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885 Posts
Hello 
This is my very first post here. I have today recieved the phone call from the Guide Dogs Volunteering Section to say that they are now recruiting Puppy Walkers in my area and that my application form is in the post
This is something that Ive been seriously thinking about for the last ten years, but its only now that Im in the right job/house/children old enough etc. So Im rather excited but nervous all at the same time!! I really want to do this as my Grandad lost his sight and just adored dogs, he even kept the lead and bowl of his own dog, from 40 years previously. A guide dog would have given him some life and independence back and there was never enough Guide Dogs to go round. So this is in his memory.
Ive had dogs the last 12 years and Im currently owned by Alfie a 2 and half year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who I/we qualified as a Pets as Therapy dog when he was 18months old. However all the places that we were allocated were a considerable journey away and he has always got terribly terribly car sick even from an 8week pup, its something that we've had to pull out of doing due to Alfie getting so upset on the journey there. Ive always done dog training classes (for fun, not competition) and Ive always done lots of things with clickers and reward based training. Im also very interested in dog psychology of all kinds to find out what makes them tick and why they do the things they do
I just wondered if there was any words of wisdom that any of you experienced Puppy Walkers could give me, things that you wished you had known/been prepared for or little tips that youve found useful.
Ps when I registered I had to put in how many labradors I had, I had to make it up as I dont have one yet lol so according to my profile I have a chocolate lab - sorry!
This is my very first post here. I have today recieved the phone call from the Guide Dogs Volunteering Section to say that they are now recruiting Puppy Walkers in my area and that my application form is in the post
This is something that Ive been seriously thinking about for the last ten years, but its only now that Im in the right job/house/children old enough etc. So Im rather excited but nervous all at the same time!! I really want to do this as my Grandad lost his sight and just adored dogs, he even kept the lead and bowl of his own dog, from 40 years previously. A guide dog would have given him some life and independence back and there was never enough Guide Dogs to go round. So this is in his memory.
Ive had dogs the last 12 years and Im currently owned by Alfie a 2 and half year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who I/we qualified as a Pets as Therapy dog when he was 18months old. However all the places that we were allocated were a considerable journey away and he has always got terribly terribly car sick even from an 8week pup, its something that we've had to pull out of doing due to Alfie getting so upset on the journey there. Ive always done dog training classes (for fun, not competition) and Ive always done lots of things with clickers and reward based training. Im also very interested in dog psychology of all kinds to find out what makes them tick and why they do the things they do
I just wondered if there was any words of wisdom that any of you experienced Puppy Walkers could give me, things that you wished you had known/been prepared for or little tips that youve found useful.
Ps when I registered I had to put in how many labradors I had, I had to make it up as I dont have one yet lol so according to my profile I have a chocolate lab - sorry!