaning the pens or preparing food enrichment toys
Assisting with grooming and toileting of the dogs
Getting involved with recording behaviours of our dogs to help with their training
Helping our dogs with some of their training to become a life changer!
Time commitment: Time commitment is negotiable with the organisation.
Expenses reimbursed: Travel expenses are reimbursed.
Training provided: Full training is provided.
Selection procedure: Informal discussion, application form completion, 2 references and a disclosure and barring check (cost met by organisation)
If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact us using the form below.