2016 National Association of Guide Dog Users 
Mentoring Program 
Guidelines for Mentors
1. Be courteous. Provide an ear for any issues that might arise and respect them. Convention is a stressful time for someone who is new, as well as their dog, so be patient. 
2. Be confident. Showing your confidence will help to boost the confidence of your mentee. Show them that all is well, and keep a calm, positive attitude. 
3. Be sure to check in throughout the week. Send a text, make a call, and/or check in in person to make sure all is well with both handler and dog. Offer to attend meetings together, or grab a cup of coffee. 
4. Be available. If you are not reachable during the week, it is difficult to provide the needed mentoring, so be sure to be able to receive messages or calls. You don’t have to be at their beck and call, but it is important to stay in touch. 
5. Guide dog issues. Sometimes, at conventions, dogs can have issues that rise beyond simple stress. If you are not sure, it never hurts to advise the person you are with to speak with a representative from their school. In most cases, you are not a guide dog trainer, so do not try to assume responsibility for fixing the issue. You can assist the person in whatever way is comfortable for you and make suggestions, but if a behavior rises to a safety or health issue, it’s best to get someone from the school involved.