Following on from the news of former Sponsor a Puppy pup Hettie’s first litter we thought it would be interesting to share with everybody more of an insight into Guide Dogs, specifically a glance into the journey from puppy hood to fully qualified guide dog. We are starting off with the birth of our pups through to the captivating world of puppy walking!
Guide Dogs is the world’s largest breeder and trainer of working dogs and every year around 1,200 would-be guide dogs are born to our brood bitches, specially chosen for their intelligence and temperament. Guide Dogs is securing the future of its breeding stock by freezing semen.
Our brood bitches live in family homes near the Breeding Centre in Warwickshire and are brought to the centre to conceive. Pups born to become guide dogs must be intelligent and good-natured – not be nervous of crowds or frightened by sudden noises.
Once born, each litter is named by a letter in the alphabet – an A litter, for example, could be named Adam, Anna, Algie, Amy and Albert. The only letter we don’t use is X!
The puppies are vaccinated and ready to meet their puppy walkers at six to eight weeks old. If puppies are to become good guide dogs they must not only have the right parents; they must also be brought up properly.
At 6-8 weeks old, the pups have their first taste of guide dog training. Volunteer puppy walkers, such as guide dog puppy blog contributor Paige, introduce the young pups to the sights, sounds and smells of a world in which they will play such an important part. This will mean taking the dogs on buses and trains, into shops and along busy streets. The puppy walker will also teach the puppy to walk ahead on the leash (not ‘to heel’) as it will once a guide dog, and to obey simple commands such as ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘stay’ and ‘come’.
When the pup is about a year old it returns to Guide Dogs for the next part of its important training. This can be a sad time for the puppy walker, but they are rewarded with the knowledge that they have helped raise a dog who will one day act as someone’s eyes.
Coming shortly in the next instalment – Back to School!
We are frequently asked about former Sponsor a Puppy pups and how they are progressing since their final pupdates. We are thrilled to share with everyone that former Sponsor a Puppy pup Hettie, who was taken to be a brood, has now had her first litter of pups. We are delighted to be able to show you a sneak preview of some cute pictures!
Come and have a look at the proud mum and her gorgeous pups featured on the Sponsor a Puppy website
When we asked our sponsors what they would like from Sponsor a Puppy, the answer was more information about the puppies. Well, we’ve listened, and have enhanced our Sponsor a Puppy website to offer you even more! Visit the website now for new photos, stories, games and downloads – why not let us know what you think by posting your comments here?
Guide dog puppy Gem is a beautiful black retriever cross Labrador, starting out on her journey to becoming a guide dog of the future for a blind or partially sighted person.Pictured below with her brother Gilbert. You will soon be able to sponsor her online.
Ike is a beautiful yellow Labrador cross golden retriever, starting out on his journey to become a guide dog of the future for a blind or partially sighted person. He’s very playful and one very active puppy!
India is a beautiful black Labrador cross golden retriever who is about to embark on her journey to become an amazing guide dog. She comes from a big litter of pups where she has 9 brothers and sisters! Their dad Munro is a lovely black Labrador and their mum is a golden retriever. The photos were taken of her at 6 weeks old when she was at our puppy training centre. Her sponsors will find out more about her journey in her pupdates, which we will send regularly throughout her training.
Tweedie is from a litter of 8 puppies, two of which were girls and five boys. Tweedie’s dad, Hancock, is a black Labrador and her mum, Vectra, is a golden retriever cross Labrador. The pictures were taken when she was 6 weeks old and at the puppy centre. Tweedie is now living with her puppy walkers who she will stay with for around 12 months, until she is ready to move into guide dog training school.
Her sponsors will find out more about her journey in her pupdates, which we will send regularly throughout her training.
Check out our new guide dog puppy up for sponsorship now!
photo of guide dog puppy Garth
His name is Garth and he is a beautiful yellow golden retriever cross Labrador, just starting out on his journey to become one of our guide dogs of the future. As you can see he is very cute and one day we hope that he is going to become a life changing companion to a blind or partially-sighted person. If you want to find out more about the Sponsor a Puppy scheme please visit the website.
To sponsor a dog just like Garth or sponsor a puppy as a gift
- click on the sponsor button below.
When you sponsor a guide dog puppy here's what you'll get in your Welcome Pack.
This is the 2009 Sponsor a Puppy Christmas appeal video.
Guide Dogs aim to increase the number of guide dog partnerships by a third by 2020 and in order to do that we need to find 2000 additional puppy sponsors by Christmas.
Guide Dogs is a working name of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (291646) and a charity registered in England and Wales (209617) and Scotland (SC038979).
Following on from the news of former Sponsor a Puppy pup Hettie’s first litter we thought it would be interesting to share with everybody more of an insight into Guide Dogs, specifically a glance into the journey from puppy hood to fully qualified guide dog. We are starting off with the birth of our pups through to the captivating world of puppy walking!
When we asked our sponsors what they would like from Sponsor a Puppy, the answer was more information about the puppies. Well, we’ve listened, and have enhanced our Sponsor a Puppy website to offer you even more! 
