Who looks after the puppies when they are little?
Pups are born at the Breeding Centre in Kew Victoria and stay with their mother and brother and sisters until they are seven weeks old. Then they are boarded out with families, known as Puppy Raisers, who care for the pup and teach it basic obedience such as how to walk correctly on a leash. Puppy Raisers are also responsible for socialising the pup by gradually introducing it to shopping centres, railway stations, city centres and a range of other places it is likely to encounter during its training and subsequent work as a Guide Dog. The dog returns to the Training Centre at approximately 12 months of age for assessment and, if suitable, begins Guide Dog training.
