Module 2 Resource sheet

The stages of training a guide dog

 Cut out the activity cards on page 4 and 5 and mix them up, ask eight children to
come forward to read aloud a card each. Encourage the group of eight to put
themselves in order of a guide dog’s timeline from birth to becoming a guide dog,
with help from the whole group/ class.
As you go through each card there are additional questions and answers in the
teacher/ leader version to ask the whole group/ class.

Teacher/ Leader version with notes and questions

Introduction to the session
Guide Dogs have a worldwide reputation as a breeder of working dogs.
This means that The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association make sure that all guide
dog mums and dads are happy and healthy dogs. Read your cards aloud, then put
yourselves in the correct order from the start of a guide dog’s life until it becomes a
guide dog.

www.guidedogs.org.uk
Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SC038979) 9725 03/18 2
Card – A litter of guide dog puppies are A So that their owner can tell them when
born. Each litter is named after a letter of the they want to cross or which way they
alphabet. The only letter not used is X. want to turn (it’s the person who decides
Q Can you think of any names for dogs which way to go, not the dog).
beginning with A?
Card – Next the dogs are matched with
A such as - Adam, Amy, Albert. Some of the the correct owner. Walking speed, height,
puppies are extra special and are chosen the person’s eyesight and person’s day to
to be sponsor pups or are named by a day life are all checked to get the right
member of the public who has raised match.
money to name the pup.
Q What does a guide dog do?
Card – At 6 weeks old they are each A Helps its owner who may have little or no
given a health check and vaccinations sight to go on journeys by guiding them
then each one goes to live with a volunteer around obstacles and other people (they
Puppy Walker. They learn about the world, make sure the person doesn’t bump into
sights, smells and sounds, such as busy anything)
roads and going on buses and trains.
Q Why do you think they need to learn Card – Once matched the owner and
guide dog train together for 4 weeks.
about roads, buses and trains?
Training on the routes their person needs to
A These are all places they will go when know to get to places, such as the shops,
guiding their owner who might not be work and home.
able to see. They will need to be calm
and not scared when going on them.
Q What should you do if you see a person
with a guide dog?
Card – They go to puppy class and are A Try to ignore the dog as if you talk to it,
taught to walk ahead on the lead and learn touch it or make noises you may distract
commands like sit, stay, down and come. it from what it is doing which could be
dangerous.
Card – They are now dogs and say
goodbye to their volunteer puppy walker Card – If the training is successful, the
and go to training school. At school they owner hands over 50p and the guide dog
wear a brown training harness. is awarded with a white harness and their
Q How old do you think they are when they lifetime partnership begins.
go to school? Q Why do people pay 50p
A They are about a year old. A Anyone who needs one should be able
to afford a guide dog the 50p covers the
Card – At school they learn to walk in a legal transfer of the dog to the owner.
straight line unless there’s an obstacle. To
stop at kerbs and wait for the command to It actually costs over 55 thousand pounds
cross or turn left or right. for each guide dog over the course of its life
Q Why do you think they learn to stop at a but this is covered by funds mainly raised by
kerbs until told? public donations.

www.guidedogs.org.uk
Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SC038979) 9725 03/18 3
Resource Cards
The stages of training a guide dog

At 6 weeks old they

are each given a
health check and
vaccinations then
A litter of guide dog each one goes to
puppies are born. live with a volunteer
Each litter is named Puppy Walker. They
after a letter of the learn about the world,
alphabet. sights, smells and
sounds, such as
busy roads and
going on buses
and trains.

They are now dogs

They go to puppy and say goodbye
class and are taught to their volunteer
to walk ahead on the puppy walker and
lead and words like go to training school.
sit, stay, down and At school they wear
come. a brown training
harness.

4
 Next the dogs are
At school they learn matched with the
to walk in a straight correct owner.
line unless there’s an Walking speed,
obstacle. To stop at height, the person’s
kerbs and wait for the eyesight and person’s
command to cross or day to day life are all
turn left or right. checked to get the
right match.

Once matched the

If the training is
owner and guide dog
successful, the owner
train together for 4
hands over 50p and
weeks. Training on
the guide dog is
the routes their person
awarded with a white
needs to know, to
harness and their
get to places such as
lifetime partnership
the shops, work and
begins.
home.

5
Resource Sheet
Application to become a guide dog

Choose the type of dog breed you are:

I am a

Your Name

Describe the qualities that mean you would make a good guide dog:

www.guidedogs.org.uk
Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SC038979) 9725 03/18 6
Resource Sheet
Our Breeds
We train different breeds to become guide dogs,
In 2016, our guide dog stock comprised:

Golden retriever
crosses
ses (with
50% labradors
adors
erman
or German
pherds)
shepherds)

Labradors 34%

Golden
10% etrievers
retrievers

German
shepherds
hepherds 4%

Other - Poodle
urly coat
or curly
2% ever
retriever
es
crosses

www.guidedogs.org.uk
Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SC038979) 9725 03/18 7