Guide Dog Services
The decision to use a Guide Dog as a primary mobility aid is one clients make based on lifestyle. Not everyone can have or indeed wants the responsibility of a dog.
For those who do we breed the highest quality standard of Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever cross Golden Retriever using our own colony of breeding stock supplemented by selected bloodlines.
Born to Guide
Our litters of Guide Dog pups are delivered by our qualified staff in the Whelping Centre, at our Bald Hills Breeding and Training Centre.
Until about age 10 weeks, the puppies are cared for on site until they are ready to meet their Volunteer Puppy Raisers. Here they enter the Puppy Development Program, and learn basic obedience and social skills.
At age 12 months, each pup is assessed for temperament, health and suitability to the guiding role and if succesful they will enter the Guide Dog Training Program.
Our Guide Dog trainers apply the Holistic Training method imported from the United, which involves developing the dog’s entire range of guiding skills from the onset of training instead of introducing skills sequentially.
Training takes place both on site and out in the real world and lasts between six to eight months.
Each Guide Dog costs more than $25,000 to breed and train.
Ready to 'Harness' Skills
Once trained, each dog is assessed by one of our Guide Dog Mobility Instructors and matched with a client according to lifestyle requirements.
The team is given ongoing support in the client’s home environment by way of After Care programs for the duration of the partnership, which can last up to eight or nine years upon retirement of the Guide Dog at 10 or 11 years of age.
Providing comprehensive Guide Dog services is one way GDQ equips and empowers clients to live full, independent lives. Those clients who choose a Guide Dog as their aid also enjoy the devotion and constant companionship of a trusted friend.
More information is available by clicking Gude Dogs in the menu, For more information, contact: or you contact:
Guide Dog Services Manager Marc Lyell
Phone: (07) 3500 9083
Fax: (07) 3500 7500
Email: marc@guidedogsqld.com.au
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).