IGDF Statistics

The International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) is a membership body and professional standard-setter for guide dog organisations. IGDF collects information from its guide dog organisations around the world in order to track and analyse trends within the guide dog sector.

IGDF currently represents:

  • 98 Member Organisations from 34 countries
  • 19 Applicant Organisations from a further 6 countries
  • 8 Enquiring Organisations from a further 2 countries
  • 5 Affiliate Organisations from 4 countries

As at 31st December 2022, IGDF Member Organisations had:

  • 97 IGDF Members in 35 countries
  • 20,291 Guide Dogs currently working
  • 2,426 Guide Dogs trained during 2021
  • 13,514 Follow-up/aftercare visits
  • 6,248 individual employees
  • 743 Guide Dog Mobility Instructors
  • 246 Apprentice/trainee Guide Dog Mobility Instructors
  • 245 Guide Dog Trainers
  • 124 Apprentice/trainee Guide Dog Trainers
  • 34,033 individual volunteers

During 2022, IGDF Member Organisations had:

  • 7,462 puppies on Puppy Development Programmes; and

  • Produced 7,606 puppies, of which:

    • 4,714 Labrador Retrievers
    • 1,427 Labrador x Golden Retrievers
    • 494 Golden Retrievers
    • 231 German Shepherds
    • 107 Standard Poodles

As at 31st December 2021, IGDF Member Organisations had:

  • 97 IGDF Members in 34 countries
  • 22,939 Guide Dogs currently working
  • 2,405 Guide Dogs trained during 2021
  • 18,907 Follow-up/aftercare visits
  • 5,589 individual employees
  • 674 Guide Dog Mobility Instructors
  • 208 Apprentice/trainee Guide Dog Mobility Instructors
  • 287 Guide Dog Trainers
  • 120 Apprentice/trainee Guide Dog Trainers
  • 33,551 individual volunteers

During 2021, IGDF Member Organisations had:

  • 8156 puppies on Puppy Development Programmes; and

  • Produced 7226 puppies, of which:

    • 4449 Labrador Retrievers
    • 1365 Labrador x Golden Retrievers
    • 398 Golden Retrievers
    • 198 German Shepherds
    • 162 Standard Poodles

As at 31st December 2020, IGDF Member Organisations had:

  • 21,002 guide dog teams currently working
  • 636 Guide Dog Mobility Instructors
  • 285 Guide Dog Trainers
  • 283 Trainee Guide Dog Mobility Instructors
  • 27,192 Volunteers

During 2020, IGDF Member Organisations:

  • Graduated 2,038 new guide dog teams
  • Conducted 18,726 follow-up visits to support existing guide dog teams

Quick comparison (2019 – 2022)

2019
2020
2021
2022
Number of guide dogs currently working
 22,227
 21,002
22,939
20,291
Guide dog teams qualified during year
3,091
2,038
2,405
2,426
Total follow-up/ aftercare visits
22,051
18,726
18,907
13,514