The Guide Dog Foundation kennels are a warm friendly place with heated floors and music piped in. The office staff, who works right next door to the kennels, often visits the puppies and dogs in training. Once the puppies are ready to return to the kennel they are then tested to see if they can make it as a guide dog. They must be able to work in traffic situations, be able to work around people and have a good disposition. The vet has to make sure there aren't any abnormalities in their health to prevent them from performing their duties.
Some young dogs are prime candidates for the breeding program.
They are adopted out to special puppy walking families who care for them as breeding stock. When it is time for the females to breed, they return to the Guide Dog Foundation where they are cared for while they have their puppies. The cycle begins again once the new puppies are born. Those dogs who aren't quite suited for guide dog work go on to other jobs such as search and rescue teams, drug dogs or arson detection dogs. Those that don't find another trade to work in are placed with loving families.