IT'S guide dog trainee Adele's first Christmas and she'll be enjoying the festive season with her "foster mum" Barbara Williams.

Everything is new to three-month-old Adele who, like every other puppy, enjoys getting into mischief.

But Adele is a guide dog in training and as such must learn the rules as quickly as she can and that means no turkey on Christmas Day.

She's not allowed to jump on the furniture, she must learn to be quiet in church and she has to be able to walk calmly around supermarket aisles.

Young guide dogs can't play with balls - they might see one in the street and be distracted - but that doesn't mean they can't have fun.

It's all in a day's work for a prospective guide dog and Adele, Barbara's fourth guide dog puppy, takes it all in her stride.

Barbara, who cares for Adele at her Elgin Street home, is a kind-hearted, but firm, carer who is determined to help her become a successful guide dog.

Adele will stay with Barbara, whose official title is "puppy walker" until she is between 12 and 15 months old. Then she will move on to her further training before being allocated an owner.

Barbara, 69, enjoys her work as a puppy walker, even though it means taking Adele for walks in all weathers. She must also take Adele on public transport and cannot leave her alone for more than three hours.

She says: "The dogs have to experience everything they will have to go through when they are a guide dog.

"It's a very rewarding thing to do and I really enjoy it."

Puppy walking supervisor from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in Bolton, Elaine Webster, explains that puppy walkers are in demand.

It's rewarding work, particularly for people who can't commit themselves to owning their own dog long-term.

Elaine says: "Some people don't want the commitment of a dog who might be with them for anything up to 16 years. Also, these days keeping a pet is not cheap. This is a wonderful way to have a pet but without the long-term commitment or the expense.

"We are looking for people interested in becoming puppy walkers. Among other things their job includes teaching the puppy to have good social skills."

Puppy walkers do the work on a voluntary basis but they are paid a food allowance and all vets' bills are met.

If you are interested in becoming a puppy walker you have to meet the following criteria.

You have to be over 18.

You must not be in full-time employment.

You must have an enclosed garden or yard.

Preferably you must not have children under the age of four because it's difficult to walk a dog with a young child.

Once you've filled in the forms and been vetted for suitability you'll be on the list and contacted when a puppy becomes available.

One of the hardest things to do is give the puppy back once it's ready to start full training.

Barbara says: "You do get attached to the puppies but you know they have to go. Then you get another one and you start all over again."

Anyone interested in becoming a puppy walker should contact the GDBA on Bolton 495111.

Adele prepares for her first Christmas

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is also looking for dog lovers who would be interested in caring for older dogs on a more temporary basis.

This could be trained guide dogs who need a temporary home while their owner is in hospital, or dogs who are undergoing training and would benefit from being in a home environment while they are learning.

This voluntary work differs slightly from the work of the puppy walkers because they are often slightly older dogs and they might be with you on a more temporary basis, but similar criteria for prospective volunteers do apply. Anyone interested should contact the Bolton centre on 495111.