Guide Dogs for the Blind Hold Airport Training Sessions

Puppies practice navigating airports and planes to assist visually impaired travelers.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 4:55pm

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A group of 15 puppies from the Guide Dogs for the Blind organization will participate in a training exercise at the Van Nuys Airport on Wednesday. The puppies will practice going through check-in, boarding a plane, exploring the cabin, and deplaning as part of a new collaboration between Guide Dogs for the Blind and the RetriveAir aviation service. The training is designed to help the puppies learn how to overcome the challenges that visually impaired travelers face when flying with their guide dogs.

Why it matters

This training program helps prepare guide dogs-in-training to effectively assist people who are visually impaired when navigating busy airports and flying on planes. Providing this specialized training helps ensure guide dogs are ready to support their owners and keep them safe during travel.

The details

The 15 puppies will participate in multiple activities during the training session, including practicing check-in procedures, safely boarding a plane, exploring the cabin with flight attendants and pilots present, and deplaning. In addition, at least one person who is visually impaired will be on hand to discuss the importance of trained guide dogs in assisting them through airports and flights.

  • The training session will take place on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

The players

Guide Dogs for the Blind

The largest guide dog school in North America, providing guide dogs and training to people who are blind or have low vision.

RetriveAir

An aviation service that is collaborating with Guide Dogs for the Blind on this new guide dog training program focused on airport and flight navigation.

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The takeaway

This training program is an important step in ensuring guide dogs are prepared to safely and effectively assist their visually impaired owners during air travel, which can present unique challenges compared to everyday navigation.