Ten guide dog puppies born in Kidderminster to change lives
Ten puppies were born at a volunteer’s home near Kidderminster on January 7. The litter, a mix of black and golden retriever, will train to become guide dogs for visually impaired people. Their arrival supports Guide Dogs’ goal of breeding up to 1,300 puppies each year to meet rising demand.
The puppies arrived at 6:40 a.m., with the first—a 540g male—marking the start of a healthy litter. Their mother, Tabitha, is a two-year-old black Labrador and a first-time mum. The father, Harris, is a five-year-old Golden Retriever who has sired 18 previous guide dog litters.
The charity combines Labradors and Golden Retrievers to create a ‘best of both’ breed for guide work. Half of the puppies are black, while the other half are golden yellow. In the coming weeks, they will receive names and, at around eight weeks old, leave their mother for health checks. Afterwards, they will move in with Puppy Raisers—volunteers who prepare them for future training. Guide Dogs is currently seeking more helpers to support these puppies on their journey to becoming qualified guide dogs.
The puppies will spend their early weeks with their mother before transitioning to volunteer carers. Their training will eventually help them assist visually impaired individuals across the UK. The charity continues to rely on public support to expand its breeding and training programmes.
