How can I become a guide dog trainer…?
Guide dog training is very specialized. Very very few people will attempt to train their own guide dog as suggested by one answerer. In fact, in some states, like California, it is illegal to train a guide dog unless you are from a recognized program. Nearly all guide dogs around the world are trained at centers that specialize in training such dogs. Nearly all require a college degree and several years in an apprenticeship before they will hire a person as a professional trainer. There is another option for those who want to volunteer. They can be puppy raisers. They receive a puppy at about 8 weeks old. They house train the pup, teach it house manners, teach it basic obedience (like walking nicely on a leash, coming when called, sit, down, stay, etc.), and socialize it, then return it to the school for advanced training when it is 12-18 months old. In either case the first step is to locate a program to work with. I am frequently asked how to find a service or guide dog program, so I
