Getting a new puppy can be a very exciting time, but how would you feel if you could only keep it for the first year of its life and then had to give it back? If you decided to help The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and "puppy walk" one of their dogs for them, then this is exactly what would happen. Looking after a Guide Dog for the first year of its life can be a very rewarding experience and, at the same time, will be helping to provide a valuable companion for a blind or partially sighted person.

Looking after a guide dog puppy is obviously a very responsible job and one that requires a large amount of time and patience. You will need to teach your puppy basic obedience skills and take him/her into busy and noisy environments You will also need to expose your dog to young children and teach it to be relaxed around other animals-as chasing cats is definitely not allowed. During this time you will have the support of the Guide Dog association and, in the event of a holiday or illness, they will step in and look after the dog for you.

Once your dog reaches a year old it will go back to the Guide Dog Centre to begin its training. When he/she has passed their training, they will be matched up with an appropriate blind or partially sighted person - where they will remain working for around seven years Once the dog retires it usually remains with its owner, unless it is unable to do so for any reason. Unfortunately not all Guide Dogs pass the course, which means they have been found unsuitable for one of a variety of reason. This does not, however, mean that the dog will not make a loving and well-trained pet for a doting family, and there is never a shortage of willing people - although the original puppy walker is usually given first refusal.

When I was younger, my neighbour used to "puppy walk" and she walked around seven dogs in total before purchasing her own. One particular dog she had was a real favourite of mine and she was called Gypsy. Gypsy was a Golden retriever and she was such a lovely natured dog. My sister and I used to play with her and take her for long walks with our two Collies - she used to look out for us coming round and was always so pleased to see us. We went to the Guide Dog Centre with her when she had to go back-which was very sad - but at least we knew that we had been part of a very worthwhile cause. Gypsy passed all her training and went on to make an excellent Guide Dog, which we were obviously all very pleased about.

Out of all seven dogs looked after by my neighbour only one didn't make the grade, and that was a German Shepherd dog called Minty. Minty, although very obedient, was extremely powerful and was found to be just the dog the RAF were looking for. So for anyone who has never thought about "puppy walking", it could be a very unique and rewarding experience for any dog lover. There are Guide Dog centres all over the world, which are always happy to hear from anyone who wishes to help.

The Hearing Dogs for Deaf People Association also require people to look after puppies and dogs for short or long periods of time, and this can be equally rewarding. Although dogs obviously make great pets for anyone from young to old, they also make great working companions. The close bonds formed by these relationships prove that dogs really are man's best friends!