Guide Dog Training

Training begins

Puppies progress from GDQ’s Puppy Development Program into formal Guide Dog Training at about 12 months of age. 

The event is recognised at our Puppy Progression Parties, and at this point the pup will farewell their puppy raiser’s and enter the kennels at Guide Dogs Queensland’s Breeding and Training Centre at Bald Hills.


New friends

At the start of its training program, each dog is allocated to a Guide Dog Trainer who spends the first few weeks bonding and developing the dog’s response to a number of commands, instructions and prompts. 

The trainer uses these responses throughout the training program to control the dog in various situations and to shape the different guiding behaviours.  Guiding behaviours include:

  • Responding to the handler’s instructions;
  • Locating safe road crossing points and stopping at kerbs;
  • Crossing roads straight;
  • Avoiding stationary obstacles such as street furniture,
  • Avoiding height obstacles such as overhangs;
  • Avoiding obstacles such as pedestrians, prams, trolleys and bicycles; and Locating objectives and destinations.

During the early bonding period, most of the dog’s training takes place on-site at the Bald Hills Breeding and Training Centre.  When the dog is ready to undertake its first training walk in harness, usually around week three or four, it spends much of its training time off site, learning to guide in a variety of environments.  These areas include residential suburbs, rural and city locations, shopping malls, and rail and bus stations.

Method of training

GDQ’s Holistic Training Model prescribes introducing the dog to the whole range of guiding tasks and developing the dog’s range of guiding skills from the outset of training, hence the term ‘holistic’ training. 
This model also prescribes a reward based approach, thus making the training experience positive, pleasant and rewarding for the dog.

As the dog progresses through training, the trainer gradually withdraws the use of prompts as the dog starts to initiate correct guiding decisions and actions. 


Ready to 'harness' skills

Eventually, with minimal input from the trainer, the dog accepts responsibility for its guiding role. 

When the dog is able to demonstrate it can consistently perform its work safely and effectively, it is assessed as being ready for matching and allocation to a blind or vision impaired client. This usually occurs when the dog is around 20 to 24 months of age.

Due to Guide Dogs Queensland’s commitment to producing quality Guide Dogs, dogs are continuously assessed throughout the training process to determine suitability to the guiding role.  Dogs that fail to meet our standard are withdrawn from the program and re-classified for alternative careers.


If you wish to know more about Guide Dog Training, contact:

Guide Dog Services Manager: Marc Lyell
Phone: (07) 3500 9043
Fax: 3500 7500

Phone Numbers - Freecall 1800 810 122 - Guide Dog Shop 1800 007 460

Guide Dogs Queensland is a proud member of the International Guide Dog Federation. In addition, our organisation is a Quality Endorsed Company.

All Client Services provided through Guide Dogs Queensland comply with the '9' Queensland Standards for Disability Services (1997).