A GUIDE dog charity is calling for animal lovers to care for puppies before they start training to become guide dogs.

The charity is asking volunteers to become puppy walkers, helping young dogs to socialise and learn good behaviour in the first year of their lives.

Guide dogs need to be happy in all environments, including town centre shops, on public transport and in churches, so volunteers should introduce their puppies to as many different situations as possible.

Guide Dogs staff support their volunteers for the duration.

Volunteers have said that becoming a puppy walker enables them to make new friends and although it can be upsetting to say goodbye to their puppy when the 12 months is up, they feel proud when their dog qualifies.

Lynette Proctor, Engagement Officer for Guide Dogs, said: “Puppy walking is a crucial part of Guide Dogs work. We rely on volunteers to be able to train our guide dogs to enable them to go on to support blind and partially sighted people across Cheshire.

“Though it takes a lot of time, commitment and love from you and your family. That feeling when the dog you trained goes onto change someone’s life is truly amazing.”

Puppy walkers must be over 18 and care for puppies in their own home.

For more information visit guidedogs.org.uk/supportus/volunteering/what-can-i-do/puppy-walkers.