Apply to Adopt one of Our Dogs

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Thank you for your interest in our Rehoming Program!

At Guide Dogs Queensland, every dog and puppy is valued, and ultimately finds its place in the world, whether as a highly trained Guide Dog, another type of service dog, or a much-loved family pet.

Our dogs and puppies are assessed in health and temperament for suitability in the Guiding role. When a dog is considered unsuitable for Guide work, we will investigate alternative roles for the dog (such as Therapy or other assistance programs). As such, our dogs are only occasionally available for rehoming as pets, and we cannot guarantee timeframes or specific colours, ages etc. Due to the minimal numbers of dogs entering our rehoming program each year, we can't guarantee a match will be found, so we encourage applicants to also continue searching for their new family member elsewhere.

As our dogs are used to constant human company we do have some main criteria which need to be met before we can consider an application.

To rehome a dog or puppy from Guide Dogs, you will need to:

be able to provide companionship to the dog on a daily basis and not leave the dog for long periods alone. (We are unable to accept applications for families in full-time work situation with no one at home during the day.)
provide indoor accommodation and house the dog indoors.
provide a secure outdoor area ( fenced yard or garden – minimum height 1.2 metres).
be capable of exercising, handling and controlling the dog.
be responsible for the care and welfare of the dog, including obtaining veterinary care.
be responsible for the costs associated with Council registration, preventative treatments, veterinary care and feeding a nutritional diet.
reside within 90 minutes of our Breeding and Training Centre at Bald Hills, Brisbane. (Per Google Maps)

Do you agree with our criteria?(Required)

Yes, I have read and agree to the requirements above.

So why might a dog end up in the Rehoming Program?

Dogs in the rehoming program are usually between 8 months and 2 years old. Usually, they're withdrawn because of either:

Temperament: The puppy or dog has a temperament unsuitable for Guide work or other assistance roles. For example, the dog may be uncomfortable in public places like shopping centres, or have unacceptable levels of distraction around other dogs while working, or their behaviour at home may be unsuitable for a working role.
Health: The puppy or dog may have developed health issues that require ongoing maintenance, for example, skin allergies. All dogs we withdraw for health reasons have been carefully managed by our veterinary team and we will discuss any ongoing medical needs with their potential forever homes.

What happens to Guide or Breeding Dogs once they retire? Do you have older dogs available?

Most of the time, clients or Breeding Dog carers choose to keep their beloved dogs once they retire. Unfortunately due to the very few number of older dogs that ever become available for rehoming, we're unable to accept any more applications for those only seeking older, retired dogs.

If you would like to become involved, we have some volunteer roles that may interest your family. Click here to find out more.

How much do they cost?

The cost to adopt one of our young adults from the Rehoming Program may be up to $3,000. In some circumstances (e.g. health, temperament or age-related) we may offer a reduced cost, which will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.