Like a baby's first-steps - the relationship between a guide dog and its owner begins very tentatively. Learning to trust the dog, to sense its directional movement and how to give it instructions. All this takes time but gradually a bond develops; an extraordinary partnership is formed between guide dog and owner, providing mobility and independence for the visually impaired person.

Blind and partially sighted people have to put total trust in their guide dogs, often taking life in their hands - for example, crossing a busy road. Only through the care and dedication of the charity's training teams do these loyal dogs mature to become such trusted companions.

Prince is the four-legged friend of Richard Chapman - a guide dog owner from West Yorkshire. When Richard stands the guide dog leaps up with him and watches his every move. He follows Richard around the family home, happy to be the family pet.

But as soon as the harness and lead go on, Prince is on duty - a guide dog and the one in control.

"If I'm walking the streets and I ask Prince to go forward and he goes to the right or left, I have to go with him," says Richard. "I have to trust him and know that he is moving me out of the way of a parked car or any danger, and I trust him implicitly with my life."

"The bond is so close, and not just with me trusting Prince, but him trusting me. I exercise him and groom him because all that helps with the bonding."

Every year around 1,200 would-be guide dogs are born to The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association's brood bitches. The pups must be intelligent and good-natured - not be nervous of crowds or frightened by sudden noises.

At about six weeks old, the puppies move from the homes of brood bitch holders to live with volunteer puppy walkers, where they stay until they are between 12 and 14 months-old.

Puppy walkers introduce the young pups to the sights, sounds and smells of a world in which they will play such an important part. This will mean taking the dogs on buses and trains, into shops and along busy streets. The puppy walker will teach the puppy to walk ahead on the leash (not to "heel") as it will once a guide dog, and to obey simple commands such as "sit", "down", "stay" and "come". The walker will also teach the guide dog pup to "free run" and return when called.

When the pup is between 12 and 14-months-old it goes to a Guide Dogs' training facility where it learns the skills needed to guide a blind or partially sighted person. Training, which takes between six and eight months, culminates in about two to four weeks of intensive training with its new owner. This takes place either in the form of residential training or training in the guide dog owners home (domicilary training).

Guide dogs work for an average of seven years and a blind or partially sighted person can have up to eight dogs in their lifetime. On retirement the dog often stays on as a pet in the owner?s family or, if this is not the case, Guide Dogs finds a loving home for the dog.

The mobility and independence provided by the guide dog has transformed many visually impaired people's lives. Previously house-bound, many with the help of their guide dog have returned to work or become active charity volunteers and public speakers.

"A sense of wonder is often experienced by people when they see a guide dog and its owner around and about," says Steve Billington, the charity's Director of External Relations.

"Without the generosity and support of the public we would not be able to develop and sustain these extraordinary partnerships."

Further information about The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, including opportunities for puppy walking, volunteering and fundraising, is available by phoning 0870 600 23 23.

FACT FILE BOX ~ The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association