Guide Dogs for the Blind urges bikers to help train guide dogs for the real world

The Guide Dogs charity is asking motorcyclists to volunteer, helping puppies get used to the noise, movement and unpredictability of real-world riding environments.

Simon Hancocks

23 Apr 2026

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Bikers are being urged to help raise and train the next generation of guide dogs, as the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (GDBA) calls for motorcyclists to register as volunteers.

The UK’s roads are becoming increasingly busier, and while more experienced guide dogs can more easily cope with the hustle and bustle, for guide dog puppies, it can be more challenging. That could equate to an increased danger for the person using the guide dog, which could become startled by loud noises and either lose concentration or misguide their handler.

To combat this, the GDBA is calling for bikers to sign up as guide dog volunteers, with the thinking behind the move being that the desensitisation of the puppies to the sight and sound of motorcycles (and riders decked out in full riding kit) will benefit them once they become fully fledged guide dogs.

The GDBA states that around 100 volunteers are needed per month to keep on top of demand, with the Harley-Davidson Owners’ Group (HOG) stepping in to help out. Riders from the Wolfruna Chapter of the HOG met up with Kian, a ten-week-old golden retriever guide dog puppy. To get the young pup used to the sight, sound and smells of the bike, they took along some of their steeds to spend some valuable time with him.

Speaking to the PA News Agency, Haley Andrews, head of puppy raising, stated that motorcycles can be unsettling for dogs, and went on to say that “for a guide dog, that fear isn’t just a nuisance – it can be a genuine safety risk for the person relying on them”.

“Socialisation is such a fundamental part of a guide dog’s training … Our puppies need to encounter the real world in all its noise and unpredictability. None of that happens without our incredible volunteer puppy raisers, who are pivotal to what we do … We would love to hear from keen motorbikers and enthusiasts who can help our puppies build the confidence and focus they need to stay calm when it matters most.”