Volunteer with dogs.

Volunteer your time to help our pups and dogs on their journey to become life-changing Guide Dogs.
Woman holding a yellow labrador puppy

Get involved with our dogs and puppies

Our dogs might be the furry faces of our organisation, but it’s the dedication of our incredible volunteers that makes their success possible. You could support their journey by becoming a puppy raiser, a boarder, a bed and breakfast carer or a breeding carer.

Future Guide Dogs require different levels of care and commitment at all stages of their journey, so we are always in need of more generous people to share their time with them.

It takes a lot of time, patience, commitment and love to raise Guide Dogs.

From the time our puppies are born, they begin training to become life-changing Guide Dogs. They rely on lots of special people throughout their journey, and that’s where volunteers like you come in.

An eight week old yellow labrador puppy sitting on a blue dog bed looking at the camera.

Puppy Raising

You could be a puppy raiser for a six-month period, introducing the pup to all of the environments they will need to be comfortable working in when they are a Guide Dog.

Raising and training a puppy is an amazing experience that is incredibly rewarding for the whole family.

Find out more about puppy raiser responsibilities

An image of a person holding a puppy.

Bed and Breakfast Carer

You will host one of our dogs in your home during evenings and weekends for up to 20 weeks.

Each weekday morning, you’ll bring the dog to our Bald Hills campus before 7:30am for their full day of training. At 4pm, after their busy day, you’ll collect your dog, ready to unwind in your cozy home.

Experience the joy of sharing your home with one of our dogs without the full-time commitment and play a vital role in their journey to becoming a Guide Dog.

Find out more about bed and breakfast carer responsibilities

Image shows a yellow Labrador peeking over a dining table, gazing at a green plate with leftover food and a glass of dark beverage nearby.

Boarding Carer

Becoming a boarding carer is the most flexible option to volunteer with our dogs, as we look for both long-term and short-term carers who can look after the dogs on an “as needed” basis, with most boarding cases starting at a minimum of a week long.

As a boarding carer, you need to be able to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the dog. You will have the support of our team, who will make sure you have all the skills and equipment you need. All expenses including food, equipment, and veterinary visits will be covered by Guide Dogs.

Find out more about boarding carer responsibilities

Image shows a man and woman gently petting a yellow Labrador in a kitchen-living space, with a guide dog harness visible nearby.

Breeding Carer

While our breeding dogs don’t require the same commitment to training as those in our training program, they can be comfortably left at home for up to four hours at a time.

As part of the program, our breeding carers attend regular handler classes every two months. These dogs are the best of the best, having completed 12 months in the puppy raising program and part of their Guide Dog training, as well as extensive health screenings. We provide their food, preventative treatments, and vet expenses during their time in the program, as well as boarding support if you need to go on vacation. Once their careers come to an end, they typically retire with their loving family for good.

Find out more about breeding carer responsibilities

Image shows a girl hugging a yellow labrador

Meet some of our Puppy Raisers

Leesa from Red Hill is one of our more experienced Puppy raisers, having just welcomed her seventh pup into her home.

Leesa is a terribly busy professional, running both her own graphic design business and an art gallery! She is proof you can have both a demanding and rewarding professional life while still maintaining time for puppy love – a combination we are so grateful for here at Guide Dogs.

Click here to read more. 

Image of Leesa next to some artwork with a Guide Dog in training next to her.

Carlo is a long-time Puppy raiser for Guide Dogs, having now raised five pups. Volunteering as a second-stage Puppy raiser, Carlo looks after pups in the six-to-nine-month age range, which he says works well with his lifestyle.

Carlo is a self-employed financial advisor and works from home the majority of the time.

Click here to read more. 

Image of Carlo with a puppy in a training coat.

Volunteer to support a future Guide Dog

Express your interest to be a Puppy Raiser, Boarder, Bed and Breakfast Carer or a Breeding Carer.

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    Areas of interest

    Choose your area of interest for volunteering so that you can volunteer with our dogs in the way that best suits you.

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    Personal information

    Are all of the pets in your household currently desexed?*
    Do you have a current driver's licence and access to your own vehicle?*
    Do you hold a current Blue Card?* Should you be successful with your volunteer application, we can assist you to obtain a Blue Card and/or other criminal history screenings as required.
    Do you have any medical conditions or health issues that may impact your ability to safely perform a role as a volunteer?*

    Our volunteers are ambassadors who help to enhance the reputation of our trusted organisation in the community. With this in mind, is there any information you need to disclose to us or potential conflicts of interest we need to consider?* eg. Have you ever been convicted of a crime or been prohibited from keeping animals?

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    Existing Volunteers

    Visit our volunteer portal, Canine Connect here.

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