Even professional athletes were once little kids, learning the games on the playground and guide dogs are just the same. Today we'll learn what guide dog trainers look for in puppies in this edition of Pet Pointers.

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Of course they are adorable, but these are not just any puppies, these are future "Freedom Guide Dogs" who will one day help blind and visually impaired people navigate their lives. But what is it that makes a puppy a candidate for this challenging job?

Eric Loori Executive Director & Co-Founder of Freedom Guide Dogs tells me what he looks for, “Soundness: the dog is sound, unafraid of noises and that. Curiosity: that it's inquisitive even if it is unsure of something to eventually go over and check it out and observe it. And to be very, very willing to try new things.”

These little guys are in training all day every day with a nursery kennel full of enrichment toys designed to develop their intelligence, agility and sensory skills. Next, they go to a foster home where they will socialize, be house broken and learn to properly walk on a leash. At 2 years old they return for several months of training at the FGD facility, then it's off to their new family for "Hometown Training", where they are trained to navigate the new neighborhood. Only the best and brightest puppies make it all the way to graduation.

freedomguidedogs.org