Nothing better than a naughty puppy

Kylie Teirney and her young german shepherd puppy Dell prepare for a guide-dog fun day in Manurewa. Picture / Greg Bowker

Imagine taking a puppy, dealing with toilet training, eating habits and general mischief then, when he's trained, handing him over and starting all over again.

"You do it because you can, because of the difference it makes and there's nothing better than a naughty puppy," says Dawn Farmer.

She is one of 90 puppy walkers around the country who devote their time to training guide dogs.

Yesterday many of them gathered for a fun day organised by the Foundation of the Blind to thank them for their work.

At 12 months the puppies leave their homes for a period of intensive training before being matched with a blind or vision-impaired person. Ms Farmer was with Cookie - the fifth puppy she has trained for the foundation.

Paula Gemmell, puppy development manager, said the guardianship was hugely important work. "Without the volunteers, who are unpaid, we would not have the success we do."

About 60 new guide dogs will "graduate" this year and the foundation is running an appeal beginning March 20 to raise the $945,000 it costs to train the dogs.

* Text GDOG to 883 to donate $3.