A new litter of puppies is due soon at the Guide Dogs New South Wales Centre and volunteers are desperately needed to train and care for the puppies.

With each litter delivering up to 10 new dogs, Guide Dogs NSW require volunteers from the Richmond, Penrith, lower Blue Mountains and Hills areas.

Volunteers are needed to look after guide dog puppies for up to 14 months from October this year.

Katrina Duffell training Jarryd at Castle Hill ( 702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan )

Katrina Duffell from North Rocks has been caring for Jarryd for the past 12 months as he prepares to become a guide dog.

"He's brought a lot of calmness to our family," Ms Duffell said.

"He's brought a lot of love, companionship and slobber."

Jarryd is the Duffell family's first dog and the family of four are dreading saying goodbye to the 12- month-old puppy soon.

"I'm not looking forward to the day he has to go back," Ms Duffell said.

"The boys have become deeply attached, and so have I."

Guide Dogs NSW cover the cost of food, veterinarian treatment and basic accessories, while running training programs for the families who care for the puppies.

Ms Duffell said having Jarryd and the support of the Guide Dogs Centre was a good way to test if the family were ready for a dog.

"It's been a really good way to learn how to have a dog in the home and how to train a dog," she said.

It takes almost two years and costs more than $35,000 to raise a guide dog and families play a critical part in developing a playful puppy into a responsible guide dog.

The puppies return to the Guide Dog Centre for five months of further training after spending 13 months with the family before they can begin their role enhancing the independence of a person who is blind or vision-impaired.

Brett Smyth has been a Guide Dogs NSW puppy raising officer for 15 years and is one of five trainers in the Sydney area.

"We're looking for families who have time available; raising a young pup can take up a lot of time during the day," he said.

Practical considerations are also important with puppy raisers requiring secure yards and a commitment to the training regime one hour each week.

The dogs are placed with families from eight weeks old until they are about 14 months old.

"The families invest a lot of time, effort and emotion into the program," Mr Smyth said.

Guide Dogs NSW insist experience is not important in raising a puppy.

"Some of the most exciting families to work with have never owned a dog as a pet and are very open to learning," Mr Smyth said.

The families are essential to raising good guide dogs as socialisation is an integral part of the training.

"We couldn't raise puppies in kennels and expect them to be a working guide dog," Mr Smyth said.

"The role of the family is so important, we try and make it an easy program to be a part of."

About 50 per cent of the dogs do not graduate as guide dogs, with those that do not graduate assessed as Pets as Therapy dogs.

While separation can be difficult for families, carers can attend the dogs' graduation ceremony before saying goodbye.

"Jarryd will always be part of our hearts," Ms Duffell said.