OUR DOGS
We breed most of our would-be Guide Dogs, and have a very successful Dog Supply and Breeding programme. The Breeding Programme was established in 1984. In the early days there were two brood bitches and outside stud dogs were sourced. Since 2000 the programme has developed and grown to produce quality dogs for training as Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs. There are currently 30 brood bitches and 7 stud dogs and we produce around 140 puppies a year. From these puppies our trainers will identify which will go forward as an Assistance Dog or Guide Dog.
Some of our existing breeding lines are now third generation and we are constantly working to extend our blood lines to meet our training needs. Breeding stock has to be regenerated on a constant basis, as an average bitch will breed six litters. New breeding stock is chosen by the Breeding Supervisor, around the age of 12 months old, and is withdrawn from the Puppy Walking Scheme. By that age, they will have demonstrated the temperament and characteristics desirable such as obedience, calm and intelligence.
As with most breeding programmes, to ensure the ideal offspring there is a lead-in phase of three years for each additional guide dog required. Our brood bitches (females) and stud dogs (males), who live in family homes as regular pets, are brought to the Training Centre to mate and return home again after a couple of days. A brood bitch will be mated every 12 months or so. The pregnancy period of a bitch is 63 days. The average litter size is 6.5 pups.
The brood bitch will give birth in her own home where our dedicated volunteer brood bitch holder and their family work round the clock to ensure that the pups are safe, healthy and cared for. Each litter is named by a letter in the alphabet. At six weeks old, the puppies are brought to the Training Centre, where they remain for a few days before being collected by a Puppy Walker where they spend the first year of their lives.
The main reasons for careful selection of Guide Dog Stock are;
- Client need and safety
- Ease of matching dogs to clients
- Trainability & costs
- Public acceptance
The most commonly used Breeds are;
- Labrador Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- Labrador cross Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd
- German Shepherd cross Golden Retriever
- Labradoodle (Labrador cross Standard Poodle)
- Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever cross Standard Poodle)
