Guide Dogs is encouraging puppy owners to look out for beards and other physical characteristics as socialisation opportunities, after research revealed almost two-thirds (63%) of dogs have reacted with fear or confusion to attributes they have not seen or been exposed to before.

Specifically, one in five dog owners said their dogs have shown signs of fear or confusion when encountering unfamiliar physical attributes such as beards, facial piercings, tattoos and unconventional hairstyles.

In addition to distinctive characteristics, floor cleaning tools like vacuums and mops (39%), bicycles (23%), and buggies (11%), also made the list of things pups should be exposed to from a young age.

Last week, we held a socialisation event with eight-week-old puppies who were introduced to people representing some of the distinctive characteristics identified. The puppies enjoyed playtime and cuddles to create a positive association and prevent future fearfulness.

To help ensure guide dogs are acclimatised to the varied world they will encounter, Guide Dogs is looking to find new Puppy Raisers, with a particular callout to people with distinctive characteristics, from beards and brightly coloured mohawks to facial piercings and tattoos.

We are looking for all kinds of people to volunteer, including cyclists, parents and pet dog owners, who are all able to expose the puppy to aspects of daily life like bikes and babies.

Socialisation is the most influential stage in a puppy's life, yet a third (32%) of dog owners are unaware of the critical timing, while 23% don’t understand what it involves.

The goal of any owner is to have a dog who is comfortable and self-assured in all situations, and this can be achieved by giving puppies a strong bank of calm, positive experiences in early life and continuing them into adulthood.

Haley Andrews, Head of Puppy Raising at Guide Dogs

Haley adds: "Rather than expose puppies to everything and everyone all the time, people should focus on bringing dogs into a variety of situations at a comfortable rate and helping them practise a calm, neutral response.

“Our Puppy Raisers are vital in ensuring guide dog puppies are given the best start to go on to become future life changers, through the introduction of new environments and experiences, whilst providing a loving home. No matter your distinctive characteristics, all you need to become a volunteer is to commit to showing a guide dog puppy the big wide world they’ll one day be working in.”

Would you like to be a Puppy Raiser?