They will one day be leading the blind, but for now some young pups are looking for good homes.
The New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, the long-term guardians of up-and-coming guide dogs, is appealing for Christchurch families who can foster the pups for the first year of their lives.
Too young for core training, the freshly weaned canines need to find their feet in the company of dog lovers who will be able to give them up after 12 to 13 months.
Robyn Pahl, who oversees the early training of the pups, said it took a special kind of person to do the job.
"It's looking at the big picture, not just having the puppies. And the end result of that hard work will hopefully go into the making of a guide dog for somebody down the line," said Pahl, puppy development assistant for the foundation.
She said prospective foster parents – known as puppy walkers – should not be working outside the home more than 12 hours a week as they needed time to do basic training as well as lavish the dogs with love.
The foundation has about 25 puppy walkers but needs another 10 to 15 over coming months.
Two foster families are required next month and eight to 13 in February. Properties must be fully fenced.
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