During training to become fully-fledged guide dogs, their faces are proud and intense. These animals truly change the lives of everyone with whom they come in contact.

GUIDING HISTORY

In 1819, Herr Johann Wilhelm Klein founded a guide dog institute in Vienna, but it wasn't until almost 100 years later that the idea really took off. With many soldiers blinded during WWI, Dr Gerhard Stalling founded a guide dog centre devoted entirely to training. The service spread quickly around the world, and by 1957 eight guide dogs were working at Australian Guide Dogs for the Blind.

These days, thanks to donations from individuals and industry, the association has 12,000 guide dogs working around the country. This year the Guide Dog Associations in NSW-ACT, South Australia and Victoria will be celebrating their 50th anniversary!

DOGGY DONATIONS

Guide Dog associations are non-profit, and are always in need of financial help. It costs $26,000 to raise one puppy, and five to six in every 10 graduate. Some of the others go on to become pets as therapy, and the rest make wonderful family pets. You can help by donating, sponsoring a puppy or volunteering.

Contact the Guide Dog association in your state for details.

PUP PARENTING

If you adopt a guide dog pup, you'll be helping someone who really appreciates it. You'll also get to keep one of these gorgeous, furry, loving, mischievous little bundles for a whole year.

Puppies are adopted at three months, and return for more formal training at 15 months. It takes two years to develop a playful puppy into a qualified, responsible guide dog.

To be a puppy raiser, you must:

• Be at home for most of the day. Puppies can't be left on their own for more than three hours.

• Take your puppy for a walk each day.

• Allow your guide dog puppy to spend time indoors. They must also sleep inside.

• Have a dog-proof backyard.

• Own a car so you can transport your puppy.

• Attend training at puppy preschool.

• Live in an area near the training centre.

• The association provides bedding, leads and medical expenses. You pay $10 a week for food.

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