DOG lovers look no further as Guide Dogs is calling for volunteers to look after a puppy for a year in the Andover area.

The assistance dog charity is recruiting ‘Puppy Walkers’ to look after a young pups to prepare them for their working life by familiarising them with different environments in home life, towns and public transport.

Volunteer Puppy Walkers provide the full-time care and education of a puppy from seven weeks of age until they are between 12 and 14-months-old.

Puppy walker Christie has been looking after 11-month-old Johnny and five-month-old Frodo, and loves “walking and cuddling” them along having them as part of the family.

Christie said: “We do lots of basic puppy training and socialisation with the support of our Guide Dogs supervisor.

“The first thing people always want to know is how do you let them leave you at the end, but our whole family is prepared for this and we all know that they aren’t dogs that will live with us forever.

“Knowing that I am a part of the beginning of one of these amazing guide dogs journey is the best feeling and I thoroughly recommend it.”

Guide Dogs receive no government funding, and each guide dog averagely costs the charity £50,000.

People can also get involved with Guide Dogs in the community by joining their local Guide Dogs Support Group as a group member, where fundraising, campaigning and promoting the charity’s services takes place.

Puppy walking volunteers meet regularly with a supervisor where they look at the progress of the dog. There are also requirements and procedures that need to be followed.

After living with Puppy Walkers, the assistance dogs-in-the-making move to begin their formal guide dog training at a training school.

For more information call 0118 983 8892 or email Hazel Kelly on hazel.kelly@guidedogs.org.uk. To apply, go to guidedogs.org.uk/supportus/volunteering/what-can-i-do/puppy-walkers.