Puppy School for Guide Dogs - Season 1

Cameras follow guide dogs at every stage of their journey - from newborns to trainees and veterans - as well as the humans that both train them and rely on them. This edition features Hester, a visually impaired 16-year-old and Paralympic skiing hopeful who's about to become one of the UK's youngest guide dog owners.

Cameras reveal how Ela and her pups - including Kinky, with the broken tail - are getting on. Puppy midwife Tim is keeping an eye on Ela's weight loss, but the youngsters are thriving. At puppy school, trainee guide dog Milton tries to use a pedestrian crossing.

Paralympic skiing hopeful and GCSE student Hester takes another major step on her journey to becoming one of the UK's youngest guide dog owners: she takes potential match Pickle on her first guided walk.

Meanwhile, we meet Asfaq, a career-focused Londoner in his thirties who's facing degenerative sight loss but doesn't intend to slow down a life that's packed with cycling, yoga, marathon running, socialising and a busy job in tech. He's now in advanced training with potential guide dog Max. Asfaq has never owned a dog before, so getting Max is a major step in every sense but could transform his life if they're a good pairing.

In Shrewsbury, the Saunders family prepare to say goodbye to Ela's litter of seven potential guide dog puppies. They're heading to Guide Dogs HQ in Leamington Spa, where they'll spend a week getting assessed before heading on to live with puppy raisers.

Puppy raiser Myriam is getting used to life with new pup Frankie, as older dog Lando teaches the little one how to navigate puddles.

At Puppy School for Guide Dogs, the pupils are learning not to be distracted by food (tricky!) and how to cross the road safely.

And we meet Carmela, a little girl with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and her assistance dog Tinker, a poodle mix who helps her with everything from opening doors and taking off her coat to picking up dropped crayons and joining her on bike rides.

It is a big day for Paralympic skiing hopeful Hester as assessors consider whether she is ready to be paired with Pickle on a permanent basis. In London, Ashfaq is settling into life with Max, but needs a little more help from trainer Barry to get more confident letting Max off the lead.