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Guide Dogs at Sydney Dog Lovers Show

Fans of man’s best friend will have the chance to get up close with future Guide Dogs and learn how you can be an integral part of the puppy raising process at the 2018 Sydney Dog Lovers Show to be held on Saturday 4 - Sunday 5 August.

Dog enthusiasts will have the opportunity to cuddle up to the latest litter of Labrador puppies and see Gulliver, the world’s largest Guide Dog. 

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT hopes to raise awareness of, and much-needed funds for, the important role Guide Dogs play in helping people who are blind or vision impaired to get around safely and independently, so they can live the life they choose. 

“We are looking forward to giving guests an understanding of how much research, hard work and training goes into transforming playful puppies into life changing Guide Dogs,” Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Guide Dog Services Manager Paul Adrian said. 

It costs more than $35,000 to breed, raise and train each Guide Dog; which includes completing five months of intensive training at the Guide Dog Centre in Western Sydney. 

As we receive less than three per cent of funding from the Government, we rely on the support of the community so that we can continue to provide freedom and independence to people with sight loss,” said Mr Adrian. 

Representatives from Guide Dogs NSW/ACT will be available at the Guide Dogs stand to talk to guests about the Guide Dog program and ways in which they can help, such as becoming a Puppy Sponsor. 


The latest litter of Guide Dog puppies will be on hand for Pat a Pooch sessions and will also be looking for their new volunteer Puppy Raiser homes.

Being a Puppy Raiser is an incredibly rewarding experience, as well as an important element to the training of a Guide Dog. Once our puppies reach eight weeks of age they are placed with a volunteer Puppy Raiser, who cares for the pup for a year prior to beginning Guide Dog training,” Puppy Development Manager Karen Hayter said.

“Not only do Puppy Raisers provide crucial care and affection for the puppies, they also work closely with our Puppy Development team on basic training. During regular group training days Puppy Raisers help teach the dogs to sit and stay as well as how to adapt to different surroundings.”

Each dog spends its first year living with a volunteer Puppy Raiser and attending regular training sessions before starting the Guide Dog training program.

The world’s largest Guide Dog, Gulliver, will also be in attendance at the Dog Lovers Show. Guide Dogs NSW’s 4.3 metre tall, 690 kilogram fibreglass blond Lab will join in the festivities and help showcase the special role that a dog can play in someone’s life, as well as make a great selfie opportunity!

The Sydney Dog Lovers Show will be held Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 August 2018 at the Royal Hall of Industries and The Hordern Pavilion. 

A complete program of events is available at www.dogloversshow.com.au 


ABOUT GUIDE DOGS NSW/ACT

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is the leading provider of Guide Dogs and orientation and mobility services to enable people with impaired vision to get around their communities independently. Services include providing training and aids including long canes, Guide Dogs and electronic travel devices such as talking GPS technology. Visit www.guidedogs.com.au, call 1800 804 805, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

MEDIA RELEASE, 10 July 2018
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